Self-Advocacy for Women & Teens with Disabilities

Dear Friends,

We’re excited to share an important update about our Self-Advocacy & Empowerment Workshop to Prevent Abuse & Promote Healthy Emotional & Social Development. Our program helps girls and young women with disabilities build self-confidence, understand personal boundaries, and strengthen their ability to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation.

Earlier this year, our team at Chimes Israel, together with our partner Machon Argaman (Israel’s leading institute for healthy sexuality education for people with disabilities), launched the program with great momentum. We selected the participants, and the first professional planning session took place in June.

However, just days later, the war with Iran erupted. For nearly two weeks, schools and extracurricular programs across Israel were shut down, and many families, including our project leader, Ronit Argaman, who lost her home, were directly affected.
After the war, our team made the careful decision to postpone implementation until after Sukkot, ensuring that the workshops could be conducted in a stable and safe environment, as originally intended.

We are now delighted to share that the program will officially launch the last week of October at Chimes Israel’s Amal and Enoch Afterschool Programs in Holon and Tel Aviv. Two separate groups will participate weekly at each location: one for ages 12–15 and another for 16–21. The full curriculum includes eight sessions that blend education, discussion, and experiential learning.

A Strategic Enhancement: Including Boys to Deepen Girls’ Empowerment

Under Ronit’s professional guidance, this year’s program includes a new, research-based structure: the majority of sessions will now be coed. This enhancement does not lessen our commitment to girls—it strengthens it. Mixed-gender sessions provide opportunities for girls and boys to learn together about respect, boundaries, and communication. These skills directly influence how they relate to each other in real life.

The model is designed to:

• Reflect Real Life: Empower girls by practicing assertiveness and self-expression in realistic, guided settings.

• Strengthen Confidence: Encourage girls to voice their thoughts and be heard as equals.

• Break Stereotypes: Teach boys empathy, listening, and responsibility while fostering mutual respect.

• Ensure Privacy: Include girls-only sessions for sensitive or gender-specific topics.

• Maintain Safety: Establish clear behavioral agreements and active facilitation in every meeting.

This approach is grounded in decades of professional experience and proven success across Israel. By including boys in a structured, respectful environment, we are helping create a safer, more supportive social world for girls.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to your continued support, this vital program will begin anew, stronger and more inclusive than before. We look forward to sharing stories and photos from the sessions soon.

Your generosity allows Chimes Israel to continue providing education, empowerment, and safety for youth with disabilities, even in the face of national crisis. Thank you for standing with us as we move from pause to progress together.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Pamela Azaria
International Resources Director, Chimes Israel