Reduced Inequalities
SDG 10 - Serving the Underserved in Israeli society
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8) For every stage of life, Israel offers assistance and programs to alleviate the situations of some of the most vulnerable populations in Israeli society: From youth-at-risk, to destitute adults and new immigrants, to persons with disabilities, to the elderly…all while strengthening their status.
Allowing youth-at-risk to remain with their families and communities – rather than institutionalizing them – is a dream that has been realized. Scholastic achievements are rewarded and dropouts have been reduced through employment alternatives and programs for parents, family members and educational staff. Projects that expand the range of possibilities and maximize opportunities and abilities of young people and their families are available for children with behavioral and emotional problems, children with special needs, and those at risk for becoming involved in criminal activity.
Marginalized and destitute individuals are encouraged to find employment through government programs that will ensure easy integration into society. They are taught perseverance, in return they are offered occupational stability. Equal employment opportunity is emphasized, with the integration of diverse populations, including new immigrants, in the labor market. The goal of these combined efforts is to break the cycle of poverty.
In Israel there are more than 800,000 people with disabilities between the ages of 21 and 65. They face a variety of types of physical, mental, sensory or cognitive disabilities. The country is working on ways to increase their independence while strengthening their self-image, improving their status in society as well as their quality of life. For youth with disabilities, an important aim is to enable them to remain with their families in their homes. Centers for independent living and dedicated neighborhoods have also been established for adults with disabilities, so that they can live with self-respect. New immigrants and Arabs with disabilities are included in the basket of services.
Entering into old age, a myriad of government services allows the Israeli elderly to continue to live in their homes and communities while receiving the support and care that they need. Hundreds of physical activity programs are available to improve or maintain their health. Volunteers are dispatched to visit the elderly – especially Holocaust survivors – and elder-care training is provided for caregivers and family members. Care is extended to all senior citizens, including those from Ethiopia, the Former Soviet Union and those from Arab society as well.
Related articles
SDG 10 – Impact Progress for East Jerusalem
Reduced Inequalities It has been a noisy few months in Israel. Not just on the judicial reform issue, mind you – also concerning social impact
SDG 10 – What’s New with DEI?
Reduced Inequalities While many in Israel were busy with summer activities, the country’s social impact warriors kept doing what they do best: plowing ahead for
SDG 10 – Closing Arab-Jew Equality Gaps
Reduced Inequalities “Government programs work!” So exclaimed the head of Israel’s Arab Society Economic Development Authority at the Central Bureau of Statistics’ (CBS) recent annual conference,
SDG 10 – LGBT Pride Alive & Well
Reduced Inequalities Are you ready? Tel Aviv certainly is; the rainbow flag is flying throughout the city as pride month begins, and with it the
SDG 10 – Diversity VS Inclusion
Reduced Inequalities This week the international community noted the UN-sanctioned World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Which got us thinking: Is there
SDG 10 – Real-Time Safety Net
Reduced Inequalities Who takes care of civilian victims when rockets fly overhead? Not a question usually asked, of course, unless you live in Israel –
SDG 10 – Israel’s Minorities on Ramadan
Reduced Inequalities The changing of the guard in Israel has raised questions about the country’s future on a number of fronts. What lies ahead for
SDG 10 – Israel Celebrates Social Equality Heroes at 75
Reduced Inequalities Once again that season is upon us, when Israel annually marks an additional year of independence by celebrating those citizens dedicated to advancing
SDG 10 – Israel’s Haredi Jews & Social Impact
Reduced Inequalities The OECD’s recently published bi-annual report on Israel is out and, frankly, its prognosis is very much a mixed bag. Here’s the part that
SDG 10 – LGBT Under New Government
Reduced Inequalities Mazal tov! Israel recently celebrated the first baby born in the country itself to a homosexual couple through surrogacy. Truly a milestone. The groundbreaking
SDG 10 – Tikkun Olam Makers: Reducing Limitations
Reduced Inequalities Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM) was founded in Israeli as an international not-for-profit movement, that utilizes modern design and digital manufacturing to address neglected
SDG 10 – Equality Watchdogs on the Job
Reduced Inequalities If the hundreds of entries that we’ve posted here demonstrate anything, it’s that the BIG story of Israel in the past decade is
SDG 10 – The Virtues of Financial Inclusion
Reduced Inequalities Israeli media consumers are inundated these days with headlines about the future of Arab-Jewish ties under the future government. It’s very exhausting –
SDG 10 – Social Equality Continuity
Reduced Inequalities We take pride in offering perspective on challenging issues re social impact in Israel. So dealing with headlines that recent election results will
SDG 10-Arab Equality – From 30,000 Feet
Reduced Inequalities Time flies when writing about social impact issues in Israel. So much so that we failed to notice that it’s been awhile since
SDG 10- LGBT Acceptance Revolution?
Reduced Inequalities “One of the things I’m most proud of is the revolution that we’ve led in the state’s approach toward the LGBT community,” Israel’s
SDG 10-Reinforcing Senior’s Independent Living
Reduced Inequalities Summertime in the Mediterranean is famously known as silly season. In Israel, stuff tend to happen simultaneously. Before jumping to conclusions: we’re talking
SDG 10- Social Equality Discourse in Full Force
Reduced Inequalities Governments come, governments go – particularly in Israel, if the past few years are any indication; thankfully, the social impact discourse pushes ahead.
SDG 10- Further Empowering People with Disabilities
Reduced Inequalities A senior Government official breaking down in tears during a Cabinet meeting is a rare event – certainly in Israel. So when the
SDG 10- A Year of LGBT Progress
Reduced Inequalities Israel enjoys a pretty good reputation with regard to LGBT rights when compared with Middle East countries. But this past year the country
SDG 10- The OECD is Calling
Reduced Inequalities Something strange is going on. It seems that almost every time they appear together publicly, the OECD talks about diversity while the Israelis
