Union of Jewish Women of South Africa

by / On / In Affiliates

The Union of Jewish Women of South Africa (UJW of SA), established in 1931, is a dynamic national organisation which has branches in six major cities around the country. We concentrate our efforts on two sections of society: the needy in our own Jewish communities in the six cities and on the disadvantaged in the general communities from these areas.

In the Jewish community, large-scale emigration over the years has taken a particularly heavy toll on lonely, elderly parents left behind. Their situation is compounded by economic hardship, hence many of our Jewish projects focus on the elderly.

Jewish intellectually challenged children and adults in institutions benefit from our fundraisers, as do other Jewish community institutions and organisations including synagogues, schools, homes for children from difficult backgrounds, Hatzolah (an emergency medical response service) and a community security organisation.

Poverty is extreme in many general communities, with poor quality of education the norm. Here we equip under-resourced crèches, provide skills training for their teachers, and establish libraries in both primary and secondary schools.

The level of crime, particularly against women and children, is high in these communities. All our branches are involved in the provision of cleansing and comfort packs for rape and abuse survivors in an effort to restore some dignity to these women and children.

Complicating all these issues is the very high prevalence of AIDS and Tuberculosis which results in the deaths of parents. Consequently, there are many child- and granny-headed families with no resources. This is often where we step in to provide basic food items and clothing.

The UJW of SA is committed to strengthening communities by improving quality of life, as well as uplifting and empowering as many as possible.

JEWISH COMMUNITY PROJECTS:

· Kosher Mobile Meals – cooked meals delivered to needy elderly

·         Rehabilitative equipment loaned
·         Luncheons for lonely, elderly
·         Free therapies/educational assessments/medical attention for needy children
·         Funds raised for: synagogues, schools, institutions for aged and intellectually challenged, youth organisations, security organisation, medical emergency service
·         Panic buttons supplied to elderly
·         Adult Education lectures and outings
·         Birthday cakes supplied for residents at homes for intellectually challenged people and children’s homes

ISRAEL PROJECTS:

· Operation Jonathan – financial aid for wounded Israeli soldiers for tertiary education
· Financial support for Parasitology Laboratory at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem

GENERAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS:

·         Comfort rooms refurbished for rape and abuse survivors
·         Clothing and toiletry packs for rape survivors
·         Cancer, HIV/AIDS projects
·         Feeding scheme for child- and granny-headed families
·         Meals and soup kitchens in clinics and disadvantaged areas
·         Programmes for women prisoners
·         Equipment donated to disabled, hearing and visually impaired
·         Homes for aged supported
·         Child protection units at police stations supported and assisted
·         Support and assistance given to schools for intellectually challenged learners
·         Crèches and kindergarten schools equipped
·         Libraries established at schools
·         Skills training and empowerment programmes
·         Blankets given to winter warmth projects
·         Self-help vegetable gardens initiated
·         Continuing educational programmes, lectures, outings
·         Friendship circles
·         Cakes supplied to police stations and birthday cakes to children at children’s homes.

Website: www.ujw.co.za

Email: ujwexec(at)beyachad.co.za