Naomi Stuchiner: One of 30 Women Making Israel a Better Place

Naomi Stuchiner, Founder of Beit Issie Shapiro, was recently featured in an article in the national newspaper Globes, as one of the 30 women working to make Israel a better place.

Her interview, below:

The Project: I founded Beit Issie Shapiro in order to advance the rights of children with disabilities and enhance their and their families’ quality of life. Beit Issie Shapiro develops and provides cutting edge therapies and state of the art-services, and creates partnerships in order to change societal attitudes and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities in society. Each year, we impact approximately 30,000 individuals; approximately 500 people regularly volunteer at Beit Issie Shapiro and a further 4,000 volunteer in specific, once-off projects.

The Trigger: “My father, Issie Shapiro, z”l, had a good friend whose daughter had physical and mental disabilities. In those days, there were no services for people with disabilities in Johannesburg, and my father decided to do whatever he could to help. From that time, he devoted his life to the improvement of the lives of people with disabilities. His sudden, unexpected death triggered an obligation within me and my family , and we chose to establish Beit Issie Shapiro in his honor, and to fulfil his vision.”

How the Environment I created Impacts Me: Beit Issie Shapiro strengthened my belief in people, and my commitment to my role in advancing social change in the field of disabilities. Every day, I learn from the children of Beit Issie Shapiro and their families what determination, optimism and courage are.”