Our Focus
Out of a commitment to promoting a healthy and just society in Israel, Gandyr Foundation chose to focus on strengthening the field of care for survivors of sexual trauma. This focus stems from recognition of the prevalence of sexual violence and its impact on all aspects of survivors’ lives and on society as a whole.
Within this field, we focus on strengthening the resilience of care teams working with adult survivors (most of whom were harmed in childhood) in Israel’s public and third sectors. We believe that these care providers play a crucial role in maintaining society’s resilience: the knowledge that there are people willing to bear witness, to hold what can feel unbearable, and to care for those who have been harmed is an important resource for society as a whole.
Care providers work within a broad organizational ecosystem that includes units, departments, and services, often as part of large organizations. Developing effective responses therefore requires attention both to the immediate work environment and to the broader organizational context. This approach reflects the understanding that burnout is not only an individual challenge, but also a result of working conditions and the systems in which care is provided.
Action Channels
- Strengthening the resilience of care providers and managers—through programs and tools that enhance professional capacity, a sense of belonging, and well-being.
- Strengthening organizational capacity—by developing managers, embedding work routines that support resilience, and introducing tools and processes that enable organizations to support care teams over time.
- Developing the field and strengthening systemic conditions—by creating a shared professional language, promoting learning and collaboration among organizations, developing knowledge and measurement tools, and working with government ministries and public bodies to strengthen the infrastructure supporting the field.
Through these complementary channels, the Foundation seeks to help build a stable, coordinated, and evolving professional field that enables care providers to remain in their work overtime and survivors to receive high-quality, accessible, and continuous care.
In parallel, the Foundation works to promote a trauma-informed healthcare system, so that every person can realize their right to receive optimal healthcare services that take past trauma into account, recognize its impact on their lives, and respond to their unique needs.
Our Connection
The Foundation’s work in this field is led by Daria Yovel Azury, a member of the Foundation’s management. Daria shares:
“My connection to the field comes from my professional experience as a clinical social worker in mental health, and from the understanding that sexual abuse and early trauma play a central role in the development of extensive mental and functional difficulties.
The focus on care teams stems from the desire to invest resources effectively and create ripple effects of impact. I believe that supporting care providers, who work out of a sense of mission and often are willing to make personal and family sacrifices, will strengthen then and their ability to stay in the field long-term and provide stable, high-quality care to those who need it.”
