S.O.S - Starting Over Safely Campaign - Empowering Victims of Violence and Trauma in Israel and Canada.
The Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, has left Israel reeling—not just from violence, but from a mental health crisis of staggering proportions. PTSD, depression, and domestic and gender-based violence are surging as communities struggle with the weight of trauma and loss.
This crisis is urgent. Our partners on the ground report overwhelming demand for trauma recovery and PTSD treatment. They need more resources—and they need them now.
CHW is answering that call. Your support empowers frontline services, fills critical gaps, and helps the most vulnerable begin to heal. Together, we can turn pain into resilience.
Now is the time to stand with Israel—not only in solidarity, but in recovery.
Learn more below about the five essential programs we are supporting with our 2025 summer campaign.
Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded our 2024 goal of $650,000 and raised over $824,110!
CLICK HERE to visit the S.O.S crowdfunding page from 2024.
WHY YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL RIGHT NOW:
S.O.S CAMPAIGN GOALS
WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO:
• World WIZO
• Franny's Fund
• Her Academy
• HaGal Sheli
• Michal Sela Forum
S.O.S 2025 IS IN SUPPORT OF
1. Franny's Fund - CANADA
Due to the difficulties of navigating the legal system and managing both the financial and emotional strain of being a victim of domestic abuse, Franny’s Fund was created to provide help for parents and families in need of an urgent response, who are unable to access critical services. Thanks to CHW’s support Franny’s Fund is accessible through centres in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary. The early intervention of counselling significantly impacts the success of these participants in the future.
In partnership with Franny’s Fund, administered through the Canadian justice system, at-risk women and children across the country will have access to the necessary support for legal counsel or therapeutic counselling services.
Learn more about how CHW’s S.O.S campaign supports Franny’s Fund in the below video or by clicking on the button:
2. HaGal Sheli - ISRAEL
For over a decade, HaGal Sheli has empowered and educated youth nationwide to conquer life’s challenges by harnessing the transformative power of surfing, fostering personal growth, resilience, and success.
In the aftermath of the attacks on October 7, HaGal Sheli’s unique surf therapy program was expanded to serve 2,200 trauma therapy participants, including displaced individuals from the Gaza Envelope and northern communities, released hostages, Nova Festival survivors, and soldiers affected by the attacks.
HaGal Sheli plans to open over 96 new trauma groups while maintaining existing ones, enabling them to provide critical support for over 5,500 participants.
Certified surf instructors lead each weekly session throughout the program, supported by trauma specialists, clinical psychologists, educators, and mentors.
Learn more about how CHW’s S.O.S campaign supports HaGal Sheli in the video below.
3. WIZO Programs - ISRAEL
Safety Net Program: Women leaving a WIZO shelter with their children require a helping hand to safely rejoin the community. They face extreme emotional, legal, and social challenges. Safety Net has nearly a 100% success rate to break the cycle of violence and prevent victims from re-entering an abusive relationship. The program assists with social and personal support, helping to provide and care for the victims’ greatest needs. WIZO is expanding its services to include 12 communities and 200 families as part of their post-shelter rehabilitation program
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Children are cared for while their mothers receive hands-on tools to rebuild their lives.
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Families attend structured weekly support meetings tailored for women alongside fun activities for children.
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Communities will be supported by Safety Net’s vital post-shelter rehabilitation program.
Essentials Kits: Kits are provided for women leaving a WIZO shelter. The Kit provides basic necessities like small appliances, clothing, school supplies, linens, kitchen utensils and other household items needed to maintain a decent home. The Kits are tailored to the specific needs of each family, to help them start fresh in a new home.
Respite Camp Program: To support the continued economic independence of at-risk women, CHW is funding summer and holiday day camps to provide children with fun, safe supervision so that women can continue working while their children are cared for. As well, CHW provides a 10-day overnight summer camp experience for at-risk youth from WIZO youth villages.
Learn more in the below video or by clicking on the button:
4. Michal Sela Forum (MSF) - ISRAEL
Michal Sela Forum offers innovative programs for the protection and prevention of intimate partner violence represent just 1.14% of the monthly cost of a shelter and have a significant impact and positive impact on women’s healing. MSF Protection Packages represent a revolution in the field of IPV, turning a woman’s home into her shelter rather than making a woman leave her home.
The Michal Sela Canines program provides women under high-risk threat of intimate partner violence with life-saving protection dogs. The dog is given to the woman for life, and he lives with her as a family member 24/7. The dog is a life-saving gift that gives the woman quality of life, and physical and emotional security. This is an innovative project and the first of its kind in Israel. This is a highly impactful program that saves lives and costs a fraction of what it would cost to keep a woman at a domestic abuse shelter for several months.
The fund will provide:
- Acquiring a protection dog for the woman under threat and her children. Each dog is carefully selected to be compatible with the woman and her individual needs and with the stringent requirements.
- Intensive professional training for three months, tailored to each woman individually.
- Dog supplies (crate, harness, collar, ball, and muzzle).
- Dog pension fund.
- Accompanying research for evaluation and measurement.
Michal’s Watch: Provides free “armor” for women under threat of IPV. Essentially turning her home into her shelter, the package includes 24/7 security services, self-defence lessons, and a cease-and-desist letter from a law firm to the threatening party.
Watch an impactful interview below or click on the button to learn more about MSF.
MSF has also developed the below warning signs, to help women recognize abuse.
5. Her Academy - ISRAEL
Her Academy is a revolutionary, award-winning non-profit organization, working holistically to support highly vulnerable women escaping prostitution and violence in Israel through the provision of vocational training, job placement services, and more. By offering viable alternatives to prostitution, it significantly reduces the risk of women returning to the sex trade.
Beyond the individual impact, the program fosters stronger community resilience and contributes to improved mental health for participants. They restore independence and control by providing access to education, skill-building, and a judgment-free learning environment.
In 2024, with CHW’s support, Her Academy opened a new branch in Haifa. Demand for Her Academy’s services continues to rise, and their current facilities are at maximum capacity.
Learn more in the below video:
With special thanks to our generous SUPER HEROES and Matching Heroes
If we exceed our goals for a project commitment, due to donor generosity, we reserve the right to reallocate the additional funds raised to other funding commitments in Israel or Canada.
If you need help, call the 24-hour crisis line TOLL-FREE 1-866-863-0511 or visit www.awhl.org to access an online chat.
CHW empowers women and children by supporting education, healthcare, and social services across Israel and Canada.
We strongly believe that every human being deserves to achieve their full potential, while living in safety and security. For more than 100 years, our support of excellence in education, innovation in research, advancement in healthcare, safeguarding of social services, and investment in our beneficiaries, will create global impact, improve lives, and provide hope.
