My name is Julia Friedman, I am from Cleveland, Ohio and I recently graduated from The Ohio State University.
I have always had a strong love for Israel, which is why I decided to come to Tel Aviv to participate in a 5-month internship program. Throughout my life, I have had a passion for working with and helping those in need in all different kinds of ways. When I found WIZO and learned about the work they do for women, youth and children throughout Israel I knew I had found my match.
My time at WIZO was unique because I began my internship in February 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world. I was only able to intern for a month and a half before the WIZO offices were closed. I stayed connected to the people at WIZO, in hopes that I would be able to return to my internship soon. While working in the Fundraising Department for just that brief period, I saw firsthand how dedicated the people at WIZO are to their work and helping improve the lives of people all over Israel. I was able to visit the youth villages and day care centers that WIZO raises money for, which gave me a more tangible idea of the value of my work and I was eager to learn more.
At the end of May, I was finally able to come back to the office. Although I wasn’t able to spend the full five months in Israel interning at WIZO as planned, I am still very glad to have returned to the office for the end of my internship program and to have made strong connections with WIZO.
I am very proud of the work I did at WIZO and I am glad to do my small part to contribute to the betterment of so many lives through the work I did there. I plan to bring the experience and knowledge I gained here into everywhere I go in the future. I will take the WIZO ideals with me from this internship and I am so grateful to have worked with such an incredible organization.
Thank you World WIZO, and the Fundraising Division, for such a meaningful and inspiring internship.
Julia
