Investing in Excellence: How WIZO is Raising the Bar for Early Childhood Care

Every parent dropping off their child at daycare has the same hope: that their little one will be safe, happy, and nurtured by caring professionals. At WIZO, we’re making that hope a reality through the most comprehensive training program for early childhood caregivers in Israel.

Why Professional Training Matters

“When caregivers are well-trained, children thrive,” explains Marsel Assulin, Director of WIZO’s Early Childhood Division and a Lieutenant Colonel in the IDF Reserves (Aluf Mishne b’Miluim). “Professional training isn’t just about meeting requirements—it’s about creating environments where children feel secure, engaged, and ready to learn. I see great importance in preparing daycare staff for their educational and therapeutic roles—training turns them into better, more professional caregiver-educators.”

A Training Revolution Across Israel

WIZO has launched an ambitious initiative to ensure every caregiver in our network receives top-quality professional training. Our approach is designed to be flexible and accessible:

Multiple Learning Options

• Partnerships with academic colleges nationwide
• Online courses via Zoom for remote locations
• Language-adapted programs for diverse communities including Haredi and Arab populations
• Four new regional WIZO training centers

This past weekend, 25 caregivers in Taybeh began their certification journey through our partnership with Sakhnin College—part of our commitment to serving diverse communities across Israel. By August, we’ll launch another program at WIZO Headquarters in Tel Aviv, where our own supervisors will serve as instructors and mentors.

Real Progress, Real Impact

“The numbers tell an inspiring story — As of today, more than 70% of all our caregivers are either already trained or currently studying in various training programs. The majority of our caregivers are qualified to provide better and more professional early childhood education in our day care centers.”

But beyond the statistics are real people whose professional growth benefits the children in their care every day.

Leading Change Nationwide

WIZO’s influence extends beyond our own network. We actively engage with policymakers to ensure training requirements are both meaningful and practical. Recently, the Ministry of Education adopted our recommendations for experienced caregivers over 55, demonstrating how WIZO helps shape early childhood policy in Israel.

Looking ahead, we’re opening our training framework to other operating organizations, positioning WIZO as a national leader in professional development for early childhood educators.

The Future of Early Childhood Care

As we prepare for the new school year, WIZO continues working to complete licensing for all our daycare centers. Each approved license represents families who can trust that their children are in expert hands.

This comprehensive approach to professional training reflects WIZO’s core belief: when we invest in the people who care for our children, we invest in Israel’s future. Every trained caregiver becomes an advocate for child development, a source of support for families, and a building block for stronger communities.