“Woman of Valor” Ceremony held at HIT

Three leading women received special recognition in this year’s annual ceremony organized by the “Ambassadors’ Club in Israel.”

Photo:Ofer Amram

During the ceremony, which has already become a tradition at HIT, prestigious awards were bestowed upon three influential women by Ambassador Yitzhak Eldan, President of the Ambassadors' Club in Israel. 

Dr. Maly Danino - Executive Director of “Nitzan” -The Israeli Association for Children & Adults with Learning Disabilities
Adv. Ayelet Razin Bet Or - Head of the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women
Ms. Neta Blum - Founder and CEO of the "AT" organization 

These women were lauded for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the status of women in Israel. Recipients were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and an original piece of jewelery set with local gems. 

The ceremony was held in the presence of HIT President Prof. Eduard Yakubov, CEO Mr. Shmuel Goldberg, Adv. Orna Koplovitch, Advisor to the President on Gender Equality, President of the Ambassadors' Club Mr. Yitzhak Eldan, Director of External Relations at the Ambassadors' Club and event organizer Ms. Reut Portugal, and many attending guests.

Photo:Ofer Amram

Also gracing the ceremony was the Chargé d'Affaires of Kosovo to the State of Israel. Ms. Ines Demiri, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Israel, Ms. Rumiana Ganceva Bachbarova, Ambassador of Ghana in Israel, Ms. Lydia O. Amartey, Ambassador of Guatemala in Israel, Ms. Eva Azum Arevalo de Moscoso, Advisor to the President of Guatemala, Ms. Elvira Santizo, Honorary Consul of Latvia, Mrs. Sarah Alaluf, and Honorary Consul of Paraguay, Mrs. Ruth Amit Fogel.

Photo:Ofer Amram

Prof. Yakubov provided an overview of HIT’s history and academic scope, and emphasized the fact that the Institute has collaborations with 135 universities in about 37 countries around the world.
"The pride of HIT is the fact that 40% of our student population are women and this number is steadily increasing. We work tirelessly to promote women in academia, partly through leadership programs for women,” said the President.

Photo:Ofer Amram

The President also noted that this is the second time the event is held at the HIT campus, and he invited the Ambassadors Club to continue holding it here annually. 

Orna Koplovitch quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, activist, and pioneer in promoting the status of women, who once said that "a woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water." Orna reiterated that HIT is very proud of its three unique leadership programs for women, which encourage female students to influence the status of women and be a source of inspiration for women in Israel and around the globe. 

Photo:Ofer Amram

"Women play a major role in solving global challenges," said Gosia Kowalczyk, Head of the EU’s Trade and Economics section in Israel. "Gender equality is a top priority of the European Union, particularly as it relates to equal pay for women, health issues and protection against violence. We are on the right path, but there is still a lot to do," Ms. Kowalczyk concluded.

Participants in the conference bowed their heads in a moving moment of silence in memory of the eight women who were murdered in Israel since the beginning of the year.