Turning disability into success: An unmissable inspirational evening

On Sunday, November 17th, the "Power at the Bar" event of WINWORK, a social enterprise that makes the world of business accessible to people with disabilities, took place. The TED-style event was held at "HaKaron" in Station Park, Tel Aviv, featuring short inspirational and powerful lectures alongside handmade art booths.

All the participants in the event, both the speakers and the artists, were graduates of WINWORK's business training, people with disabilities who decided, despite everything, to become entrepreneurs, take responsibility for their lives, and establish successful businesses. Attendees had the opportunity to support small businesses and enjoy a high-quality, empowering evening.

In this challenging year, thousands of people have joined the circle of disability due to physical and mental injuries. At WINWORK, the event created an evening full of power and hope, reminding everyone that even with a disability—whether physical or invisible—everyone deserves to fulfill their dreams, create financial independence, be happy and strong, and enjoy emotional and financial resilience.

According to a report published by the Equal Rights Commission for People with Disabilities of the Ministry of Justice, 20% of the population in Israel are people with disabilities. One in five Israelis has some form of disability. Only 57% of working-age people are employed. It’s clear to all of us that these numbers will rise this year. People who have experienced physical and emotional trauma often find themselves struggling to integrate into the existing job market, and many companies and businesses fail to adapt to the new reality of workers who have been affected. This, alongside constant cuts in government budgets and worsening conditions for those entitled.

In such situations, not only is the family livelihood affected, but also self-confidence and a sense of capability. Due to the difficulty in integrating into the job market, a new alternative is entrepreneurship—being independent. WINWORK makes the world of business accessible, trains, mentors, and enables people with disabilities to establish and manage a successful independent business. It doesn't matter if it's a road accident victim, person facing mental health challenges, a Nova survivor, a disabled IDF veteran, someone dealing with fibromyalgia, or a person who has recovered from cancer—everyone deserves personal and financial resilience.

The "Power at the Bar" evening was a celebration of inspiration and life, offering a moment to take a break from reality. On stage, four short lectures took place: To choose, to believe, to go.

Nina Gamzultova's lecture, based on a personal story, was about overcoming. At the age of 35, Nina had a stroke while breastfeeding her 3-month-old baby. In her lecture, she shared the tools that helped her cope and overcome with a lot of faith, hope, and connection to inner strengths. An inspiring lecture that connected emotionally and described her return to life's journey.

Challenging the Disability Zone

At the age of 23, just before breaking into life, Danny Germise found himself at Beit Levinstein after benign tumors settled in his spine and caused chaos. There, he discovered that from the depths of despair, with a deteriorating body, one could create comedy gold—turning the tragedy of life into a comedy of errors and presenting to the world the absurd theater of life in a wheelchair in all its glory.

Winning in a Journey We Didn’t Choose

Reut Lev's lecture was based on a groundbreaking personal life story! When doctors told her there was nothing more to be done to save her son from aggressive cancer, Reut embarked on a family journey to the other side of the world and broke all glass ceilings! From the deep fracture with his passing, she gathered practical keys for coping, and she shared some of them with the participants, so they could take them on their way to their personal life challenges.

Turning disability into Superpower

A taste of her fascinating lecture by Victoria Lieberman, discovering how disabilities or weaknesses can become sources of strength and power. Attendees discovered that everything they thought or heard about the term ‘special needs’ is just a small point in a vast world of important and life-changing insights for all of us. After over 20 years of research, through her personal story, Victoria brought a broad and refreshing perspective that touched everyone.

The event also featured sales booths: Handmade ceramics and candles by RONALE, epoxy art by SENATOR EPOXY, and micro-macramé jewelry by AMIT KAFRI.