Our Story
Idan Motola, the founder of the "Shavvim" foundation (meaning "equal" in Hebrew), has two great passions. His first love, like any dedicated father, is his children, Ohad (17.5) and Libby (15.5). Ohad was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3.5. Despite the challenges, he attends a regular high school in Hod Hasharon, sings in the school choir, and navigates the hurdles typical for a child on the spectrum.
Idan's second love is journalism, a field he has dedicated himself to for 25 years. He has held various editorial roles, including at "The Marker" website, as the correspondents' coordinator for "Yedioth Ahronoth," editor of the economic supplement "Mamon," and editor of "The Morning News" on Channel 12.
Five years ago, Idan combined his two passions into an inspiring endeavor by founding Shavvim with media and digital specialist Yaron Frost. Their goal was to harness the power of the media to benefit Israel's disability community. They believed it was time to amplify the voices of the 1.5 million Israelis with disabilities and their families, voices that are rarely heard. Shavvim aims to be a journalistic home for individuals with all types of disabilities—physical, cognitive, communicative, and mental—providing them with a platform to share their stories and experiences.
Our Vision: To empower and uplift people with disabilities in Israel through the power of media.
Shavvim's Goals
To provide essential news and information to people with disabilities and their families.
To expose the barriers and injustices faced by people with disabilities and to promote effective solutions.
To inspire policymakers to enhance the welfare and well-being of people with disabilities.
To increase the number of people with disabilities working in the media and maximize their impact.
To empower people with disabilities by providing a platform that matches their skills and amplifies their successes.
WHAT WE DO
Shavvim website
To implement its vision and objectives, Shavvim runs a news website that focuses on the lives of people with disabilities in Israel. The site highlights the daily barriers and injustices they face and works to influence decision-makers to advance solutions for this community. In 2021, the website received approximately 1.2 million visits and garnered significant follow-up coverage from major media outlets. Over its first three years, Shavvim's impact and accomplishments have steadily grown.
Most of the content on the Shavvim website is created by people with disabilities, who are trained and fully paid as correspondents by the organization. This approach empowers them to share their own experiences and successes directly.
Achievements
Our Media Courses
Shavvim, in partnership with Mifal Hapayis (Israel’s state lottery), offers professional media training for people with disabilities, helping them secure employment in the industry. Last year, we conducted a journalism and public relations course in collaboration with "Yedioth Ahronot," Israel's most popular newspaper, and its website, Ynet. This year, in partnership with The Israeli National Insurance Funds, we are expanding our training programs to include four new courses: Journalism, Public Relations, Spokesperson Profession, Digital Marketing, and TV. These courses are conducted in collaboration with "Yedioth-Ynet," Reshet 13 (a major Israeli TV channel), and Gitam BBDO (a leading advertising and marketing company).
Purple Night
The "Purple Night" project was inspired by a conversation with Prof. David Gracon, a lawyer specializing in corporate responsibility and the rights of people with disabilities. A few years ago, Prof. Gracon introduced us to the "Purple Space" organization in Britain. To raise public awareness about people with disabilities as integral members of society, this organization began lighting buildings around the world in purple (a color associated with people with disabilities) in 2017 to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) on December 3rd.
Excited by this idea, we decided to adopt it. In 2020, in collaboration with Mifal Hapayis, we inaugurated Purple Night in Israel, lighting up 110 public buildings, including the President's mansion, the Santiago Calatrava Cords Bridge in Jerusalem, the Reading Power Station in Tel Aviv, and more. We also reached out to the company managing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which generously agreed to light the tallest skyscraper in the world in purple. The project received extensive media coverage in Israel. In 2021, we expanded to light 150 buildings in Israel and several Israeli embassies worldwide.
Each year, we focus on a specific theme for the project. Last year, Purple Night called on employers to open their doors to workers with disabilities. This year, in December 2022, Purple Night will be dedicated to "integration of people with disabilities in society, in their communities, and at work." Since December 3rd falls on a Saturday, the event in Israel will be held on December 1st, two days earlier.
Our writers
Ruthie Zoaretz
A 48-year-old journalist, writer and a poet from Haifa. Bravely struggling with anorexia
Eyal Shahal
Autistic and an activist, a 21-year-old student, poet and painter from Tel-Aviv, who uses a keyboard to express himself
Jenny Belo
Content manager with a visual disability. A mother of two from Holon, who wrote before she could even talk
Guy Vaknin
Born in 1998 with weakness in the left side of the body. Has been writing series since the age of 14. Plays competitive wheelchair tennis.
Batel Mor
Content maker and producer from Petah-Tikva. Diagnosed with a visual disability and writes in big fonts
Lee Gay-ron
A 28-year-old dancer from Tel-Aviv on the autistic spectrum. Doesn't speak, but definitely writes
Eyal Levy
A 28-year-old computers major from Rishon-Lezion that can't give up on journalism. Diagnosed with Crohn's disease
Ori Itzhaki
One of the first autistic people in the Israeli press, a 28-year-old from Jerusalem. Interviewed many great personas, including Gal Gadot
Josh Aronson
Born 1986. One of the first autistic journalists in Israel. Lives with his wife in Manchester, and writes for Maariv and Shavvim
Michal Gorelik
A graphic designer with a hearing disability
What I gained from working at Shavvim
My name is Avihai Haim, and I'm 30 years old, married with one child, and living in Bat Yam. I was born with mild cerebral palsy, as it is medically termed. About two and a half years ago, I met Idan. At the time, I was between jobs and searching for an opportunity to work in the press. Unfortunately, I spent eight months without success. Many people likely couldn't see past my disability.
For the past two and a half years, I have dedicated myself to learning the craft of journalism to the best of my ability. Beyond the journalist's desire to be the first to break a story, I've learned the importance of delving deeper to present all sides of the story. I've grown tremendously during this time and now feel confident in my ability to work at any news outlet. No matter where my career takes me, Shavvim will always be my home.
Our Managing Team
The writers are closely accompanied and guided by a team of experienced editors with a rich track record in the Israeli media
Nevo Shafir
Content Editor at Shavvim
A versatile journalist, screenwriter, and poet, I have served in various editorial roles including at "Maariv" as head of the news desk and culture section editor. In 2019, I published my first poetry book, "The Stuttering Dialogue of the World." I hold a bachelor's degree in screenwriting.
Idan Motola
Co-Founder and CEO at Shavvim
With over 20 years of experience in the Israeli media, including roles at "Yedioth Ahronoth" and as the editor of the Channel 12 morning show, I bring a wealth of expertise to Shavvim. My eldest son, Ohad, is autistic, which deeply motivates my commitment to our mission.
Yaron Frost
Co-Founder and VP of Marketing at Shavvim
With over 20 years of experience in content creation, digital marketing, and strategic communications, I oversee website monetization, media, and marketing strategy at Shavvim.
Our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors
Our NGO's general assembly and board of directors include members with extensive experience in communications, many of whom have a significant personal or family connection to the world of disabilities.
- Head of the Board: Yonatan Reguer, culture reporter for News 12, who has extensive visual impairment.
- Polly Bronstein: Former CEO of V15 and the "Darkenu" movement, currently leading the "Yozmat Hamea" project.
- Ayelet Lahav: Former editor of the "Mamon Shishi" and "Maslul" supplements in "Yediot Ahronoth," currently director of marketing at Tel Aviv Medical Center ("Ichilov").
Ayelet Lahav
Former Journalist, currently director of marketing at Tel-Aviv medical center
Polly Bronstein
Leader of "Yozmat Hamea". Sister and daughter for people with disabilities
Yonatan Reguer
Culture reporter for News 12, who has extensive visual impairment
Among the members of the general assembly
Pazit Garfinkel
Senior manager at Bank
Hapoalim. Mother of a child
with a disability
Nili Reichman
Public strategy
consultant
Lee gat
Vice President of Communication at Sheba Medical Center
