| Abstract: | The article examines the effectiveness of a community programmedesigned for Jewish Israeli mothers who have been exposed toterrorism. The aim of the intervention was to empower the womenand increase their sense of belonging to the community, andto reduce stress symptoms, mainly by encouraging and facilitatingtheir participation in community activities. Thirty-eight women,all residents of the same terror-ridden community, participatedin intensive workshops over a six month period designed to helpthem to become active in the community. The workshops providedthe women with the information and skills required for activityin the community projects in which they were interested. A qualitativeevaluation reveals that, at the end of the programme, most ofthe women reported that they felt better and more secure, andall of the women were participating in at least one activityin the community. The quantitative evaluation revealed lowerlevels of distress, higher levels of empowerment and no changein the feelings of belonging to the community. The implicationsof these findings are discussed in light of the persistenceof terror and theories of community intervention. |
