Eurovision winner sings praises of WIZO at gala dinner - The Jewish Chronicle

A Eurovision winner performed at WIZO’s annual dinner on Monday and spoke about how her time at one of the charity’s daycare centres helped to shape her creativity from a very young age.

The internationally acclaimed Ladino singer-songwriter Nani Vazana, who won Eurovision for Minority Languages (also known as Liet International) in 2024, told the audience of her formative years spent in Be’er Sheva, in southern Israel.

“At the WIZO daycare, one thing the teachers knew about me was I did not like sleeping in the afternoon,” said Amsterdam-based Vazana, who told guests how she would stay up with her teachers, helping to clear up but also developing her creative self. “We always sang and danced together.”

In a set that had the audience singing along in the endangered Ladino language that has its roots in the descendants of Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition more than 500 years ago, Vazana played rousing numbers, including Una Segunda Piel (Second Skin), the song that won her the Eurovision accolade.

Nani singing at the WIZO UK gala dinner (Photo: Blake Ezra)[Missing Credit]

Speaking to the JC before the event, Vazana said the opportunity to perform at WIZO’s dinner and awards “really touched” her because of her own experience and that of her grandmother, who was in a WIZO institute for assisted living.

“For me, it’s very close to my heart. I really like what they do, and it’s important to give something to charity.”

Vazana described the daycare as being “a home away from home”. She said: “I would just hang out there and play.

“I felt like I was understood and given the freedom to do what I wanted. For me, it was essential to have that freedom to be able to be creative.”

Vazana performed before and after WIZO UK’s first Entrepreneur Awards – launched following the success of the organisation’s Commitment Awards.

WIZO UK's Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Andrii Cherkashyn, at WIZO UK's gala dinner (Photo: Blake Ezra)[Missing Credit]

Celebrating entrepreneurship across sectors from innovation and creativity to public service and purpose-driven business, the awards recognise individuals whose vision, resilience and social impact reflect WIZO’s mission to empower and improve lives.

The seven winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges, including Claude Littner of The Apprentice fame, and were given their awards by philanthropists David Dangoor and entrepreneur Linda Plant.

Linda Plant said the resilience and achievements of the winners “sums up the Jewish people. This is what we are. Try as they may, they will never put us down.”

Dangoor told WIZO supporters: “WIZO has a long history of shining a spotlight on special people whose hard work and creativity add so much value to society. This opportunity to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit and talent of young people alongside established entrepreneurs promises to be transformative.”

(l-r) WIZO UK's Creative Entrepreneur of the Year, Jonny Caplan, with Linda Plant and David Dangoor (Photo: Blake Ezra)[Missing Credit]

The audience heard that 39 per cent of children in Sderot had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since the Hamas attack of October 7, yet just four per cent had so far been treated. All proceeds raised by the dinner will go towards vital services delivered in the community. These include providing focused meaningful attention to traumatised children; the Safety Net programme, which helps the rising number of women experiencing domestic violence to become financially independent; supporting mothers juggling childcare, work and the emotional demands of the current situation and improving disability access for the many casualties from the ongoing conflict.

Funds will also go towards essential repairs from war damage to WIZO community centres.

Chairperson of WIZO Israel Ora Korazim said: “Israel is at war. Twenty-six thousand rockets have been fired at Israel in two years. People in Israel are traumatised and are living in fear… Our mission today is to continue to strengthen Israeli society as much as possible, while at the same time, to continue to conduct daily life and ensure a functioning civil society.”

WIZO's annual gala dinner (Photo: Blake Ezra)[Missing Credit]

The British barrister and legal director of UK Lawyers for Israel Natasha Hausdorff gave the final speech of the evening, which was compered by comedian and writer Josh Howie.

Hausdorff said: “Resilience was mentioned over and over again this evening, and resilience epitomises not just the story of the state of Israel, but of the Jewish people. And everything we have seen over the last few years is testament to that.”

Danielle Shane, Chair of WIZO UK, said at the end of the gala: “WIZO’s Gala Dinner was an unforgettable evening that brought our community together in strength and solidarity. We were proud to celebrate not only WIZO’s life-changing work in Israel, but also the remarkable winners of our first Entrepreneur Awards. Their vision and resilience embody the very values WIZO stands for, hope, impact, and building a stronger future.”

(l-r) WIZO UK's Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year Tash Grossman, Linda Plant and David Dangoor at WIZO UK's annual dinner (Photo: Blake Ezra)[Missing Credit]

WIZO UK’s CEO Maureen Fisher added: “This year’s gala dinner showed the extraordinary power of our supporters when we come together. Through the launch of the Entrepreneur Awards, we not only celebrated outstanding talent and resilience but also engaged a new generation with WIZO’s mission.”

nanimusic.com for information on Nani’s music and tour dates

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WIZO UK