WIZO takes Garden Day to Arcadia

Gardening enthusuasts love this event – now in its 13th consecutive year – as they get to see Johannesburg’s prettiest private gardens.

Arcadia House – which was the home of the Jewish orphanage for over 80 years – was sold to Hollard Insurance and the Enthoven family in 2003. Both the house and surrounding gardens have been lovingly restored. The Enthoven family generously opened Arcadia for WIZO. Prior to the visit to Arcadia, our guests enjoyed another beautiful private garden in Westcliff.

Helen Maisels, vice president of WIZO SA and members of the Etgar branch, chaired the event.

Patrick Watson and Oscar Lockwood, considered the doyens of the indigenous gardening and landscaping industry in South Africa, spoke to a rapt audience in one of Arcadia’s magnificent rooms.

Maisels told the audience that WIZO’s main objective is the empowerment of women through programmes and projects which stretch from lobbying in the Knesset to providing shelters for abused women, the establishment of day-care centres, schools and training colleges for children and young adults.

In South Africa, WIZO operates outreach organisations dedicated to supporting women and children, and it donates a portion of the funds it raises to local charities.