Nov 19, 2025

Federation Support Encourages Inclusiveness in the IDF Through AKIM’s Equal in Uniform

When you give to Federation you support the AKIM Equal in Uniform program, enabling young Israelis with intellectual disabilities to make a meaningful contribution through their IDF service. Launched in 2006, the initiative advances the mission of AKIM (Association for the Improvement of the Mentally Handicapped) Israel — to create an “equal in everything” society — and serves as a life-changing rite of passage for participants ages 21-30. In addition to preparing them for the workforce, Equal in Uniform fosters inclusiveness in Israeli society by allowing soldiers with and without disabilities to learn from one another. Meir Sachakov, a program alumnus who served in the reserves during the Gaza war, said, “It is a privilege to bring joy to my fellow soldiers who are happy with my presence,” adding, “This is family for me, inseparable from my life.”