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Yana Knopova - Ziferblat

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+54 11 6234-3983

Yana Ziferblat - Consultant, Psycho-Social Trainer, Social Change & Empowerment

        Yana Ziferblat is a psycho-social consultant with over 23 years of experience in promoting sustainable social change, community development, and the empowerment of marginalized groups. She holds  A degree in Psychology from Haifa Univercity, with aditional specializations in sociologya nd anthropology. and an advanced degree in gender studies from central European Univercity. Her work spans interdisciplinary knowledge and multiple regions,  advocating for on tan intersection meeting and interelation of of social justice, personal and comunity growth, and support of change makers. 

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Personal Background

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     Born into a family that valued education and social responsibility, Yana Ziferblat grew up in Ukraine, where she developed a deep understanding of the complexities of social structures and inequalities. Her personal experiences living through political transitions and witnessing social injustices shaped her passion for human rights and community development. As a young adult, Yana relocated to Israel, where she became actively involved in the feminist anti-occupation movement in Palestine-Israel, advocating for justice and equality. These experiences solidified her commitment to working in conflict zones and supporting individuals affected by trauma, marginalization, and discrimination.

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     Yana’s intercultural background and life experiences in diverse regions have greatly influenced her holistic approach to consulting and training. She is fluent in several languages, including Ukrainian, Hebrew, Spanish and English, which allows her to engage with communities and organizations around the world in a deeply personal and meaningful way.

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Decrees and acreditations

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  • Central European University (Hungary), where she earned an MA in Gender Studies with full fellowship and received an excelency recognition for her significant contribution to World  women's and gender historiography.

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  • University of Haifa (Israel), where she obtained a BA in Psychology, with minors in Sociology and Anthropology.

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  • Additional qualifications include a Diploma in Project Cycle Management from the EU Commission, and certificates in Informal Education, Migration Studies, and teaching Hebrew and Jewish History from the Israeli Ministry of Education.

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Global Experience and Contributions:

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     Yana's international career includes working in Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia, Israel, Palestine, Canada, Spain, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Serbia, Bosnia, Israel, Palestine, Canada, Russia, Spain, and Hungary. She has developed and led hundreds of training programs for community leaders, youth trainers, and religious groups. Her methodologies incorporate formal and informal education frameworks that she has applied in universities, schools, religious organizations, and activist movements.

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Specialization in Vulnerable Groups and GBV Prevention:

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     Yana has extensive experience consulting with international foundations and NGOs, particularly in the areas of gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, the well-being of grantees, and the development of programs that support at-risk populations. Her work with the Disability Rights Fund in Ukraine is a testament to her dedication to the empowerment of people living with disabilities and her deep understanding of intersectional discrimination.

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Among her notable achievements, Yana served as the general coordinator of the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel, a groundbreaking Arab-Jewish organization advocating for a just peace in the Middle East. Her leadership was crucial in uniting diverse voices for peace and fostering collaboration across cultural and political divides. During this time, she also co-founded a network of women human rights defenders (HRDs) from the former Soviet Union, further amplifying the voices of marginalized communities on the global stage.

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    In her consulting capacity, Yana develops tailored strategies that address the specific needs of women, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups. She advocates for an integrated approach that draws from her background in psychology, sociology, and critical historical analysis to create solutions that are both practical and sustainable.

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Creation of the "Flow" Rehabilitation and Training Center:

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Inspired by her work in conflict zones and her passion for social justice, Yana founded the Flow Rehabilitation and Training Center. In the work of teh cneter methodological innovation is combuned with practical support for social change agents, integrating knowledge from psychology, sociology, philosophy, and history to develop holistic approaches to individual and collective recovery. Over five years, more than 700 participants from India, the former Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union, Israel, Palestine, Europe, and North America have benefited from the center's programs.

    The Flow Center emphasizes the development of resilience in the face of professional burnout and social marginalization. Its programs empower individuals with the tools and frameworks necessary to sustain their activism and leadership in the face of systemic challenges. Yana’s commitment to the well-being of social change-makers is reflected in the success of the center’s graduates, many of whom have gone on to lead impactful initiatives in their own countries.

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Innovative Methodologies and Educational Leadership:

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     Yana's work extends beyond community activism into the realm of pedagigical nnovation approaches are designed to foster leadership development, resilience, and empowerment among diverse groups, including youth, community leaders, and religious figures. She has taught and trained in both formal and informal educational settings, tailoring her approaches to meet the unique needs of her students and collaborators.

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     Her training sessions often combine elements of feminista nd LGBTQIA friendly Christian psychology> significant part of her work focus on supporting clergy, monastic communities, and parish families. 

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Focus on Cyberpsychology and the Challenges of the Digital Age:

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    In addition to her work in community and educational development, Yana has taken a keen interest in the emerging field of cyberpsychology. She explores the psychological impacts of modern technology, particularly the ways in which excessive exposure to digital environments can contribute to stress, depression, and social isolation. Yana's research focuses on the long-term consequences of the transition to the Knowledge Age, where information and technology play a dominant role in shaping human experiences. 

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Her studies in this field emphasize the mental health challenges associated with cyber addiction, online bullying, and the pervasive sense of isolation that can result from digital interactions. She argues that the widespread use of technology is leading to an increase in post-traumatic stress and neurotic disorders, especially among younger generations. Yana’s insights into these phenomena have been invaluable to her work with organizations that aim to mitigate the negative psychological impacts of the digital age.

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    Intersectional Approach to Social Justice:

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    Throughout her career, Yana has championed an intersectional approach to social justice, one that takes into account the complex ways in which different forms of discrimination—such as sexism, racism, ableism, and homophobia—interact to exacerbate social inequalities. Her work with multiple marginalized groups reflects her deep commitment to creating inclusive spaces where all voices are heard and respected.

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     Yana’s approach integrates trauma-informed methodologies, recognizing the deep psychological impact that systemic discrimination and chronic stress can have on individuals and communities. By combining her expertise in psychology, social analysis, and historical context, she is able to offer unique solutions to the challenges faced by marginalized populations in both real-world and virtual environments.

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Key Areas of Expertise:

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  • Community Development & Empowerment: Building strong, resilient communities that promote social change and support marginalized groups.

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  • Post-Trauma Recovery: Specialized programs designed to help individuals recover from professional burnout, trauma, and discrimination.

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  • Gender-Based Violence Prevention: Consulting on GBV prevention strategies and supporting vulnerable populations, including women and LGBTQIA groups.

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  • Digital Age & Cyberpsychology: Researching the psychological impacts of technology, including internet addiction, cyberbullying, and the long-term effects of digital interactions.

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  • Intersectional Analysis: Addressing the complexities of discrimination by focusing on the intersection of race, gender, disability, and sexuality in shaping social inequalities.

Work Experience

July 2011
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December 2024

April 2003
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August 2008

June 1995
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Otober 2002

Integral Change Center (Global, with offices in Eastern Europe)

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           led over a hundred and fifty training sessions and courses  in mental health and psychosocial support and education (MHPSE) for change makers from a variety of national and transnational bodies.  

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         designed multiple professional development programs in support of change makers and social change movements for mental health professionals.

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          gave over 10 000 hours of individual psychotherapy,  supervision, strategic and crisis transformation’ consultancies for change makers from 42 countries.

           

          led cross - cultural, multi lingua-l interreligious and peacebuilding  dialogues in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine and Belarus. 

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         worked in strategic counseling and provided crisis transformation support to over 2500 individual change makers, from organizations, networks  and transnational bodies from North America, East and West Europe, Balkans, Middle East, CIS, North Caucasus, Central and East Asia. 

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          provided strategic counseling  and support to democratic and progressive actors in times of national turbulence and post war recovery in Bosnia, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Israel-Palestine. 

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          supervised an opening of domestic, gender and sexual abuse hotlines, and specialists working in these hotlines, in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Russia  and Belarus. 

 

           directly assisted founding 12 organizations, focused on women and LGBTQIA rights in multiple countries. 

 

          adviced and consulted multiple granting bodies working in feminist, disability and LGBTQIA fields, including Urgent Action Fund, Disability Rights fund and others. 

 

            supported and supervised holistic support of hundreds of  sexual, state, gender and domestic abuse’ survivors, supervised and organized safety and security relocations and recovery frameworks for multiple human rights defenders, participated and advised multiple advocacy campaigns for well being and emotional security of activists and human rights defenders. 

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           held over 1,000 public events, lecture series and courses, led multinational and multi-sectoral public campaigns in 42 countries in cooperation with following partners:

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             professional development seminars and courses on psychosocial education and support:

Disability Rights Fund, Citi Bank, Kyiv University, Central European University, The Ukrainian Center for Equal Employment, Smile of a Child, United Nations, AWID,  People in Need, Amnesty International, Society of Missionaries of Charity,  Roman Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church,  Russian LGBT network, SILK, Belarusian women’ political opposition networks. 

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                minority rights, leadership, gender and child protection mainstreaming ToT and focus groups:

Urgent Action Fund, Ukrainian Women Fund, North Caucasian Women network, Peacebuilding UK, Central European University, Bosnian Women network, OAK foundation, Association Okvir, South Asian Network of Women and Girls Living with Disabilities, Belarusian women network.

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                psychological wellbeing and burnout recovery courses for human rights defenders and political parties:

Kvinna till Kvinna foundation, Urgent Action Fund, Peacebuilding UK, Russian LGBT network, SILK, Green European network, South Asian Network of Women and Girls Living with Disabilities. 

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            individual and group post-trauma and burnout recovery counseling, professional development courses for mental health professionals -change makers:

North Caucasian Women Network, Peacebuilding UK, Russian LGBT Network, Ukrainian  Women Fund, Global Human Rights fund, Society of The Missionaries of Charity, the Eucharistic Sisters, the Franciscans.

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           project evaluation, program management, sustainable development, diversity, psychosocial well-being, life-work balance consultancy:

South Asian Network of Women and Girls Living with Disabilities, Urgent Action Fund, Peacebuilding UK, Ukrainian Women Fund, Disability Rights Fund.

Coalition of Women for Peace (CWP), Israel

 General coordinator

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         coordinated  work of hundreds of  volunteers and several team members of the largest women Arab-Jewish civil society coalition in Israel.

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         managed network and community building, facilitation, organizational consulting, project evaluation, diversity management, and recruitment for the Just Peace’ networks of CWP and for a network of 40 other Palestinian and Israeli organizations. Lead international advocacy efforts on intersection of gender and just peace in the Middle East. 

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       mupported strategic public policy visioning, technical guidance and leadership, including identifIcation of programming gaps, evaluation and introduction of assessment and monitoring tools. Contributed to capacity building of CWP and its member organizations.

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       founded  an association of migrant women leaders from the CIS; managed programs for  youth democratic leadership development.

The Jewish Agency, Hashomer Hatzair, Israel, Ukraine, Belarus

Senior trainer, school teacher, boarding school instructor. 

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         designed and held leadership development courses. 

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         facilitated and coordinated professional development seminars for agency’  leadership and the transnational body of the managers of the Agency. 

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        taught Hebrew language and Jewish history in the democratic school of Ameer kibbutz

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         served as an educational officer in a boarding school for migrant children

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         designed, developed and lead ToTs

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Yana Ziferblat - Knopova 

"There is always a more accurate truth that brings us closer to realizing how much we still don't know the truth."

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