Outbrave Relief – Fighting for a better world

Outbrave Relief provides postpartum support to war-affected Israeli and Palestinian families.

Outbrave Relief is a humanitarian nonprofit rooted in Jerusalem and New York. We provide postpartum support to war-affected families in Israel and Gaza.

To save one life is to sustain an entire world.

Why Postpartum Care Matters

The postpartum period is one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life – a moment of profound transformation, physical healing, and emotional intensity. Yet it remains one of the most neglected phases in maternal healthcare.

Even in high-income, well-resourced societies, more than 1 in 10 women experience childbirth as traumatic. Over half of all mothers or newborns face medical complications after birth that require professional care. These challenges not only endanger maternal health, but can have lasting consequences for a child’s cognitive, emotional, and physical development.

In war-affected areas, the need for care becomes even more urgent. Exposure to trauma, disrupted support systems, and prolonged instability leave deep imprints on families. In these settings, the absence of postpartum care isn’t just a service gap – it’s a direct threat to the health, resilience, and future of entire communities.

The science is clear: when mothers thrive, babies thrive. Caring for mothers in the critical weeks after birth doesn’t just save lives – it safeguards the well-being of the next generation.

About our Team

Outbrave Relief’s founding team is made up of dedicated professionals based in Israel and the United States – united by a shared commitment to advancing women’s health and transforming the landscape of postpartum care in crisis zones.

Mirjam van de Giessen

President & Executive Director

Urte Leopold

Deputy Director

Catie Newell

Vice-President & Treasurer on the Board

Dr. Mushira Aboodia

Board Director

Fanny Golan

Board Secretary

We provide postpartum care to war-affected families

Recovery in Israel

In Israel’s south and northern border villages, daily life has been marked by fear, deep uncertainty, and trauma since October 2023. Tens of thousands of families have been displaced from their homes, while others remain just beyond the evacuation zones – living under constant threat of missiles, drones, and sirens. Entire communities have been uprooted. Homes, schools, synagogues, agricultural lands, and forests lie in ruins. Livelihoods have been lost. The fabric of everyday life has been violently disrupted. For new mothers, this means giving birth and recovering far from home, in unfamiliar towns or temporary housing.

Outbrave Relief is responding with home-based postpartum care. Guided by Israeli midwives and maternal health experts, we support Israeli mothers of all backgrounds in frontline communities – offering safety, care, and a sense of human connection as they begin to heal and rebuild their lives.

We provide essential supplies to mothers and babies in need

Emergency help in Gaza

In Gaza, the humanitarian situation has severely deteriorated, leaving thousands of women and newborns in deeply vulnerable conditions. Amid war, displacement, and the breakdown of essential medical services, many mothers are giving birth in overcrowded shelters or under-resourced hospitals, often without access to basic supplies or professional support. With over 4,000 births each month and limited hygienic resources, Outbrave Relief provides postpartum aid through trusted healthcare partners.

Our postpartum kits – which include essential hygiene items, and educational materials – are designed to protect maternal and newborn health in war, recognizing the shared humanity of mothers on both sides of the border. Every baby deserves a safe start, and every mother deserves access to vital care after giving birth.

Prefer to donate via bank wire?

For larger gifts or institutional giving, we’re happy to provide secure wire instructions.
Please email Mirjam, our Executive Director, at mirjam@outbraverelief.org for assistance.

Donations via international wire are also possible. We’d love to hear from you and support the method that works best for you.

Outbrave Relief is a registered charity in the State of New York and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

All donations are tax-deductible in the United States to the fullest extent allowed by law. EIN: 33-3116383

Have questions?

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