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WOMEN'S SPIRIT
Financial Independence - for Women Victims of Violence 

Women's Spirit, an Israeli Amuta, offers women victims of violence - physical, sexual, mental and economic violence - the tools and support with which to become financially independent. We believe that in order for women to take control of their own lives, they must be able to financially support themselves and their children.
 
Target Audience:
Women victims of violence from all sectors of Israeli society who, in their effort to change their lives, are facing poverty, unstable employment, dependence on welfare, social isolation and a strong sense of failure.
 
Organization's Goals:
Provide women victims of violence tools, guidance and support with which to become financially independent; 
Involve the local community and businesses in the program through volunteering and by raising awareness to the needs of these women; 
Create social networks by women for women, which emphasize solidarity, sharing of knowledge and both financial and personal growth.
 
Problem to be addressed:
Over 200,000 women in Israel are targets of violence. While different programs respond to the women's immediate crisis, there are no programs in Israel that prepare them for the challenges of creating an independent life. Many of the women, as they attempt to change their situation, find that they are on their own, unable to secure stable income, let alone develop satisfying career paths. Many women thus believe that their only choice is one between unstable minimum wages, dependence on welfare or returning to the home they left behind.    
 
Our program:
Developed by our professional staff, the program is structured to provide each woman with her own individual program, suited to her unique circumstances and needs.

Creating an individual occupational program - for each woman that identifies her short-term and long-term goals, and the steps to realizing them;
A variety of activities - which each woman will join according to her occupational plan. Activities include:  

Occupational assessment by an occupational psychologist;
Economic empowerment group workshop;
Individual coaching that focuses on financial independence;
Lectures and a networking/sharing club for women;
Skill development - CV writing, computer skills, body image and more.
 
Community involvement:
We believe in the strength of community, and much of our work is carried out by volunteers of different professional backgrounds, who offer professional training and support.
 
History of Women's Spirit:
Our program operates along two tracks:
Collaborating with the National Insurance Institute and welfare department - in 2007 we operated the program's pilot in Rishon LeZion; at the request of the National Insurance institute, in 2009 the program will expand to Netaniya and Jerusalem.
The Women's Spirit Regional Center - opened March 1, 2008 in south Tel Aviv. The Center offers an extended version of the program to women wishing to approach our program independently of the welfare department.
 
Women's Spirit - Impact:
At this time we can judge the impact of our pilot at this time as well as the effect of opening the Regional Center.  
The pilot program - included an economic empowerment workshop - 20 participants, and individual coaching sessions - 13 participants. 15 of the women have by now advanced their employment situation and all of the women report a significant rise in self esteem and personal strength and feel they are now part of a community of working people. Several women also offered to volunteer at the Center.
Full scale evaluation of the program is carried out by the National Insurance Institute.  
The Regional Center - Since opening its doors on April 1, 2008 the Regional Center generated much interest! At this time 24 women from the region (and Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem) have started the program; also, we have enjoyed growing collaboration with organizations and individual volunteers. In fact, our location, a run down classroom when we rented it, was completely renovated and furnished by volunteers! 
 
Donors:
Our Donors include:
The Gimprich Family Foundation, National Insurance Institute, Israel Coaching Association (in kind), Studio C (in kind), Beshutaf- Internet Community (in kind), Pa'amonim - Financial Planning (in kind), Rishon Le-Zion Municipality, Netaniyah Municipality, WIZO Jerusalem, and a large and growing pool of dedicated volunteers of various backgrounds. 

Women's Spirit is a registered Amuta no.580474658, since March 2007
 
Contact Us: Yigal Alon 30, Tel Aviv 67895, Israel
Phone: 072-250 7770; Email: ruach-nashit@012.net.il