Ruach Nashit - Economic Independence for Women

Women's Spirit is an Israeli non-profit which assists women victims of violence to develop financial independence and occupational security.

If women victims of violence are to succeed in becoming financially independent they need long term support, individual guidance including coaching and mentoring as well as personalized strategies of action. 

• Personally 80% if the women report increase in a sense of capability and motivation to make a change in their future financially and occupationally
• Professionally 80% of the women have made concrete steps for realizing their occupational paths including: employment; signing up for school (one MA; one GED equivalent; medical secretary etc.;  commitments to a mentor and/or coacher)

      Rivka resident of South Tel Aviv; aged 33; divorced; Ethiopian immigrant; mother of 2

Not This Time – Rivka came to "Crossing the Street" after she had moved from a Battered Women's Shelter. Though violence against women occurs in all strata's of society, most women that FLEE for their lives to a battered women's shelter in Israel, have absolutely nowhere else to go, poverty stricken and in fear for their lives.  Thank goodness for the crisis intervention of the battered women shelters.  BUT once the "crisis" is over and reality hits – many end up going back because a woman who believes that they have no financial ability to take care of themselves or their children go back to the "danger zone" in order to eat, sleep and be clothed but NOT THIS TIME! This time Rivka became part of Women's Spirit program and today she is working in a nursery school, renting an apartment and providing  for herself and her children.

      Peataya resident of Jaffa,; aged 43; widowed; mother of 6  

Climbing Her Mountain – Peataya came to "Crossing the Street" with big brave and bold ideas for herself!  She had had enough! Presently she is working part-time as a housecleaner;  enrolled at the local college to study developmental psychology; studying in our Computer Course; working with a mentor; and  Climbing Her Mountain.   "I am losing no time in making up for all the time I lost"!

Another positive impact has been on the various welfare departments that we are working with. The social workers and the welfare department looked at these women as "lost cases" and they now see their capabilities and potentials and not just another in the line of generational "welfare handouts" and community weights."  In fact, we are expanding this program to the North of Israel, which reflects the positive reaction to the program and its long term benefits to stop the cycle of violence of women by creating women with financial independence.

Links:

• http://www.ruach-nashit.org.il/page.asp?p=78