Vocational Training - Women Escaping Prostitution

Over the course of the year, Her Academy has successfully carried out our mission to help women in Israel leave prostitution and secure stable employment, fuel economic empowerment and inspire a significant impact in the self-worth of our students. We are proud to share that 125 of our students are currently placed in stable jobs during this exceptionally challenging time. Each of these women represent a monumental achievement.

Since the start of the year, we have run 23 courses for 77 students, in a wide range of topics and disciplines, including, Beginner’s Hebrew, Beginner’s English, Advanced English, Office Management, Communications and Public Speaking, Photography, Pilates Instruction, Hostel Counselor Training, Basic Computer Skills, Employee Rights, Early Childhood Care, and more. The Hostel Counselor course is particularly meaningful, and was requested by a number of our students, as it provides specific tools and skills to allow them to give back and serve as counselors and mentors in hostels and rehabilitation facilities for youth and women at risk. We’ve also added an on-site social worker as of May 2021, to help our students process various issues and to help them focus on the rehabilitation process and not just survival.

As Israel is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented levels of unemployment, we are doing everything in our power to help our students find stable employment. This year to date, nine of our students have found employment outside of sex work, while an additional 22 students are taking part in Employment Workshops, where our students raise and process issues and challenges they face in their place of employment and we discuss various issues regarding workplace conduct, culture, norms, etc. In addition, a number of our students received promotions or moved to positions with greater benefits.

One of our main focuses for 2021, is helping our students overcome personal debts and find safe and stable housing. We have found that these two issues are of critical importance in allowing our students to focus and invest energy in their rehabilitation. Working together with the Hebrew University’s law clinic and thanks to the generosity of the Schusterman Foundation, we are working to help our students overcome debt servitude that is easily magnified, to banks, institutions and pimps, and begin the path to financial independence. In addition, we have partnered with Abraham Hostels who provide short term, low-cost housing to our students in the beginning of their journeys to rehabilitation.

We are also proud to note that in March of 2021, Her Academy’s Co-Founder and Co-Director, Iris Stern-Levi, was awarded with the Rappaport Prize as the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Laureate for Women Generating Change in Israeli Society.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

Please consider making a donation to help us continue to help our student body, https://www.heracademy.org.il/en/donations/

Best wishes for an enjoyable rest of the summer,