Sisters - Changing Reality Together

In her mid-40s, she decided to start her life anew . She gathered strength and stood at the entrance of Her Academy. After years in the cycle of prostitution and violence, she decided she had to find another way to live her life. When she came to us, she had no self-confidence. She had lost faith in the system long before. Her life had always been a state of survival and loneliness, a life of hiding. At Her Academy we believe that as a society, we must be there for each and every woman who comes to our door, and that it is our duty to walk down this path together as sisters. * * * According to estimates of field organizations, there are more than 16,000 women and men in Israel living in situations of prostitution and violence. 95% of them are women, over 70% mothers. They can be our neighbors, our relatives, the mother of our child’s friend from kindergarten. Without us being aware of it. Women in situations of prostitution and violence who want to change their lives must break through concrete ceilings, and there is no way to do that without a stable livelihood. But how do you apply for a job without having a resume? How do you get used to the demands of a job market that you never knew? How do you rent an apartment when, after years in prostitution, no bank allows you to issue checks?  At “Her Academy the impossible is happening. Women who were never given an opportunity now get a hug, a computer, work attire and access to vocational courses that allow them to integrate into the job market successfully. Students can choose from a wide variety of courses , such as Secretarial Skills, Back Office, Mentors in Rehabilitation Centers, Child Care Support, Introduction to Computer Graphics, Digital Marketing, Rights at the Workplace, English and Hebrew language courses and more. * * * But studies are only half the story. Most students arrive at Her Academy without any safety net; most of them were sexually assaulted as children and contend with severe post-trauma. Most have been relegated to a life in  danger and transience and are fighting against a harsh social stigma.Despite all, they have not lost their dreams and hope for changing their reality for the better. Her Academy’s staff and its many volunteers strive to enable our students to achieve their dreams. For the first time in their lives, they are not alone on this journey. They have someone to trust, and even more, they learn to trust themselves and recognize their enormous strengths. Every student who enters  Her Academy is enveloped in warmth and is accompanied along her journey. This allows her to concentrate and persevere in her studies and escape survival mode. Volunteer lawyers assist in exercising rights before the authorities. The job placement department works towards job market integration. Hot meals are cooked daily by volunteers The cupboards and drawers are filled with a variety of basic food and hygiene products every student can take as needed. The staff ensures every student has a safe roof over her head and a bed to sleep in, and assist in emergency situations. In 8 years of activity, 434 students have studied at Her Academy, and the results are incredible: every year, some 60 percent of the graduates eligible for work are successfully integrated into the workforce! One of them is the student whose story we opened with; oday, she works as a mentor at a center for people with disabilities with her head held high. Her employers are delighted with her, and her confidence and self-image have transformed.  Like her, many other women want to take the opportunity to change their lives. * * * October 7th proved once again that women are more vulnerable and more exposed to violence in times of war and economic crisis, all the more so when they are vulnerable to begin with. As survivors of sexual violence , and in dealing  with post-trauma, the events of October 7th and beyond  took a heavy mental and physical toll on our  students, resulting in increased  panic attacks, functional regression, inability to leave the house, and more. During the first months of the war, Her Academy focused on creating a network to support students, enabling them to keep their heads above water - so they can continue on the path they started. This is precisely our role as a society in moments of crisis: to take care of our sisters and brothers. This is our test. Together. Join us. Be our sisters on this path. Help strengthen Her Academy. We need your help to respond to the vast needs that arise in the field. Making a donation will allow more women to change the course of their lives, ensure our ability to respond to emergencies, and strengthen our network. Their success is the success of all of us all. * * * Further information about Her Academy: ● Her Academy is a feminist social school established 8 years ago by activists Iris Stern Levi and Tal Hamoui . Its goal is to enable women living in situations of prostitution and violence to study a vocation in an enabling and adapted space that provides them with the tools, knowledge, and skills  to help them integrate into the job force and Israeli society. ● Since our founding, over 300 women have volunteered at Her Academy in a variety of positions, including course coordinators, lecturers, cooks, lawyers, mentors, and more, contributing the most important resources: care, time, knowledge, and experience. ● Her Academy operates two branches, one in Tel Aviv and a recently opened branch in  Haifa. ● In 2023, 136 students studied at Her Academy in 42 different courses. They graduated with an impressive 85% success rate!!