Vocational Training - Women Escaping Prostitution

Over the course of 2021, Her Academy successfully completed 44 courses for 113 students! For the coming year, we are planning to reach over 200 students - 200 women who have successfully exited prostitution, or are in the process of doing so, and are beginning a new chapter in their lives, one of survival, hope, optimism and independence. 

Among our accomplishments of the past year - 

1. Her Academy was recognized by Israel's Ministry of Welfare as the sole provider of vocational courses and job placement services for women escaping prostitution and is receiving funding from the ministry for our work.

2. We've partnered with the legal clinic of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to offer pro bono legal support to our students in need of help with debt bondage, employee rights, opening bank accounts, sign rental contracts and grant pardons and clear criminal records of students who were convicted of crimes related to prostitution. In December of 2020, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, together with Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn, announced a special program to expunge the criminal records of convicted prostitutes, saying, “life in prostitution means daily, unbearable exposure to violence, poverty, addiction and exploitation…. This is life on the brink of death. It is our duty, as a country, as a society, to help rehabilitate sex workers.” This program allows these women to have their criminal records erased and to start a new life. The clinic is currently working with a number of our students on this important mission, as part of the rehabilitative process and their reintegration into mainstream society.

3. We've experienced tremendous growth and have grown from a professional staff of three to a staff of nine dedicated staff members who work tirelessly to support our students.

4. We continue to support our students in securing and maintaining safe and stable housing, one of the main challenges facing our students. Thanks to generous support, we continue to provide rent subsidies to our students in greatest need, as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support of Her Academy's work and for enabling our students to realize their potential and integrate into the Israeli workforce and society.

Links:

• http://www.HerAcademy.org.il