Assisting low-income women to achieve economic independence.

ASSET BUILDING

Economic Empowerment for Women—EEW (2008-2011)
Saving for the Future: An Asset-Building and Management Program promotes asset development among low-income women who manage microenterprises, based on the U.S. model of the Individual Development Account (IDA). The elements of the IDA include (a) targeted savings amounts (b) a "match" through charitable or government funds (c) savings held over time (d) restricted use of savings (e) financial literacy and (f) individual support. The Hadassah Foundation provided the initial grants to establish EEW and support A Business of One's Own and Access to Markets, the first microenterprise programs in Israel run by and for women (2000-2006).

BUSINESS TRAINING & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Supportive Community (2007-2011)
The Economic and Social Empowerment Project was founded by immigrants from the former Soviet Union to help women in their own and other population groups. It promotes social integration and community involvement by assisting women in creating and developing businesses through empowerment programs, microenterprise loans, business forums and networking, and direct business consultation and guidance.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING & JOB PLACEMENT

IT Works (2011)
The Women's Empowerment Program (WEP) is a comprehensive, eight-month program that teaches low-income women (ages 18-35) technological and professional skills, provides them with certification from Cisco Systems, and assists them in finding skilled employment in the high-tech sector.

Women's Spirit (2011)
Women's Spirit works to promote economic independence for women who are victims of domestic violence. Spheres of Influence is a professional women's network that provides mentoring, access to jobs, and hands-on coaching in the world of work.

LEGAL AID

Center for Women's Justice (2008-2011)
The Public Interest Litigation Project pursues precedent-setting litigation and legal advocacy on behalf of women who have suffered unjust treatment, discrimination, or whose basic human rights have been infringed upon when seeking a divorce.

Itach-Maaki—Women Lawyers for Social Justice (2005-2010)
Equal Access to Earning: Facilitating Equal Economic Opportunities for Arab Women. Itach-Maaki is a public interest law organization working on behalf of low-income Israeli women. Itach helps women to file employment-related lawsuits and form peer support groups, and educates the public about issues affecting women.

Itach will publish a report on workplace discrimination against Arab women; raise the issue in the media; and submit legal claims, where appropriate. The Hadassah Foundation previously provided grants for Access to Justice for Low-Income Working Women, which provides legal assistance and information concerning women's rights and privileges under the law (2005-2010).

The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center, Bar Ilan University (2007-2011)
The Clinic for Legal Aid for Women in Family Law provides legal counsel to women seeking a divorce. It works proactively to improve policy and practice by educating future family lawyers to safeguard women's rights and advocating for changes in Israeli family law.

POLICY EDUCATION & COALITION BUILDING

Adva Center (2006-2011)
The Women's Budget Forumanalyzes the budget of the State of Israel using a gender lens. A coalition of organizations, the Forum educates about the role of gender in the Israeli national budget. It focuses on issues such as women's business development, job training for low-income women, and childcare assistance for working mothers.

New Israel Fund, Shatil (2007-2011)
Equality and Dignity in the Workforce focuses on wage gaps, working conditions and promotion opportunities in the public sector, where two-thirds of Israeli working women are concentrated, and where their salaries are far lower than their male counterparts.

Previously, The Hadassah Foundation provided grants for Advancing Economic Empowerment for Women, a project that included support for microenterprise initiatives, business training courses for low-income women, and management assistance to not-for-profits (2007-2010).