How it Works

Lack of employment opportunities that consider and make adjustments for their backgrounds is the largest contributing factor to why many women never escape. Providing economic empowerment that supports their recovery and healing process and provides them with the needed life skills turns vulnerability into empowered, sustainable living. In doing so, not only do we allow our survivors to flourish, but also ensure that the children of these women will experience a different training ground for life.

Three female friends smiling together.

Finding and sustaining gainful employment is one of the most exploitable vulnerabilities our women experience.

  • have a criminal record. The US judicial system has miles to go in recognizing the nuance between prostitution and trafficking. Unfortunately, this leaves many victims trapped without the hope of other employment. Traffickers exploit this vulnerability.
  • are still learning job skills; many having never worked outside the sex industry.
  • come from broken homes where even basic life and job skills are a learning process.
  • are still overcoming the trauma of being trafficked. Having on-site guidance and support allows them to learn job skills while healing and can be life changing
  • are beaten down psychologically and believe they are incapable or unworthy of “normal or regular” jobs and economic empowerment.
  • have addiction backgrounds and need supportive care and encouragement that considers this reality.
  • were often not (or rarely) exposed to a solid work ethic and discipline necessary to succeed.
  • need to develop problem-solving skills and self-sufficiency.
  • need a family to do life with. We become the family members who change flat tires, process difficult days, and offer support and resources when inevitable crises happen. Rather than feeling trapped and helpless and often returning to exploitation, they have a support network.
Potted plant with large green leaves
Flowchart that explains partnership between Peace Promise, Good Ground Coffee & Soaps by Survivors