Amani Women Center (AWC)

Amani Sewing Academy - ASA workforce development and job placement. A holistic approach that includes life skills training Sewing crafts & beading women economic empowerment survivors & victims services financial literacy and our unique ESL buddy project. The Amani Women Center Sewing Academy with emphasis on life skills self-sufficiency workforce development job placement and small-scale manufacturing provides a safe space with instructors sewing machines industrial machines and a fabric room. Students get a sewing kit and all accessories. The program prepares individuals to sew for themselves and for their families and join the workforce - employment in the garment apparel industry starting their own home business micro enterprise - sewing for the community applying to join AWCs small-scale in-house manufacturing and joining the team of contractual sewers - and sew for AWCs social enterprise - Johari Africa. The students are also trained to become an assistant teachers and graduate as an instructor teaching at AWC. This year AWC awarded certificates of completion to 25 graduates from 10 different countries and gifted each graduate with a new singer heavy duty sewing machine. Additionally the program provides economic empowerment to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault mostly refugees coming from a background of trauma and torture including work skills that enable them to earn livable wages. 96% of our program participants say our programs are having a positive impact on their lives and outlook and they have seen improvements in their relationships at home and beyond. 98% opened a savings account and 89% are now willing to try counseling or see a therapist. We are proud of our small-scale manufacturing team - comprising of students and alumnae who are earning income for sewing various items from contract orders. The team has been instrumental in developing our made in Clarkston line of products including crossbody bags eye glass cases pillowcases table runners aprons grocery bags make-up accessories bag coin purses and wine totes. The sewing program has a 99% Graduation rate. 72% started a home business 88% say they now earn livable wages and have improved English speaking and coping skills - a powerful testimony and credit to our program instructors and ESL volunteers.

ACALP for youth and adults receive training and skills to take on leadership roles in the community. AWC language services are manned by community ambassadors serving as advocates they provide an added value to refugee women calling in to get help. They play a critical role in reaching and educating the community using culturally tailored methodologies. They engage in civic duties educational workshops and are the trusted community voices that have undergone professional training and received certifications in various disciplines. They are front-line advocates navigators researchers among others. They are best equipped to address cultural nuances taboos and myths that are typically barriers for this community to gain access to the services that they need. Due to the diversity of the communities we serve AWC has developed this unique model to reach and help the various groups tap into resources that are available to them. AWC Community Ambassadors Leadership Program outreach efforts after the pandemic pivoted to community outreach work including transportation mobilization canvassing research dissemination translation interpretation and manning the community 1-800 helpline in different languages. The year 2023 was a continuation of the research that CDC did with AWC Ambassadors called women health needs study. AWC community ambassadors continue to work on the S.O.S. project. Save Our Sisters Initiative - S.O.S. which seeks to secure medical care for refugee women in Clarkston suffering from serious health problems caused by FGC. ACALP community mobilization and outreach efforts in partnership with Dekalb County Board of Health Dekalb County City of Clarkston & CORE vaccinated over thousand community members and children to date.

The Healthy Families Program HFP provides a safe space with wrap-around services for refugee women to be natured mentally and physically that measures and foster healthy family relationships at home and beyond. This year the staff have screened aided in translation and interpretation with applications for over 8,600 families and seniors that were approved for SNAP-food stamps CAPS-childcare Medicaid TANF Utility Assistance Rental Assistance Food Nutrition and general emergency assistance and support. 52% of our clients and survivors are in counseling therapy 89% say they have healthier families and feel supported! 88% have achieved financial and digital literacy skills. HFP addresses health iniquities health equity and provides support for program participants within the sewing program and the community at large. The program offers direct public benefits screening assistance that meets immediate needs to stabilize families including survivors. AWC case workers help the community apply for human and social services including interpretation and translation in 12 different languages. HFP wrap-around services include domestic violence prevention FGM C education and advocacy sexual assault education and advocacy counseling therapy workshops classes that teach financial literacy computer literacy ESL and civic engagement. HFP continues to assist numerous families since the pandemic and many were approved for social benefits - and still ongoing.