Shared Hope’s domestic WIN training program is designed to help women develop skills and gain practical job experience. Typically these women have had difficult life experiences such as domestic abuse, childhood abuse, commercial sexual abuse, drug addiction and/or time in a correctional facility. These experiences have left the women with low self-esteem and lack of employable skills. Many of the women who enter the program have faced homelessness and lost custody of their children due to their life circumstances.
Our nine-month WIN training program, provides opportunity for these women to learn job skills so they can enter/reenter the work force and support themselves and their families. In addition to job skills, the women learn how to work in a professional business environment and develop personal life skills so they can begin to build confidence and self-esteem. The program is based in Vancouver, Washington in our corporate headquarters. Women in the program commit 20-25 hours a week to train on-site and are provided a stipend to off set expenses. The WIN training program is divided into three phases. With each phase, the intern’s skills are assessed and goals are set so she receives a well-rounded experience.
Phase I: The intern is acclimated to the working environment and basic skills are assessed. In this phase, she begins to learn basic office procedures, computer skills, data entry functions, and phone systems. Appropriate office etiquette, professionalism, and collaborative teamwork are essential skills developed in this phase of training.
Phase II: The intern continues to enhance her skills in office procedures, interoffice communication, and general correspondence. The intern also learns to manage challenges which may arise on the job. In addition, she learns how to cope with personal issues while working on techniques to deal with stress, time management, and personal responsibility.
Phase III: During the last phase, the intern may participate in special projects along with continued enhancement of her office skills. This may include basic bookkeeping functions, creating office documents, Internet research, communications functions, and marketing projects. The intern will continue to focus on career exploration as she prepares her resume in preparation to exit the training program. Educational opportunities may also be assessed dependent on the intern’s interest in pursing higher education and a degree program.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a continual basis and are assessed as the next opening becomes available. Friends, family, churches and non-government groups refer most interns to the program.
Applicants must submit an application, volunteer for 4 hours and write a letter to assess basic literacy.
For more information and applications details, please contact Maria Campoli or call 360-693-8100.
Sara’s Story
Sara found herself facing the future with hardly any marketable job skills. Continuing her life of drug abuse which had followed an abusive sexual relationship in her early teens was definitely not an option for her any longer. She was determined to become self-reliant and a better mother to her son. She had successfully completed the life skills and parenting classes offered by a local homeless shelter, so they referred her to the WIN Program at Shared Hope International.
“Since the first day of my internship,” says Sara, “I have been surrounded by support and encouragement.” Sara gained hands-on experience, learning computer and office skills. More importantly, she says, “I gained the confidence I needed to believe I really would be able to support my son and myself. Being part of an organization that rescues women around the world while at the same time becoming better equipped for a career has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Sara says she is now much more prepared to get the type of job she needs. “I am back in classes to complete my GED and hope to start on a college degree this year. None of this would be possible if it hadn’t been for the (WIN) intern program. Shared Hope exists to rescue women. These are powerful words, and to women in the WIN Program they are life changing.”
When Sara drops in at the SHI office, she seems confident and positive. She continually thanks her friends at SHI for their support and encouragement. We are thankful for Sara and the example she presents to our newest interns – showing them that they, too, can have a better life.
