Amani Women Center (AWC)

This year AWC awarded certificates of completion to 23 graduates from 8 different countries and gifted each graduate with a new singer 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.93% 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.96% opened a savings account and 84% are now willing to try counseling or see a therapist.We 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 cross body bags eye glass cases pillowcases table runners aprons and wine totes. The sewing program has a 98% Graduation rate. 74% started a home business 87% 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. During the early stages of the pandemic the women made over 6,000 face masks. Some were donated to the refugee community and some to essential workers. Others were sold and revenue from the initiative was able to put food on the table for many of the program participants and their families. The Amani 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 - sewing for the community applying to join AWC's small-scale in-house manufacturing and joining the team of contractual sewers - and sew for AWC's social enterprise. They are also trained to become an assistant teachers and graduate as an instructor teaching at AWC.

AWC community ambassadors outreach efforts during and after the pandemic pivoted to aiding the community in human and social services. AWC 1-800 helpline was implemented in assisting with vaccinations screening applicants for benefits such as Medicaid TANF Food Stamps Childcare. All services including translation and interpretation are conducted in15 languages.AWC community mobilization and outreach efforts in partnership with Dekalb County Board of Health & CORE vaccinated over 975 adults & refugee 370 children.AWC Ambassadors distributed over 825 pounds of food since the pandemic 5,200 diapers and wipes 3,300 bottles of hand sanitizers and other PPE items. These donations benefited 300 households and over 3,100 individuals. One of the urgent initiatives this year is a continuation of the research that CDC did with AWC Ambassadors called women health needs study. AWC community ambassadors recruited and interviewed over 1000 women with focus on Female Genital Cutting FGC. The Save Our Sisters Initiative - S.O.S. seeks to secure medical care for refugee women in Clarkston suffering from serious health problems caused by FGC. Refugee women in the program are taught and paid to make handcrafted cloth button necklaces and other items. By purchasing our cloth button items necklaces bookmarks hair clips and pins and fridge magnets you are helping refugee women access life-changing medical services including restorative surgery. The women can also custom-make memorial necklaces from loved ones neck ties. - 100% of the net proceeds go toward supporting this urgent campaign. Amani Community Ambassadors Leadership Program for refugee adults and youth 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 outreach mobilization canvassing and civic duties. They are the trusted voices that have undergone professional training and received certifications in various disciplines. They are front-line advocates navigators researchers and interviewers 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. ACALP's outreach efforts since the pandemic pivoted to aiding the community with numerous human and social services and are still ongoing. AWC 1-800 helpline was implemented to aid with Covid-19 related issues and assist with vaccination events. 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.AWC Volunteers donated over 2,955 estimated hours since the pandemic a monetary value $39,325 and AWC is excited to announce that despite the challenges of the pandemic we now occupy our own property in Clarkston which houses our administrative offices a mixed-use space for events and workshops currently being used for in person ESL classes and of course a showroom showcasing various items proudly made by refugee women in our program and other AWC artisan partners in Africa.

The Healthy Families Program 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. This year the staff have screened over 2,600 families that were approved for food stamps childcare Medicaid Tanf - And this is still ongoing. AWC case workers have assisted over 1,800 families with covid related emergencies since the pandemic with utility and rental assistance to avoid eviction or Homelessness. 52% are in counseling therapy 81% say they have healthier families and feel supported! 68% have achieved financial and digital literacy skills.55% can now use the computer and the internet. 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 and victims. AWC case workers help the community apply for human and social services including interpretation and translation into 15 different African languages. HFP wrap-around services include domestic violence prevention sexual assault advocacy counseling therapy workshops classes that teach and address financial literacy computer literacy ESL and civic engagement. AWC case workers have assisted over 1,800 families with covid related emergencies since the pandemic with utility and rental assistance to avoid eviction or Homelessness. HFP continues to assist numerous families since the pandemic and many were approvd for SNAP - food stamps CAPS-childcare Medicaid TANF and LIHEAP etc.