EmpowerFULL is a social impact startup that aims to help victims of modern slavery. Having just launched their first pilot program to support a group of people that has been rescued from a modern slavery condition, this is a perfect time to learn more about it from the CEO & Founder, Anxhela Bruci.
In particular, she will tell us more about the modern slavery condition and about how this project and how their three-phase program works.
The estimates of modern slavery victims have reached a new maximum with the most common form being human trafficking.
Did you ever think about what happens after victims get rescued?
Research shows that survivors face external hardships to find employment and attain a sustainable income. Many survivors have financial responsibilities to their families and want to return to work as soon as possible, especially when they have a family to return to.
What Is Reintegration?
Reintegration is a process through which victims of human trafficking voluntarily decide to return to their family and their social group, or start a new life away from the environment that caused them distress and might have impacted their trafficking experience.
It remains important to consider aspects such as inclusion and support by the local community during reintegration since reintegration aims to place survivors in a safe environment, which meets the conditions for physical and mental well-being, contributing to their process of empowerment.
During the reintegration phase, the interventions are usually implemented to empower survivors aiming to boost their self-esteem, such as building close links with survivors’ families and incorporating vocational training and employment initiatives
However, the process of economic empowerment does not only depend on institutions but also on society, economic and political factors.
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How Do We Achieve Survivors’ Empowerment?
“EmpowerFULL” (FuqiPLOTË – in Albanian) is a socio-economic empowerment model which assists in the economic reintegration process of survivors of human trafficking through capacity building sessions and the provision of sustainable employment opportunities. We work together with survivors to identify and break any visible and invisible barriers in their personal development and employment process.
Our mission?
To economically empower survivors of human trafficking by providing the tools to strengthen their skills and the means to become financially independent.
How do we do that?
We divide the process into three phases
First Phase:
Participants take place in a two-month intensive training program on personal and career development delivered by EmpowerFULL. The programme includes sessions on soft skills, assertiveness, self-esteem, and skills exploration, Setting boundaries, visualization, and creating new habits by challenging the “victim narrative”.
Second Phase:
After the successful completion of the first phase, participants are supported to attend vocational training courses based on the skills and aspirations they have identified during the first phase of the program.
Third Phase:
Paid internship opportunities are provided to participants based on the skills and certification of the participants. Also, networking sessions with successful enterprises are organized to strengthen the opportunities for sustainable employment in the long term.
You can learn more about EmpowerFULL programs here.
While IMPAKTER is aware that given the number of victims we need more initiatives like this to support and empower victims of modern slavery, we do hope EmpowerFULL project could inspire others to build something similar. The founder would be very happy to connect with those interested in her work. You might contact her via email from here.
In the cover picture: Human Trafficking Victims participating in a session with EmpowerFULL. Photo Credit: EmpowerFULL.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com.
