Juliette Fisbein, a Franco-American lawyer living in New York for two decades, embodies commitment and solidarity. She is the head of the Women4Women association, which works for the financial independence of victims of domestic violence.
Can you tell us about the missions and objectives of the Women4Women organization?
I co-created the organization Women4Women in 2021, with the aim of helping victims of domestic violence to become financially independent. Our association believes that financial independence is essential to enable them to rebuild their lives. Our approach is holistic, taking into account psychological, emotional support, child care, education financing, career coaching, and even legal assistance to resolve issues related to divorce, child custody and other marital conflicts. Sometimes we address immigration-related issues, although most of the program’s participants are naturalized American women from countries like Mexico, France, Angola and Bangladesh.
Our main goal is to help women, who join our program, become self-reliant. We want them to achieve a level of financial comfort through stable employment and professional development opportunities. This builds their self-confidence and allows them to raise their children in a safer and healthier environment.
What inspired you to create Women for Women in 2021?
My desire to create Women4Women came thanks to Fathema who met a friend in a park where our children were playing. Fathema confided in my friend, who then asked me to help her. The more I got to know her, the more impressed I was by her strength, resilience and perseverance. She was the first participant in our program and she is now a member of the board of our association, and is in charge of our programs.
I chose to help women victims of domestic violence because of Fathema’s situation, and the shocking reality of domestic violence statistics in New York. One in four women experience some form of violence during their lifetime, whether it is intimate, sexual or psychological violence. I felt a deep sense of injustice in the face of this reality, and I think it is a cause that deserves our full attention. We are aware that there are also men victims of domestic violence, and we have to make choices, because there are other important causes such as climate change or cures for cancer. I focused on this cause because it is particularly close to my heart as a feminist and a mother.
How does Women4Women collaborate with other organizations and professionals to provide comprehensive support to its beneficiaries?
Our collaboration is daily and diverse. We work with lawyers to structure our organization and to represent our participants in legal disputes. Accountants, professional coaches and therapists also support us. Some of the people who help us are not formally affiliated with our organization, but they provide support to participants as needed. In addition, we collaborate with local businesses that offer goods and services, such as clothing, taekwondo classes, jujitsu, and tutoring services. We network to find solutions to our participants’ problems, whether it be grants, services or other needs.
What challenges does your organization face in helping women overcome the challenges of domestic violence?
Women often find it difficult to come forward as victims due to strong feelings of guilt. They find it difficult to ask for help, particularly in the event of legal proceedings against their attacker. Discrimination linked to gender and ethnic origin can also be an obstacle for them. In addition, they often feel very isolated and do not always know where to turn. So we work on self-confidence and confidentiality, while encouraging them to ask for help. If I had to send a message to all women victims of violence, it would be: “you are not alone”. Ask for help, there are many organizations ready to support you. There are solutions and hope. It is essential not to remain trapped in a toxic relationship and to open the door to outside help.
Fortunately, we have extremely generous support, although some projects may be more difficult to bring to fruition, such as finding professionals to provide free training. We are constantly looking for funds and volunteers to expand our action.
Are you in contact with expatriate women who find themselves in precarious situations?
Two French expatriates turned to us. I can’t go into detail on their profiles, but they were previously financially independent a few months ago. However, due to the abuse and damage they suffered within their relationships, they lost everything. Although we couldn’t always offer immediate assistance, we were able to quickly identify their needs and connect them with professionals. Sometimes this requires the intervention of a lawyer, other times it involves hiring a professional development coach to find employment opportunities. Although this has only recently started, we are giving them the time they need, and I am keeping in touch with the professionals involved.
If I had to send a message to all women victims of violence, it would be: “you are not alone”.
What are the association’s future projects?
We plan to expand further. Our goal for next year is to raise $125,000 to fund tuition, food, clothing, basic needs, and childcare for all participants. We are therefore actively seeking funds and volunteers to achieve our objectives. We want to expand our impact and continue to help women in need, while remaining a local, people-centered organization and assisting women through a suite of complementary services to achieve independence.
2023-10-17 13:56:36
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