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- Funding assistance is awarded, via an application process, to survivors of domestic violence (i.e.: spousal / partner violence) within the state of Georgia, who have expressed an earnest desire for job skills upgrade leading to economic autonomy.
- Recipients who have been awarded funding assistance will be offered mentoring by individuals and groups affiliated with educational institutions, trade associations, and professional organizations related to the course of study which each recipient is enrolled in.
- Career networking opportunities will be sponsored by various trade, business, and professional associations throughout the state of Georgia.
- Workshops in financial literacy will be mandatory for each recipient.
- Additional workshops focused on entrepreneurship and viable business start up (including home businesses) will be available in the future.
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Scholarship recipients must meet the following criteria:
- All recipients must be verified as presently receiving services from a certified battered women's shelter within the state of Georgia (or receiving services from a certified battered women's transitional program, within the state of Georgia, which is specifically designated to empower survivors of domestic violence.)
Note: When referring to survivors of domestic violence, our purpose is to indicate survivors of spousal/partner violence.
- All recipients much demonstrate a financial need, based on their individual income and assets (not joint spousal income or assets) that meet federally established poverty standards.
- All recipients must express an earnest desire for job skills upgrade, while demonstrating the personal qualities of integrity, tenacity, self-esteem, and an undaunted commitment where follow-through is concerned.
- All recipients must be presently enrolled in (or have applied for and been accepted to) an accredited, state-funded school (i.e.: vo-tech, community college, or four-year college/university) within the state of Georgia, and in need of financial assistance pursuant to the program of study.
- If presently enrolled, all recipients must have maintained an overall GPA of 2.8 and no lower.
- Each trade, certificate, or degree program enrolled in/applied for must encompass a career field in which there exists a verifiable need for skilled, qualified personnel, and which offers above-average entry-level salaries, leading to career growth and economic stability for the recipient.
Scholarship Application Booklet (PDF)
Given our limited funds, plus the objectives of our organization, preference is given to:
- Women who are residing in domestic violence shelters or participating in transitional programs located within rural, mountain, and coastal counties in the state of Georgia.
- Members of Georgia's Hispanic community who are residing in domestic violence shelters or participating in transitional programs, located within rural, coastal, and inner city areas in the state of Georgia.
However, all survivors of domestic violence (i.e.: spousal/partner violence) may apply.
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Once acceptance to an accredited, state funded vo-tech, community college, or four year academic institution in the state of Georgia has been verified, checks will be written by the Esperanza! A Woman's Hope organization, on behalf of each recipient, to the institution in which the recipient is enrolled.
"Special needs funding" checks to cover gasoline, public transportation and child care costs, while the recipient is in classes, will be considered and allocated in a likewise manner.
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To encourage an inclusive sense of community for our recipients, the Esperanza! A Woman's Hope project offers interested individuals and groups in Georgia an opportunity to contribute to the educational and career needs of survivors of domestic violence (i.e.: spousal/partner violence) through quality mentoring on a minimum, once-a-month basis.
Individuals and groups associated with academic, business, professional and trade associations are additionally encouraged to sponsor quarterly career networking events.
Former victims of domestic violence (i.e.: spousal/partner violence), now established in their personal and professional lives, are additionally invited to extend themselves toward assisting present survivors, who find themselves in similar circumstances.
Additional mentoring programs, offered as a means of emotional support, during what initially may be a particularly stressful time in the recipient's life, will also be available.
During this process, empathy combined with compassionate respect for the personal privacy issues associated with many survivors of domestic abuse, must be solemnly adhered to.
Note: Although the importance of mentoring is strongly emphasized, it must be recognized that certain sensitive situations may preclude participation by many recipients.
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