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 from the commercial sex industry, 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 environment and develop personal life skills so they can begin to build confidence and self-esteem.
The program is based in Vancouver, Washington where our corporate headquarters reside. 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 set so the intern receives a well-rounded experience.
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Phase I: The intern is acclimated to the working environment and basic skills are assessed. In this phase, interns begin to learn basic office procedures, computer skills, data entry functions and phone systems. Training is provided in appropriate office etiquette, professionalism and learning to work with others. |
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Phase II:
The intern continues to enhance their skills in office procedures, interoffice communication and general correspondence. The intern also learns to manage problems which may arise on the job. In addition, they learn how to cope with personal issues while they work on techniques to deal with stress, time management and personal responsibility. |
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Phase III: In this last phase, the intern may participate in special projects along with continued enhancement of their office skills. This may include basic accounting functions, creating office documents, research, communication and marketing. The intern will continue to focus on career exploration as they prepare their 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.
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How to Apply:
Training begins quarterly in January, April, July and October. Applications are accepted on a continual basis and are assessed as the next opening becomes available. Most interns are referred by friends, family, churches and non-government groups. Women desiring to apply must first complete an application.
As part of the assessment process, we ask each applicant to volunteer for four hours and write a letter to assess basic literacy.
For more information, please contact Maria Campoli at
maria@sharedhope.org or call 360-693-8100.
Lisa found herself facing a crisis pregnancy with hardly any marketable job skills. After deciding that marrying the father was not an option, she was determined to become self-reliant. Pregnancy Resource Center referred her to the WIN Program at Shared Hope International.
“Since the first day of my internship,” says Lisa, “I have been surrounded by support and encouragement.” Lisa gained hands-on experience, learning computer and office skills. But more importantly, she says, “I gained the confidence I needed to believe I really would be able to support my daughter 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.”
Lisa says she is now much more prepared to get the type of job she needs. “I am back in college and plan to finish my degree within a 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.”
Lisa recently married a wonderful young man. When Lisa drops in at the office, she seems confident and positive. She continually thanks her friends at SHI for their support and encouragement. We are thankful for Lisa and the example she presents to others.
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