Refugees flee violence and war in search of a new home. But more often than not, once in their new home, they continue facing poverty and marginalization. 1 in 2 refugee women in the United States is unemployed. This Ramadan, help 40 women and more than 120 family members find jobs, hope, and a community of support.

Havenly was founded by Nieda, a chef from Iraq, and her friend Caterina. Nieda ran 3 restaurants in Baghdad, Iraq, but after moving to New Haven, she could barely find a job. Nieda ended up accepting a job rolling cigarettes for $8 per hour, and after quitting due to labor rights abuses, was unemployed for 5 years. With seven children, Nieda never found the time again to spend time learning English and advancing her education, both key steps in securing a good career. 

In 2018, Nieda started a food business to help other women like her access good, quality jobs and a good life. That is how Havenly was born. Our cafe hosts a 6-month paid job training program for refugee mothers stuck in cycles of poverty. Every week, trainees work at the Havenly kitchen after attending classes tailored to their needs and priorities. We teach English, financial and digital literacy, job readiness, food safety, and civic engagement. 

But Havenly is more than just a job training program. We aim to build community, and the power of each woman we work with her to change her life and the life of those in her community. Our ESL classes teach the stories of leaders in US history such as Rosa Parks and Ilhan Omar, combining civic education with personal empowerment. Over the course of the program, fellows share dreams, build friendships, and begin planning for their futures. Upon graduation, they are offered job placements or the opportunity to pursue a path of their own. 

Over the past three years, we have grown Havenly from a small bakery to a cafe that allows women not just to launch their careers, but to fight for a better future. But the need for what we do is only growing, and the impact of COVID on our community is far from over. Every cycle, we are swamped with applications from dozens of women we cannot reach. We are launching another cohort in June, and have already received 25 applications despite not opening the cycle yet. We need your support to train 40 women this year. 

Your contribution will allow 40 women to exit unemployment and launch their career. We need $40,000 to cover remaining costs for this cohort 

• $100 funds a food safety certification for one fellow 
• $500 funds English classes for one fellow, and you get a box of assorted treats 
• $1,000 funds one week of classes for an entire cohort. Holiday box sent to your home