Katef ‘l’ Katef : Independence – Paths to young single mothers employment integration

Vision

To promote a society which provides all individuals with the opportunity best suited to them to exit the poverty cycle and change their own life track

Activity

Shoulder to Shoulder is non-profit organization dedicated to advancing populations struggling with poverty in Israel through promoting economic stability and prosperity. Delving into core issues at the root of financial crisis, we build comprehensive, customized interventions that have already enabled thousands of Israel’s socio-economically distressed to break free of the cycle of poverty.
Founded in 2005, Shoulder to Shoulder has been providing over 5000 families with genuine opportunity to consciously break free of personal financial crisis, re-establishing themselves via a holistic process of change. Our model leads participants on a path towards full independence, without the need to rely on welfare or charity.
‘Independence: Paths to employment’ is a program that advances the integration of young single mothers into the workforce by removing all the barriers which do not allow them to do so. Theprogram offers assistance with career counseling, as well as guidance and vocational training. Each participant gains access to solutions and tools tailor-made for the challenges they face, such as professional training, subsidized daycare and babysitters, and necessities. The ‘Shoulder to shoulder’ model strengthens self-reliance while being present and accepting of the participant’s current circumstance and empowering the renewed belief in oneself. The goal is to catch young single mothers in time to allow them to become a part of the workforce, acquire tools for correct financial management, and claim their rights as young single mothers.

www.katef.org.il

Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.

- Marie Curie

Bat El Damri

Bat El Damri has B.A in Education and Social Science plus a teaching certificate from Ben Gurion University. She is a certified therapist for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Elbaum
Employment experience:
2018: Director of mentoring families in poverty program in Katef’l’Katef
Managing the 22 centers activities: building a work plan; budget management; recruitment and
guidance of family mentors; creating collaborations on national and local level.
2015-2017: Director of “Path to Employment” program
A program that helps single mothers with a payment to daycare centers and integrate them into
employment.
2012-2014: Family mentor in Katef’l’Katef
Mentoring 20 families in poverty and leading them toward independence and empowerment.
2006-2001: Educational and mentoring coordinator, Children village “Neve Landi” – post –
hospitalization therapeutic boarding school
Educational coordinator of 60 children, training and mentoring coordinator of 50 counselors and staff.

Activity Reports

2021-2022

Activity report

"Since meeting Katef Le Katef, I feel like I am climbing stairs… today I feel confident, I have faith in myself… I believe that I will succeed in whatever I do, and I am able to think for myself… I am in charge of my life, I have been given freedom" (A. Jerusalem)”
"I sit in the afternoon, drinking my coffee without worrying that someone will knock on the door and ask for the money I owe them. I didn’t believe I would ever reach this stage in my life…" (K. Family, Beer Sheva)
"I understand that the control of my life is in my hands and not in someone else's hands… and that control of other people's lives is not in my hands…" (G, Ashkelon)