A Transition for Transformation–Refuge for Women North Texas
Imagine being stolen from your family and friends, only to be coerced into a life of pain as you’re forced to do things with your body you don’t want to do…just so simply you can survive.
Now imagine fleeing your abusive home life, and willfully choosing a life of drugs, toxic relationships, and sex, looking for the slightest ounce of love and affection.
In either case, it’s a life of sexual exploitation, enslavement to others’ desires and commands, and darkness that becomes all-consuming.
Your education stops, your social etiquette is stunted, your emotional well-being is wrecked, and the only skills you learn are those that were never intended to exist.
And yet, in the midst of your despair, you hope for a brighter future. A future of freedom, redemption, and a new beginning…
But is this life of restoration even possible? Would you even have the strength to start again? What skills will you have learned that will equip you for a life of success?
For too many women, this is a grave reality.
Every year, between 15,000 and 50,000 young girls and women become trafficking victims in the United States alone.
It’s for this very reason that Refuge for Women exists, and even more specifically, their Survivor Made Program.
Refuge for Women is a non-profit, faith-based organization providing specialized long-term care for women who have escaped human trafficking or sexual exploitation. With multiple locations across the U.S., Refuge for Women offers up to twelve months of safe housing, at no charge to the resident, with around-the-clock care as residents progress through evidence-based, trauma-informed programming.
As the social enterprise formed by Refuge for Women, Survivor Made creates jobs, builds confidence, and deepens community engagement for women who may have barriers to employment. Gaining employment skills and earning income are key elements for becoming financially stable and self-sufficient when transitioning from a long-term residential program to successful independent living.
Right here in our backyard, Refuge for Women North Texas fights relentlessly to rescue women out of trafficking in the DFW area.
Where they started
The North Texas branch of Survivor Made was created out of necessity when COVID-19 hit in 2020. At that time, Refuge for Women residents weren't able to go to work, and something had to be done. Since Refuge for Women is a national organization, the North Texas team reached out to the national Kentucky location to help pioneer the Survivor Made program.
Hindsight 2020 (pun intended) COVID-19 spurred on the goal of utilizing Survivor Made as a place for residents to work while they went through the program.
Refuge for Women North Texas partners with Tandy Leather in Fort Worth who provides high-quality leather for Survivor Made products. They also team up with leatherman Ely Ganzer, who is an esteemed saddle maker who serves as a mentor to the residents in the program. He’s been the guide through their entire process.
Residents are equipped to make leather totes, journal covers, J bags, and earrings. Not only is it a beautiful and amazing opportunity for these residents–but we also get quality leather goods out of their efforts.
Benefits of working as a Survivor Made employee
For residents, working as a Survivor Made employee instills transferable skills and work ethic that promote integrity and restore dignity. Learning a trade, as well as job skills training and how to be a good employee, helps residents overcome the barriers when they’re ready to seek further employment since many of the women don’t have transferable work experience that they can add to a resume.
By the time they finish the program, they would have a year of work experience under their belt as a Survivor Made employee making these artesian handed leather products.
But even more than job skills, working with their hands becomes very therapeutic for them and acts as an additional level of catharsis and healing.
And here’s the cherry on top–Refuge for Women’s program is completely free for residents. Since residents don’t have to pay for their program, all of the money they earn goes directly into a savings account giving them a nice goose egg of funds by their graduation–truly setting them up for success in their next phase of life.
Where they’re at
Earlier this year, Refuge for Women partnered with Toyota and their TSSC program (thanks to an introduction through Serve Denton) for a quality analysis of the Survivor Made program. As per usual, Toyota worked its magic and helped create higher quality and more efficient processes for the program. Because of that partnership, Refuge for Women was able to reconfigure its small space in a way that utilized every inch for functionality. In turn, this helped increase production time and decrease quality issues.
And the good news keeps getting better…
After Toyota finished their project with the North Texas location, they extended the opportunity to partner with Refuge for Women’s national Kentucky office to grow the business strategy. The work that was done at the grassroots level at the North Texas location was the driving force behind conquering it on a national level.
They have the products, but now they just need to demand to create an even greater job opportunity.
So, beginning with the end in mind, Refuge for Women North Texas is currently in the process of building their new Survivor Made shop in order to efficiently produce the products on a higher level, and actively seeking to raise the needed $50,000 to cover inflated costs of materials.
And saving the best news for last…
Growing this program gives graduates (and residents further along in the program) the opportunity to work alongside newer residents in more of a mentorship role. Having someone who has personally experienced and overcome the struggle you’re facing, makes their input invaluable–becoming an even greater asset to Refuge for Women as a whole.
But don’t just take our word for it… take it from Jackie herself.
Jackie is currently in her 50’s, and Refuge for Women’s oldest graduate. Before graduating from their program, she hadn’t completed anything in her life. Because of her determination to make a new life for herself–a life free from drugs, hopelessness, abuse, toxic relationships, and bondage–she became Survivor Made’s first expert seamstress.
“Before Refuge for Women, I was a dopehead in jail, broken and unloved, today I’m grateful to live safely in the Refuge for Women Transitional Home. I am proud to say that I’ve been a full-time employee at Survivor Made for over a year, and em even called the Queen of Sew. The changes I’ve seen in myself because of the help I’ve received at Refuge for Women North Texas still amaze me.”
And now, literally, every handbag that has come out of the North Texas location has been directly handsewn by Miss Jackie herself.
Now that is something to celebrate.
Where they’re headed
“We want a thriving Survivor Made program where more and more women can escape their life of trauma and step into a trade that will provide them a life of freedom and esteem,” CEO Abby Germer stated.
But here’s what they need to get there…
Funds for the new shop
Refuge for Women North Texas currently needs $55,000 more to get their updated Survivor Made shop built. The new shop will be directly on their premises, allowing residents to simply walk out their back door and get to work. Residents won’t have the added burden of finding transportation, and also have the luxury of program graduates’ support who live next door in the transitional living house.
Partnerships for wholesale retail opportunities
Refuge for Women North Texas is currently looking for places to provide wholesale pricing for Survivor Made retail opportunities.
And the possibilities for these partnerships are endless…
If you own a leather shop, boutique, craft store, hair salon, jewelry shop, book store, or any type of shop that offers knick-knacks and gifts, consider partnering with Refuge for Women. They are open and willing to get their product out there, in turn creating a greater demand for Survivor Made products and ultimately Survivor Made employees.
Don’t have a shop? Don’t worry. They will also be needing volunteers to run these events.
Help spread the word
The final piece to this puzzle is Refuge for Women’s need for further exposure. So you’re savvy when it comes to social media and would like to serve as an influencer for Survivor Made products, now’s your time to shine. All other digital marketing gurus looking to volunteer their talents for a life-saving cause are also fully welcomed.
Ultimately, Refuge for Women’s story is one of transition and transformation, just as it is for the women they serve. It’s a beautiful moment in their growth that you can actively be a part of today, making North Texas safer and stronger for generations to come.
Join the fight – Protect your city and protect your people
Be aware of your surroundings
According to the statistics from Texas’ Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking, the top 5 sex trafficking venues are:
Commercial front brothels
Hotels/motels
Online advertising and phishing
Escort services
Residential brothels (Yes, residential houses are being used for sexual exploitation. Yes, in Denton County. And yes, you’ve probably driven by some without even knowing it).
Get educated
Refuge for Women North Texas is hosting a Truth About Trafficking Awareness Event on September 15th at 6 pm at Watermark Church in Dallas. This free community event educates the public regarding sexual exploitation in our community, and how you can be aware of suspicious behavior. You can register for this event here.
Be an advocate for Refuge for Women North Texas
Support Refuge for Women North Texas, and stay in the know of the life-changing work in your community.
Follow them on Facebook
Donate to current in-home and everyday needs that support survivors
Apply to become a volunteer or prayer warrior
Help fund their new shop
Shop Survivor Made products