Support Women’s Fund

The Women’s Fund by BCause Foundation is targeted at organizations that provide legal, psychological, and social consultations and support crisis accommodation centers.

For a seventh consecutive year, the BCause Foundation has successfully supported organizations working with women and children harmed by domestic violence, providing them with essential social and psychological assistance. It was possible thanks to hundreds of corporate and individual donors.

Collecting funds and support is essential

Here’s what was achieved

• Samaritans Association and their campaign “Journey with a Cause” made a healing summer experience for six women and nine children who found shelter and safety  after escaping domestic violence.
  
• Association NAYA (Targovishte) successfully equipped a new group therapy room at its Center for Victims of Domestic Violence. Today it hosts regular group sessions providing psychological and emotional support for survivors rebuilding their lives.
  
• Crisis Center Dimitrovgrad via their campaign “Health and Protection for Mothers and Children” ensured access to medical and dental care for women and children recovering from domestic violence and human trafficking.
  
• P.U.L.S. Foundation through their campaign “A Gift for a Peaceful and Bright Future – Free from Violence” provided transitional support for at least three women and their children starting new lives free from violence.
  
• EMPROVE Foundation created the “Library of Strength” – a beautifully designed poetry book written by women survivors, celebrating female resilience and will.
  
• Buditelkite Foundation and their campaign “Free Legal Aid for Victims of Domestic Violence” offered 100+ free legal consultations through their “You Are Not Alone” group.
  
• Concordia Foundation through their campaign “I Don’t Want Violence in My Life – Groups for Violence Prevention” held 30 group meetings with 70+ women and children to receive empathy, self-awareness, and conflict prevention skills.
  
• Women of Kazanlak Association provided vital psycho-social support for women affected by violence, helping them regain confidence, stability, and emotional strength through counseling and community activities.

One out of four women has been a victim of domestic violence.

The types of activities that still require support are:

• Psychological and social counselling, mediation in contacts with other institutions, counselling with lawyer and lawsuits un-der the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, Hotline for Victims.
• Mobile work with open reception in small settlements, so that women from the most remote villages can gain access to sup-port in a situation of violence.
• Grants are distributed through competitions among organizations working in the field.
• Food, including baby food, medicines, clothes, shoes, accommodation.
• Professional courses in manicure, pedicure, hairdressing, and waitresses. The fund is powered by corporate and private donations.
• Medical care – a large part of the injured are uninsured and have no income to pay for a medical examination and a medical certificate.

The crisis centers, supported by such organizations, work 24/7 but have the following budget at their disposal:

• A sum of 1.67 leva (0.85 Euro) is the money, given by the state to support a mother and her child for daily expenses (food, transport, etc.) in a crisis center.
• The net salary for a social worker in a crisis center for an 8-hour working day is 500 leva(about 250 Euro).
• About 350 leva (178 Euro) is the sum supposed to suffice for electricity, heat, water and other overheads for 10 children.

This is the money the government gives. This budget manages to cover the expenses until the beginning of the summer.

The AmCham community could help them to start their normal being and to believe in themselves again!