By Yocheved Gottesman, Grantwriter at IsraelGrants
I was at my neighbor’s apartment one Friday night when her newly married daughter-in-law was there. As we conversed lightly, I asked her about her work. I had been aware that this young lady, while being well trained in computer programming, had encountered considerable difficulty finding a job. After many months of looking for a job, she had finally found work.
“I work at NetSource in Beit Shemesh and I really enjoy it,” was her reply. NetSource. The name rang a bell. Of course! NetSource is one of Temech’s projects!
As the IsraelGrants account manager for Temech, a Jerusalem-based nonprofit, I have written grant proposals for their Employer Based Training Program, a groundbreaking project which identifies employers willing to commit to hiring Chareidi women following specialized training under Temech’s auspices. The participants are ultimately integrated in the company’s work force.
“Oh, that’s Temech’s project,” I commented knowingly. She nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right! They’re unbelievable! They created a customized department especially for us. There’s a great bunch of religious women there. It’s because of them that I have this job! Do you know them? Do you know Yael?”
Do I know them? I’ve written countless grant proposals, letters, and PR materials for Temech. Of course I know who Temech is! Of course I know what they do! Of course I know all about their EBT Program!
Yes, I know who Temech is. But thanks to my neighbor, I have now come to know the personal angle of Temech. It’s not just about numbers and facts, geographical regions and interest areas, goals and objectives, income and expense figures. It’s about real people whose lives are being changed for the better. It’s about real women who are able to utilize their intelligence and training in a work place that respects their values and lifestyle. It’s about women who feel empowered by a satisfying job and respectable income.
Describing goals and objectives on paper, classifying and contacting potential funders, doing mathematical gymnastics on project budgets… It can get overwhelming and to be honest, at times, tedious. But when facing a smiling, intelligent, young Chareidi woman who is talking enthusiastically about her stimulating job and extolling Temech’s merits, I felt gratified to be having a share in their work.
When a large grant was approved for Temech a few weeks after this encounter, I celebrated not just the successful outcome of my efforts, but also how it would enhance the lives of countless others out there!
