By Amelia Lawrence | Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships
Many women looking for work face bias.They create opportunities where they can. But discrimination, stereotyping, and exclusion can leave them feeling discouraged and without confidence. Gender equality is an urgent issue, and your support for disadvantaged women is something we are grateful for every single day.
At Dress for Success Sydney, we believe that a woman’s disadvantage should not mean her unemployment. When we talk about disadvantaged women, we think of women like Marina, who decided in her 50s to follow her children from Mexico to Australia and start a new life. She had been a Kindergarten teacher for many years, shaping the minds of young children.
Marina’s job became unsustainable and she was made redundant, which meant her housing situation collapsed and she faced homelessness. Away from the family and community she knew, Marina felt alone in Australia.
Once a poised professional, the blow to her self-esteem and confidence following redundancy was making the job hunt a challenge and distressing.
“I didn’t feel employable or capable. I had lost my confidence, and my experiences at work with previous managers wasn’t helping me at all.”
Many women looking for work feel unemployable. Your support for our work changes these women's lives for the better.
This all changed when Marina discovered Dress for Success Sydney’s workshops which allowed Marina to connect with women from all walks of life, to reassure her she wasn’t alone. “It showed me other women who were struggling, who had also been employed with good jobs in their home countries.”
Through the sessions, Marina built up her confidence through building community. The process reaffirmed Marina’s self-worth and changed her approach towards her career and life. This support also led to multiple interviews, one of which soon became her permanent full-time role.
Many women like Marina have been put in a precarious financial situation due to factors beyond their control. We continue to provide practical support for women seeking employment to overcome any barriers faced when rebuilding their careers.
When women work, families thrive and our whole community prospers.
Marina is now thriving in her new job, which she plans to keep until retirement. “Thanks to Dress for Success I was able to be confident and have the clarity of what path to take. People in Dress for Success believed in me when I was not believing in me; their support was paramount for my career change and to achieve and land the role I have now... I am very fortunate and very thankful.”
You can hear Marina talk about how support like yours changed her life at our YouTube page.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us, to change the lives of even more women like Marina. We couldn't do it without you.
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