Many anti-trafficking programs measure impact based on how many individuals have moved from situations of exploitation to freedom, but the hardship a survivor faces doesn’t end the moment they become physically free. True freedom can only exist when a person has control over their choices and financial security. Research shows that survivors value economic empowerment and financial security above other programs meant to restore survivors (Chab Dai’s Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project and Freedom Fund). At Dressember, we believe in empowering survivors long-term by providing the resources necessary to sustain freedom and achieve financial security.

In light of this, we are excited to announce the launch of a new initiative to help close the gap between physical freedom and long-term economic empowerment for trafficking survivors: Dressember’s Survivor Scholarship Program. Our goal is to reduce attrition as a result of economic hardship and improve the pathway to high-demand, sustainable, and steady careers for more survivors.

Dressember is piloting this program alongside AnnieCannons, a mission-driven tech NGO that transforms survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence into software engineers. AnnieCannons has a proven track record of success, offering survivors a pathway to work as engineers in a field doing work that is well-paid and in-demand. Every graduate in the program is offered work with AnnieCannons as an employee or contractor, or supported to look for outside jobs if they choose to. To date, 80% of survivors have successfully completed the training program, and graduates have worked on over 100 different technology projects and earned more than $1.1 million in total economic power to build their incomes and their portfolios.

Dressember has joined AnnieCannons for their 2021-2022 7th and 8th cohorts to support training costs for survivor scholarship recipients and walk alongside them for their unique training program. The 12-month software development program is designed to help survivors gain high-level skills, meaningful work, and income opportunities to become economically secure and live a life free of exploitation.

Through the pilot program, together with AnnieCannons, Dressember will continue to listen and learn from survivor scholarship recipients and identify the needs and barriers that they face in securing work opportunities and meaningful incomes. As Dressember continues to center survivors in our work, we will grow and adjust this program accordingly.

The future of the Dressember’s Survivor Scholarship Program is limitless, with plans to expand across sectors meeting survivors’ choice of any educational or vocational program they would like to pursue. Stay tuned for updates on the software engineering training journey and more details on Dressember’s Survivor Scholarship Program.

Announcement: Dressember’s Survivor Scholarship Program