Hello,

My name is [name kept on file], and up until two and a half years ago, I resided in a shelter for abused women operated by Bat Melech. I came to the shelter after experiencing financial violence by my spouse, who prevented me from going out to work or even thinking about making a living. I was left with debts of thousands of shekels.

It wasn’t until I was ready to leave the shelter, and while trying to plan an autonomous life outside, that I realized my financial situation was like a bad movie. I accumulated endless debts, took out endless loans, and no longer had coverage on my credit card . I had zero control over my monthly expenses

I knew I had no chance of sustaining this reality once I left the shelter. I decided to turn to Paamonim for help and started your mentoring program.

The first meeting shook me completely.

I met with Paamonim’s guidance consultant, who is an accountant by profession, and I realized that my situation was far from good. Apart from the loans and debts I had, I paid hundreds of shekels a month to all sorts of factors, that I didn’t realise I was paying them.

After the orientation call, I was assigned to Leah who became my mentor throughout the period of guidance with Paamonim. When I met her for the first time, I felt that I had found salvation.

She came to me every week, we built a budget and I started to record my income and every expense. I felt that she saw me beyond the numbers that I ahd recorded. She gave me practical advice on how to manage my finances correctly and gave me the hope that things could change and become better. This letter is a small attempt to thank her for her great dedication.

After months of accompaniment, my financial situation has improved greatly. There are still loans, but I am out of the red in my account.

Recovering from such a period takes time and requires strenuous daily work, but my experience proves that it is possible!

You have to wake up every morning and believe that you can get out of debt! I ask that you publish this letter, and distribute it to people who are in a similar situation, and maybe this will help them believe that they can make a change!

Once again, I wish to personally thank Leah, my mentor. I hope you continue to volunteer, as you so much to give others.

I hope and pray that I continue on the path I started,

Congratulations on all you have done.

With great thanks and much appreciation