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Breaking out of a cycle of prostitution is extremely difficult, explained, “It’s been a dark time for me, there’s no way to
and many of those caught up in this life are victims of physical describe it to anyone who hasn’t been there. You go down
violence, psychological oppression and prolonged social to this dark place because you are not accepted into normal
disconnection, which make it an almost impossible trap to jobs no matter what you try to do. After two years I realized
escape alone. Fortunately, none of the women designers were that I could live differently. No one chooses prostitution, most
alone; they are all part of an organization called ‘Turning the of the women I know do it because they have children to
Tables’ that promotes economic advancement for women support.“
exiting the cycle of prostitution. By providing vocational
training, ‘Turning the Tables’ addresses the obstacles that these Yvel is no stranger to philanthropical projects, most notably
women face in their pursuit of a new life. With two studios, one is their work within the Ethiopian community. Helping to
in Tel Aviv and another in Haifa, they serve women from all strengthen the weak points in Israeli society is fundamental to
backgrounds and religions including those who have arrived in the principles upon which Yvel was built. But through Yvel’s
Israel as a result of sex trafficking. At these studios, the women support of ‘Turning the Tables’ and sponsoring of the fifteen
embark on a full-time training program composed of courses women designers, Yvel was able to share something even
in different fields of fashion, such as sewing, design, cutting, more profound. They were able to share the very essence of
pattern making and sales. The program is mostly instructed by who they are and what they do. Their jewelry.
volunteer professionals, designers, seamstresses, and business
mentors. Vocational training is the gate through which the
women are able to enter a new life based upon personal
and economic independence. Natalie, one of the designers,
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