Introducing the SEMILLA Opportunity Fund

We are humbled and thrilled to announce our SEMILLA Opportunity Fund, made possible through a generous endowment from the Charles F and Mary K Huff Legacy Fund.

The flexibility of this fund allows women to receive financial assistance in support of furthering their economic independence. From sewing and computer classes to cosmetology kits and food safety certification, the SEMILLA Opportunity Fund ensures that the women in our programs have every advantage as they enter the job force, work to advance in their new chosen career paths, or build a fledgling business of their own.

Why SEMILLA? It’s the Spanish word for SEED.

The concept and imagery of seeds goes back to the very beginning of Free The Girls. Our logo is a dandelion with the “fluffs” aka “seeds” floating away. The symbolism of this imagery is two-fold:

1.    The dandelion, considered a weed, is a resilient plant that can take root and grow in almost any environment.

2.    When the dandelion flower “dies” and goes to seed, it’s considered beautiful and people make wishes on it as they blow the fluffs away—representing hope and the promise of new life.

Resiliency and hope for a better tomorrow. That’s what we see in the women we serve.

And that’s why we named our monthly giving program the Seed Collective. Our monthly donors recognize that consistent financial support of our work helps us plan for the future and respond to the changing needs of the women in our program.

Graduates of our financial literacy and job training courses in these locations have expressed a need for “seed” money for career-related expenses such as certification courses, additional soft skills training, tools of the trade, etc.

“Thanks to our partnership with FTG, one woman in our program recently completed an Excel certification course. Others are taking sewing and literacy classes,” Danielle Snyder, Executive Director of Mission to El Salvador.

Our team in Costa Rica adds, “With the support of FTG, 5 women graduated from the finance and sales course this year. One woman will graduate in February with her certificate as an assistant technician in criminology. Others are taking sewing classes. In January others will start computer courses and business courses with the dream of starting their own businesses. And another woman will study at university for her degree as a primary school teacher.”

 The SEMILLA Opportunity Fund enables us to offer this type of crucial support for survivors well into the future. You can help us grow this fund here.