Hadiya*, Aditi*, and Fraidy – three women, each from distinctly different cultural and religious backgrounds, but sadly, all facing the same crisis in their lives – leaving an arranged marriage.

An arranged marriage…the term seems so out of place in our modern world and yet in our country today there are thousands of women trapped in such marriages, most with little hope of escaping what has often become a life of physical and emotional abuse.

Fraidy Reiss’ family arranged her marriage at the age of 19 and she became a mother at 20. When it became obvious that her husband was abusive, there was little Fraidy could do to help herself. She had no education, no exposure to the modern world. If she thought of leaving it was likely that she could lose custody of her (then) two children and become a pariah in her own community. Life became a nightmare and the whole idea of an arranged marriage took on a much more significant meaning. After more than ten years Fraidy graduated from college, established a career, divorced her husband and, at the same time was abandoned by her family.

Today, Fraidy is a single Mom. Joined by other women with similar experiences, the group recently began Unchained at Last, the only U.S. organization dedicated to supporting women leaving arranged marriages. As we sat with Fraidy recently we could not help but be impressed. Fraidy knows first-hand exactly what these women are experiencing. She is a serious and passionate advocate on their behalf and the organization’s pro bono legal services, social services and advocacy are critically important.

The Good People Fund has committed not only funding to this fledgling effort but also has made numerous contacts that have brought even more support to the effort.

*pseudonyms

Life for Cindy* and her three children is not easy. Having lost her husband at a young age, Cindy struggles to make ends meet. Her job at a local market brings in $1200 a month now that she has had her hours cut back for the summer. Hopefully in the next month or so she expects to return to full-time work. To help, her two teenagers also work and pitch in. To gauge how difficult things are and how close to the edge the family lives, Cindy has no credit cards or bank accounts. Her employer will cash her check as long as she spends at least 10% of it in the store.

In the meantime, the family’s stability has been seriously rocked as their rental was recently sold and the family had to move in with friends and place their belongings in storage. With affordable housing in short supply in this Northeast city, the $850 rental they recently found was an unexpected gift.

The problem? In order to rent the family must come up with the first and last month’s rent as well as a security deposit…not so easy when you have no safety net protecting you.

Thanks to our generous donors, the Good People Fund was able to quickly write a check to the landlord and within a few days this family of four will be settled in their new home. Safe for now and with perhaps a better feeling for the upcoming New Year.

* a pseudonym

Sometimes we are offered an opportunity to step in and help in places where we would never think a need exists. That was the case this past winter during our time in Israel. Despite the hectic nature of these trips one thing is never in short supply-the chance to meet inspiring people.

Golan Jamber and Matan Zere were two of those inspirations. Both young men are Ethiopian army officers and represent the very best – fine character, vision and a strong concern for their fellow Ethiopians as they struggle to succeed in their adopted home.

Israeli Ethiopians, by and large, often fall into the lowest economic strata. As a people, they are seen as quiet and unassuming; many think them weak and limited in ability.

Golan and Matan want to change that perception and when we met they shared their vision of offering the very best Ethiopian IDF officers an opportunity to study the art of debate at a well-known Israeli center. Learning to debate will empower these young people in new ways, tapping into their potential and developing strength and conviction; ultimately, making them even better leaders in their community.

The Good People Fund was asked to help with this goal by covering half the cost of the course…even Golan and Matan recognized the need for participants to make an investment of their own in this venture.

After several months making arrangements, Golan sent this note today. We are proud that the Good People Fund could be part of this effort…

One year after the first meeting of the debate group we are about to set to a new task, this task would not have started without your help.

We promise to make the best of this course and try to lift our community to a new horizon.