Education and Employment Programming empower women, youth and children of all ages to succeed academically and in the work world.
Our education program is designed to provide our guests with access to quality education and support services to help them improve their lives. Our guests face unique challenges, and education is often a crucial first step towards regaining stability and independence.
Our program offers a range of educational supports for the children and adults we shelter such as:
- Basic educational supplies
- Enrollment assistance in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for children
- Basic education,
- English and Spanish literacy classes
- Adult Basic Education (ABE) & General Education (GED)
- Homework assistance and tutoring services
- College counseling, application & enrollment assistance
By providing education and support services, we empower our guests to improve their employability and financial stability, and ultimately rebuild their lives. We are committed to helping these women access education, develop skills, and achieve their full potential.
Our job readiness training program is a critical component of our efforts to help the women and youth at Lotus House achieve greater financial self-sufficiency. We are committed to providing them with the tools and resources they need to secure full or part-time employment and become economically independent.
Our Basic Job Readiness program offers a combination of workshops and individual coaching, with a focus on job coaching, vocational training, job search and application assistance, resume writing, and interview skills.
Additionally, our program emphasizes interpersonal communication, teamwork, leadership, and work etiquette to ensure that our guests are well-equipped to succeed in the workplace. Through our job readiness training program, we are empowering our clients to take control of their financial future, and ultimately achieve their personal and professional goals.
Our Life Skills program prepares women and youth at Lotus House to live independently through group and individual coaching that include:
- Financial literacy
- Basic computer skills
- Navigation of the transportation system
- Basic civics education and voter registration
- Developing effective communication skills
Our goal is to empower our guests to take control of their lives and achieve their personal and professional goals, ultimately thriving.
We offer four onsite paid internship programs that provide our guests an opportunity for real-world job experience.
I N T E R N S H I P S
Retail
Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique offers our Retail Job Training program which offers our interns hands-on vocational training in the retail business, and an opportunity to learn about every aspect of operations of a retail store, including
- Marketing and sales strategies
- Money-handling and cash register skills
- Receiving and displaying merchandise
- Sorting and storing inventory/donations,
- Developing customer service skills
To learn more about this program and Lotus House Thrift, click here
Culinary
Participants that complete the 4-week long Food Service Internship Program in the David and Leila Center Culinary Center will:
- Gain first hand experience and working knowledge of a commercial kitchen by working with our culinary staff to provide approximately 1,500 healthful and nutritious meals per day
- Receive their Food Handlers Certification
After completing the program, all are qualified to hold the following positions in any commercial kitchen:
- Food Preparation
- Dishwasher
- Lineserver
The Farm
The Farm at Lotus Village embodies true innovation by combining the cutting-edge, burgeoning technology of hydroponic growing, via the Greenery™ (2019, Freight Farms, Inc.).
Farm interns learn the basics of hydroponic gardening including:
- Harvesting, transplanting, & seeding
- Food safety
- Maintenance and crop care
Farm interns then deliver the 100% organic produce at peak freshness less than 100 yards away to our Culinary Center, where it is served in the daily salad bar at lunch and dinner.
Hospitality
The hospitality program provides guests with an opportunity to learn essential customer service and basic operations skills, such as:
- Effective communication
- Problem-solving
- Housekeeping
- Inventory management
- Indoor air filtration system management
By equipping individuals with practical skills and hands-on experience, the program aims to empower and support them in achieving their personal and professional goals.