Her Equality, Rights, and Autonomy (HERA)

Her Equality, Rights, and Autonomy (HERA) provides entrepreneurship training and mentorships for formerly trafficked women to help them attain economic independence, stability, and greater personal confidence.

HERA capitalizes on women’s existing strengths to help them become fully integrated into the formal economy. BITAHR has partnered with Lynellyn D. Long, Tufts professor and HERA’s originator to expand the program’s reach from Belgrade and London, to Boston.

Through The Massachusetts Human Trafficking Task Force and other local service providers, BITAHR recruits HERA participants, who then complete entrepreneurship training at Northeastern University’s School of Business Administration before developing real-life business plans with the support of Northeastern University MBA students. They are then paired with local business leaders who mentor them as they implement their plans.

The HERA program helps to stop the cycle of exploitation and abuse, and prevents future abuses for exploited women and their families.

Every HERA Program graduate not only gains a new future for herself, but also for her family. Through her newfound independence, confidence, and financial security, she is able to pursue her dreams without fear.

HERA graduates also become advocates for change within their communities. HERA creates unique partnerships between business schools, women’s groups, and service providers to find new approaches to women’s reintegration, remediation, and prevention of re-trafficking, while strengthening cooperation among educational, business, and non-profit sectors in the Boston area.

This is our PDF brochure about the HERA program.