Serving the Greater Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Area

PEARLS

(Preparing Eager Achievers to Redirect their Lives Successfully)

Eliza’s Helping Hands PEARLS  is centered around young women of color between the ages of 12 – 18, who have experienced personal trauma, disenfranchisement, or need an extra layer of support or empowerment. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life for our PEARLS through holistic support, counseling, workshops, activities, and overall fellowship for participants to improve social, emotional and career development opportunities. Through various activities, we also hope to introduce and expose the girls to new experience and growth opportunities that they may not have experienced or had access to.

Through this dynamic nine-month-long program that coincides with the school year, young women from our community can receive counseling, participate in workshops, and engage in activities like equine-assisted therapy that provide emotional and psychological support on various levels.

Program participants are also invited and encouraged to engage in social and career-development opportunities that give them a strong foundation as they move forward into adulthood.

PEARLS launched in 2018 with support from The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem as an investment in the future of young women throughout the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community. Since then, we have continued to grow with the support of many organizations and businesses that see the incredible value of helping young women reach their highest potential.

We have some really big plans for our PEARLS in 2023. We are introducing our scholarship program, as well as gifting one of our graduating PEARLS with a special gift. We are introducing new activities for our girls to enjoy, and will be continuing some of our staple activities. In the fall we will introduce our after school program, and we have much more on the way. Thank you all for your support and investment!

PEARLS Video

PEARLS is designed to let young women of color who have survived violence, abuse, and other traumatic circumstances know that there is love and opportunity for growth out there and that they can rise above their trauma to become anything they want to be.

PEARLS is open to any young woman between the ages of 12 and 18. There is no cost for the program, and transportation can be arranged.

Activities Include:

  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Financial Planning
  • Etiquette lessons
  • Yoga
  • Camping
  • Golf
  • Pottery/Painting Classes
  • Access to trauma counseling
  • Dance
  • Swimming
  • Camping
  • 5 Star dining experiences, just too list a few.

The Use of Horses as Therapy

Riding horses builds confidence and allows our PEARLS to put aside our troubles and focus on a special bond that a horse gives us.

Life is unpredictable, and we sometimes can’t control what goes on. But for the moment, we are sharing our emotions with this wonderful animal which gives us a sense of accomplishment. We are of the thought that if we can manage a 1,500-pound lovely creature, you can handle anything, which is what we want the ladies to experience while they are at the barn.

We have partnered with Cash Lovell Stables located here in Winston-Salem. The stables are owned and operated by a mother / daughter team that also shares our passion for helping young women find their potential through horses.

Meet Phil