PHOENIX

1999 The society Phoenix runs the three projects Phoenix, La Strada and Kobra.

Survey of the society's history:

1987 / 88
In August 1987, former prostitutes and committed persons from different occupational groups get together. They want to assist prostitutes in solving their problems, particularly with respect to AIDS. Furthermore, they aim at counteracting the discrimination of prostitutes by society. The society "Phoenix" is founded in 1988.

1989
Recognition of Phoenix as a charitable society and entry in the register of societies. The executive committee comprises five unsalaried members.

With funds from the federal model "Women and AIDS," the "Advisory Centre for Female and Male Prostitutes" is established and officially inaugurated in June. Phoenix e.V. is the first and only non-government organization for prostitutes in Lower Saxony. Two female social education workers and one office worker are employed by the centre.

In December, one temporary flat for women willing to drop out can be set up from additional federal state funds. For the support of these women a female social education worker is paid from job creation funds.
The advisory services offered are meant for young German and foreign prostitutes addicted to drugs as well as for clients.
The work covers AIDS prevention, health education, psychosocial support, care and assistance as well as practical help and counselling.
Within the scope of prevention work on the site, contacts are established with the prostitutes in the streets, in clubs, bars and brothels.

1990
Admission of Phoenix to the Workers' Welfare Union in Hannover as a corporate member.

1991
The Federal model "Women and AIDS" is discontinued at the end of the year. Financed from AIDS funds of Lower Saxony, the work of Phoenix e.V. can be continued.

1993
The particular problems of girls and women addicted to drugs call for a special spectrum of offers. The "La Strada" Project is established with four female social education workers and one office worker. The Advisory Centre is funded by the Ministry for Women of Lower Saxony and the Municipality of Hannover.

La Strada's aims to offer girls and women addicted to drugs and engaged in procurement prostitution a protective space free from men within which they are assisted in managing their current situation. The low-level offers such as needle exchange, dressing of wounds and basic hygienic care are used by La Strada's clients just as individual counselling, psychosocial care within the scope of Methadon substitution and finding of therapists.

The contacts are established at the contact centre and by social work on the streets.

1994
The society reacts to the rising number of East European prostitutes after the borders have been opened by setting up a special spectrum of offers for these persons. East Europe is assigned to the Phoenix Project. One employee is recruited who speaks the East European languages and is acquainted with the mentality and culture of the women concerned.

1995
From third-party funds a bus can be bought for the La Strada Project for the work on the street during the night. It offers an additional address for needle exchange, resting, and talking.

1996
Due to the increased need of East European prostitutes for advice within the Phoenix Project (East Europe branch), an additional employee is recruited on a part-time basis.

1997
In the East Europe branch of the Phoenix Project, the number of women forced into prostitution increases continuously. In September, Phoenix establishes a coordination and advisory centre for victims of trafficking in women named Kobra. This subproject is funded by the Ministry for Women of Lower Saxony.

Kobra offers trafficking victims psychosocial support, counselling in their mother tongue, support and accompaniment in court hearings against traffickers as well as assistance in returning to their native countries. Another important focus of Kobra's work is the national and international networking with non-government organizations. Also, Kobra carries out initial and advanced training courses for institutions and authorities dealing with trafficking in human beings. The Kobra Project begins its work with one lawyer, one social education worker and one office worker on a part-time basis.
Due to the eased situation on the housing market, the temporary flat is no longer needed and thus given up.

1998
Foundation of the PHOENIX Supporting Society.

1999
At the beginning of the year, due to the increased need of the trafficking victims in advice, an additional social education worker is employed for the Kobra Project on a part-time basis.

Additional grants from the Municipality of Hannover enable the Phoenix Project to extend the social street work to the places where prostitution is offered.

2002
To cope with the increasing need for advice and extend the advisory services in the mother tongue, Kobra employs a Spanish-speaking social worker on a part-time basis.

The history of Phoenix documents the complexity of prostitution and the resulting necessity of target group oriented offers.

Education about prostitution, HIV/AIDS, drug consumption and trafficking in women continues to form the basis of the work of Phoenix e.V..

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