African and migrant women transforming Ireland

Salome outlines the work of AkiDwA and her own analysis of African women to highlight the contribution that African and migrant women are making in Ireland despite the challenges that they face.

Africa as a continent has layers of wealth, beauty and great people from diverse backgrounds. For centuries many people from all over the world have made long journeys with hope of exploring Africa. The situation has significantly changed in recent time; with globalisation, many Africans have migrated into the western world. Among the largest number of those who have migrated are women. They travel alone or with partners, some leave their children and families behind. Migrant women living in Europe face particular gendered issues, in relation to their migration status, their mothering role but also in relation to specific issues such as gender based violence, health and also their marginalisation within migrant communities.

From my engagement and work with the migrant community I have noted that the majority of African women living in Ireland are heroes in their own right - they have travelled long distances, some have survived war or other forms of gender based violence. Despite the difficulties they face, African migrant women in Ireland have and continue to play a central role. More than ever before they are determined to rebuild their lives, they do not want to hang on to their negative past experience, and the majority if not all those we have worked with are highly qualified or educated and want to move on with their lives. African women in Ireland do not need sympathy or to be recipients, they want to be offered opportunities. Equality of access and participation are therefore crucial. The majority could reach their full potential if supported. Late last year, while travelling on a train, I met an African woman who is working in high ranking position within the health care services. She has been able to support her family although it has taken her five years to be promoted at work and get reasonably good pay. This woman is slowly moving towards reaching full potential.

African women are contributing hugely to the Irish economy, working in health care services, catering, banks or the development sector. They are looking after their families here in Ireland and sending remittances to their extended family in their home countries. Research has shown that the money sent by immigrants has reduced poverty in their home countries. However the majority of African women here in Ireland find it difficult to access work in positions for which they have qualifications, so despite the fact that many African women may be in employment they continue to receive minimal wages and to struggle to make ends meet, while trying to balance the demand for maintenance of relatives and family both abroad and in Ireland.

African women are also contributing and leading in many others ways. Just like all other women worldwide African women are the major educators and carers of their children, and they continue to educate their children and create awareness of their culture within wider society. Weddings and naming ceremonies continue to be very evident among many African women. They are proud of their identity. Some of the women are the sole bread winners of their families, and are managing their own homes as they bring up their children.

Politically, many African women in Ireland are very constructive and full of ideas. They participate in many events, trainings, seminars, and are key in informing policy in many areas such as health and education, in order to achieve positive change. They participate and take their time to get involved in their communities, they engage in decision making if invited, they are strong and confident, and some have gone another mile and contested for local elections in Ireland.

According to the 2006 census Ireland had a population of 4.2 million. 10 % of the population were immigrants of which 47.5% were immigrant women. Established in 2001 by a group of African migrant women, Akina Dada wa Africa (AkiDwA), sisterhood in Swahili, is a network of African and migrant women living in Ireland. AkiDwA has become the leading migrant women’s organisation in Ireland, with over 2,250 members from 35 countries and 32 affiliated organisations. Besides providing migrant women with information and support, AkiDwA’s activities include education, training, research, advocacy and policy work, outreach work with vulnerable migrant women and engagement with a variety of stakeholders, as well as networking at the local, national and international levels.

Since its establishment in 2001, AkiDwA has worked towards achieving full recognition and engagement of migrant women at all levels of Irish society. AkiDwA is the only national and ethnic-led migrant women’s network in Ireland. It has helped develop and continues to strengthen platforms from which issues affecting migrant women in Ireland can be highlighted. The organisation as a leading voice and advocate for policy reform for migrant women has not gone unnoticed. In recent years, AkiDwA has been invited to sit on a number of high level state bodies including the Equality Authority, the National Committee on Violence Against Women (both under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) and the Advisory Committee on the Intercultural Health Strategy of the Irish Health Service Executive.

Over the years AkiDwA has worked both collaboratively with other organisations and as a leading organisation to achieve common goals. In 2008 AkiDwA developed a three year strategic plan, which has helped the organisation to have a focus and at the same time make a meaningful contribution, not only to migrant women but to Irish society as a whole. The three areas that the organisation has been working on are:

• Gender-based violence (GBV): Since GBV is such a huge area to cover, AkiDwA has been focusing on Female Genital Mutilation, domestic violence and sexual violence. Activities that have been undertaken include working with local politicians and Government departments to influence pending legislation, in particular legislation to prohibit female genital mutilation in Ireland (with work to inform the latest draft Bill) and a suggested amendment for gender guidelines to be included in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008. Since 2009 AkiDwA has been working in partnership with Amnesty International Ireland on their three-year European Campaign to End FGM. The organisation has carried out research in the areas of GBV previously stated and in other priority areas as they arise. The organisation continues to participate in the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women. In addition, AkiDwA has and continues to offer training and consultations with migrant women and service providers. The organisation continue to advocate and lobby government bodies, MEPs and politicians to implement recommendations outlined in the National Action Plan to Address FGM in Ireland.

• Employment: AkiDwA believes that proper integration and women’s independence can be achieved by women accessing employment. In 2007 AkiDwA produced a research document African Women in the Irish Labour Market. The organisation has since then developed a stakeholder forum which has met seven times to review issues of recruitment, qualifications, promotion and integration in the workplace, and best practice in employment equality policies. AkiDwA continues to monitor and highlight the impact of the recession on migrant women and seeks to inform national agendas on the economic recovery and to advocate for plans to protect migrants currently living in Ireland. In April 2010 AkiDwA published an information booklet on access to education and employment for migrants and the organisation is currently working with employers on a work placement for migrant women.

• Gender-based discrimination: Much of AkiDwA’s work in gender-based discrimination has been on promoting meaningful discussions on equality of treatment, inclusion and engagement, equal access to rights and services and a mainstreaming of inclusive Government policies and recognising diverse needs. The organisation has designed and developed position papers that promote equality of access, treatment, inclusion and engagement.

The long term, legacy outcome of AkiDwA is that the rights of migrant women living in Ireland will be respected and protected. Migrant women’s access to services and protections will be in place and migrant women will have a safe, empowered and active role in their communities in Ireland. Learnings from new and indigenous communities will be exchanged, enriching the social, political and civic landscape of Ireland.

Salome Mbugua is a native of Kenya and has been living in Ireland since 1994. She has over 22 years experience of working with disadvantaged and marginalised groups especially women, children and youth, in Kenya, Uganda and Ireland. Her background is in social work and gender equality. Salome is the founder of AkiDwA - Africa and migrant women’s network and currently its CEO. As a consultant she has developed and delivered a range of training programmes targeted at both the migrant and indigenous communities in Ireland on topics such as global women movements, gender women and migration, personal and life skills, equality and diversity, anti-racism and interculturalism. Salome’s work is informed by a master’s degree in equality studies and women studies from University College Dublin

Click here to read more about this special edition of ENAR’s new webzine dedicated to the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent! This issue gives an overview of what this Year is about, and presents different perspectives on the specific situation and history of people of African descent, as well as several best practices of empowerment of Black people in Europe