Description
The goal of the project is to empower immigrant women so that they are able to deal with situations such as labour exploitation, gender violence, racism and discrimination. Through this work, the two partner NGOs expect to become more effective in their action to promote social cohesion. The project will empower the beneficiaries, through individualized assistance, by providing information on their rights and duties. It will also detect other existing problems facing these women and initiate measures of support. Collective activities will also be held on these topics, where the beneficiaries themselves will help with their volunteer work. After the project, they may be integrated into other activities and transmit their experience. A documentary about these women will also be made, for the general public, portraying their relationship with the work environment and with the institutions, as well as the challenges to their integration.
Summary of project results
The migrant community in Portugal is often faced with labour exploitation, racism and discrimination. The main target groups originate mostly from Portuguese-speaking (sub-Saharan) African countries, although there are also significant communities originating from Brazil, Eastern Europe and China as well. Migrant women face additional difficulties, such as gender violence and discrimination. The purpose of this project was to empower immigrant women so that they are better able to deal with these challenges, and to improve the effectiveness of the two involved NGOs in addressing these issues. It accomplished and exceeded the goals it set out to accomplished, achieving a very meaningful impact as regards gender equality and women’s rights within the scope of these communities. 902 women, nearly twice as many as expected, received individualized assistance; and about 270 participated in the project’s awareness-raising activities. A documentary about these women was also made for the general public. The promoter reports that this has been very useful for raising awareness among migrant communities and the general public. The project strengthened the NGOs’ skills on addressing the beneficiaries’ problems and on training and awareness-raising techniques, with emphasis on the forum theatre methodology; enabled the consolidation of partnerships; and improved fundraising skills. Implemented within a single year and with a modest budget, the project was successful in changing the views of the women involved regarding the addressed topics, as well as regarding their own potential role as agents for change in society (in particular, as part of this group was empowered to become organisers and protagonists in events that deal with these challenges). The involved NGOs also highlight the relevance of the cultural / awareness-raising activities carried out in public spaces – the staging of real life situations lived by the migrant women themselves, who took on the role of scriptwriters and actresses in this process – which give visibility to these issues and to the work carried out by NGOs in this regard.
Summary of bilateral results