On 16th December, 2021 this stammtisch was organized and implemented in collaboration BAC Keta Office at Kedzikorpe – Keta to train women hairdressers on migration. The meeting went well with participants being able to identify the constraints and other issues associated with migration especially irregular migration. We discussed the alternatives to irregular migration and how to start seriously, working hard to bring people’s mind to peace as majority of the people can’t feed themselves because of poverty. The participants expressed their grievances on how they were not getting support to grow their businesses and that the hairdressing business was very important. They said they needed support from government to move their businesses to the next level.
https://i0.wp.com/migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MMN-Diaspora-STAMMTISCH-2.jpg?fit=1350%2C650&ssl=16501350Benedictus Agbelomhttps://migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MMN_logo.jpgBenedictus Agbelom2022-02-04 22:50:542022-02-04 22:50:54Stammtisch On “SMART Migration”
On the 5th of October, 2021, our second Stammtisch was held with young women of 4 training Centers in Tamale. The purpose of these young women is to address some of the social issues that motivate them to migrate. This Stammtisch was facilitated by Madam Humaimatu (Director at the National Vocational Institute) and Hajia Halimatu Sagito (Director of SWIDA Ghana). These facilitators are well-trained personalities who focus on training women in addressing social issues that affect their lives. Wedam Rhoda, the local coordinator for the MMN project in Tamale gave the welcome address to the participants and encouraged them to actively participate in the Stammtisch so as to get themselves well informed about the social issues that are affecting the lives of women and motivate them to migrate.
https://i0.wp.com/migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Rhoda_2021-10-05.3.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=17681024Benedictus Agbelomhttps://migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MMN_logo.jpgBenedictus Agbelom2022-02-04 15:24:482022-02-04 15:24:48Women In migration Stammtisch
Five hundred and three (503) copies of the #MMN handy notes were distributed to the youth at social events and Market places. Moreover, one hundred and five (105) people were reached on WhatsApp. The USSD code stickers were also posted at vantage points in the communities.
Sabina Abuga (local coordinator) on Tuesday 7th December 2021, made a courtesy call to Prof. Augustine Tanle, a Professor of Migration and Refugees Studies in the Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast to introduce the MMN activities and Field Guide Tool Kit to him. Prof. Tanle is one of the few professors in the University who has a keen interest and passion for issues related to Migration and Refugees. His interest in women and migration is exceptional. He was amazed about the activities of the Organization and also agreed to support the Organization in achieving its objectives and goal.
https://i0.wp.com/migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-16-at-10.41.40-PM.jpeg?fit=1040%2C780&ssl=17801040Benedictus Agbelomhttps://migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MMN_logo.jpgBenedictus Agbelom2022-02-04 14:56:572022-02-04 14:56:57Outreach By Sabina
This 5th episode of the #MMN_Voices Ghana podcast provides background information on entrepreneurship in Ghana by interviewing the experienced entrepreneur Kwame Ababio on the necessary strategies, contacts, and information for anyone to establish and sustain a successful business #MMN supports looking into entrepreneurship as a positive alternative to migration, particularly irregular migration.
Kwame Ababio is an entrepreneur with emphasis on ICT and online agro-business.
Introducing the first episode of our #MMN_Voices podcast series.
In this episode, host Ebenezer Dwomoh talks to Ghana’s local #MMN coordinators Rhoda Wedem, Peter Narh, Emmanuel Korsah, Sabina Abuga, and James Oboade. They discuss the aim of the #MMN project in Ghana.
This podcast is a r0g_agency production and is funded by the German Federal Foreign Ministry, the Auswärtiges Amt.
1. Introduce #MMN and its activities to youth leaders.
2. Disseminate information to different youths and on the effects of irregular migration and human trafficking, and equally exposing them to the available opportunities in the country.
Awareness arising activity on” safe migration alternatives” in the community of Kombo East. The community outreach program was held in Kuloro 19th December 2021 from 9:30 to 11am local time. Most of the elders that attended did not hesitate to share their opinion on the trend of irregular Migration.
On Friday the 10th of December #MMN was live on air at Wearebornfree Humanity Matters (88.4 Mhz in Berlin; 90,7 Mhz in Potsdam)
Yaya Yaffa talked to our project manager Susanne Bellinghausen and Ghana Diapora coordinator Benedictus Agbelom about their role in the project, challenges for 2022 and the successes of 2021.
https://i0.wp.com/migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MMN_radio_3.jpg?fit=1280%2C631&ssl=16311280Susannehttps://migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MMN_logo.jpgSusanne2021-12-12 08:30:402021-12-12 08:50:57#MMN on air @ Wearebornfree Radio
According to a 2021 World Health Organization Report, https://www.who.int/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-globally-experience-violence, at least one in every three women and girls experience violence in their lifetime. In conflict and post-conflict settings, incidences of violence against women and girls (VAWG) are exacerbated, resulting in increased adverse social, economic, health and psycho-social effects. In an attempt to prevent and respond to the occurrence of VAWG in humanitarian settings, women and self-organized groups are working to create safe spaces for women and girls.
As commemorated by UN Women every year, this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women had the Theme ‚ ‘Orange the World-End violence against women now’. The 16 days of activism were observed from the 25th of November to the 10th of December 2021. During this time, UN Women urged the world to build on new actions and strengthen its commitments for a violence-free future against women.
In our monthly series of “Women Empowering Women “, the Migrant Media Network (#MMN) hosted its first edition of the diaspora meet-up in Berlin, Charlottenburg. The discussion that marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women centered on women in migration with a theme ‘Creating safe spaces for migrant women ‘.
The event featured two female activists; Isatou Barry, a trainer and FGM activist with Terre des Femmes and Jennifer Kamau, co-Founder and women rights activist of the International Women Space* Berlin. Both of whom are active speakers on violence against women and empowering women. The two-hour discussion centered around the causes and effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), violence against women and girls, women’s rights in migration and asylum policies.
A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/about/en/ recognizes FGM as an international human rights violation and shows that female genital mutilation has no health benefits but harms girls and women in ways such as chronic genital infections, severe menstrual cramps, painful sexual intercourse and dysfunction, complications during childbirth as well as depression and trauma. Most – if not all – traditional circumcisers have no medical background. They apply old, traditional techniques, leading to the death of some girls/women during the procedure.
Refugees and migrants have not been able to achieve sufficient self-reliance. With this in mind, there is a need for refugees and migrant women to have access to jobs and educational opportunities to enable them to defend themselves against violence, sexism, racism, the violence of the asylum system and migration policies by documenting, making visible, and publishing their stories in their own words. This will also enable them to build their livelihoods.
“We are fed up with people speaking about us and not with us -women’s resistance is often oppressed, and women’s history hidden or ignored”, Jennifer Kamau of the International Women Space (IWS) elaborated, adding that IWS focuses more on asylum policies and what effects the policies in place have on migrant women.
Both speakers asked for more dialogues on women’s rights and violence against issues affecting women such as asylum policies, FGM, sexual harassment and rape, noting that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation that has been perpetuated for decades. They furtherurged a “stand against rape culture” each case, according to them, is unique to the cultural sensitivities and barriers of each community. Isatou Barry observed that; in many cultures, being shamed and stigmatized for standing up against abuse can isolate an individual from their community. For example, a non-circumcised girl is excluded in the societies of circumcised girls.
They also recommended teaching the younger generation and learning from them should serve as an example for them to shape the way they think about gender, respect and human rights. “Start conversations about gender roles early, and challenge the traditional features and characteristics assigned to men and women,” said Isatou Barry.
Jennifer Kamau emphasized the importance of listening and believing the survivors. “When a woman shares her story of violence, she takes the first step to breaking the cycle of abuse. It’s therefore, on all of us to give her the safe space she needs to speak up and be heard”. She added that women on the move need gender-sensitive migration and asylum policies. The specific needs of migrant women and girls can only be addressed through gender-sensitive migration and asylum policies, including specific protection and support mechanisms
In conclusion, Jennifer stressed that migrant and refugee women in Europe face particular challenges, including violence, difficulties in access to justice, a likelihood to fall into precarious situations, risks of abject poverty and social exclusion. Migrant refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls also often face double discrimination. They are sometimes restricted within their communities by cultural codes, customs, religion or tradition and by different stereotypes and institutional barriers in host countries. This is often challenging because they are perceived as different from European culture(s).
The Migrant Media Network (#MMN) monthly series of “Women Empowering Women “is an initiative by our Gambian/ diaspora community manager Nyima Jadama, our women and migration expert ‘coordinator. This blog aims to tell stories of women in migration, especially from The Gambia, focusing on irregular migration.
https://i0.wp.com/migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/panelists.jpeg?fit=1086%2C724&ssl=17241086adminhttps://migrantmedia.network/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MMN_logo.jpgadmin2021-11-30 21:43:002021-12-31 09:22:44Women paving ways for a violence-free future for women by creating safe spaces.