AkiDwA as an organisation emerged from regular meetings held amongst fellow migrant women, from 1999 to 2001, convened by Salome Mbugua, a Kenyan migrant woman who had arrived in Ireland in 1994. The first meeting was held in city centre Dublin, in Temple Bar, in 1999. In 2001, through the support of the Catherine McAuley Centre, Salome mobilised a group of African women to come together to share their experiences of living in Ireland. What emerged from this meeting were feelings of exclusion, isolation, racial abuse and discrimination, issues related to gender based violence were also raised. The group went on to meet regularly and were supported and offered facilitation from outside. AkiDwA sought and obtained funding from the Combat Poverty Agency in 2002 to carry out a pilot needs assessment with African women living in Ireland. The survey elicited over two hundred female participants from seventeen counties.

Formal structures were put into place when AkiDwA was registered as a company with guarantee but without capital share in 2003.  However limited funding meant that most work continued to be carried out on voluntary basis. Training modules were developed, including programmes on capacity building, racism and cultural diversity, with a view towards enhancing integration of migrant and indigenous women. Train the trainers modules were also developed.

In September 2005 AkiDwA received an award of investment from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, to support the development of the organisation. Over the years the organisation has expanded its work while still focusing on key issues of migrant women, attracting a diverse portfolio of funders. AkiDwA is overseen by a nine member management board and currently employs a total of seven staff, primarily on a part time basis.

The organisation is a national network of migrant women and has members from 36 countries of origin. AkiDwA is a member of the European Network of Migrant Women and is also a member of the Black European Women’s Council. The organisation has links and networks with organisations and institutions in Europe, Africa and the United States.

The Coalition Against Deportations of Irish Children (CADIC):
In July 2003, as migrant African (m) others of Irish citizen children started receiving deportation letters, Salome Mbugua, CEO of AkiDwA contacted Ronit Lentin- Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, together they convened a group of representatives from Irish and migrant NGOs and founded the Coalition Against Deportations of Irish Children (CADIC) to campaign against the removal of the right of residency for migrant parents of Irish citizen children.  A citizenship referendum held by the State in June 2004, carried by a large majority, removed the automatic right of a child born in Ireland to Irish citizenship, in the future only a limited group of children born to migrant parents might qualify.  On 14th December 2004 the Minister for Justice established the Irish Born Child Administrative Scheme 2005 (“IBC/05”), allowing parents of Irish children the right to apply for permission to remain on the basis of their parentage of an Irish child born in the State before 1 January 2005.  In total, 17,917 parents of Irish citizen children applied to the IBC/05 Scheme, with 16,693 parents being granted residency in the original scheme.

AkiDwA employs three key strategies to achieve its objectives, networking, policy work and capacity building/organisational development. AkiDwA develops African and migrant women’s capacity for participation and representation in their communities and in decision making structures through training, consultation, focus groups, information provision and research.
Key activities of AkiDwa Include:
• Information provision
• Migrant women support
• Provision of education and training locally and regionally
• Research and related activities
• Policy work
• Outreach to members and vulnerable migrant women
• Stakeholder engagement on priority issues
• Community Resource Centre courses and services
AkiDwa Programme Objectives :
Gender Based Violence: AkiDwA’s gender based violence (GBV) programme focuses on female genital mutilation, domestic violence and sexual violence. AkiDwA works to improve delivery of culturally appropriate support services for GBV related issues, provides guidance and training to migrant women experiencing domestic violence and women with medical concerns related to genital mutilation. AkiDwA advocates for legislation to prohibit female genital mutilation in Ireland, including the principle of extraterritoriality.
Employment: AkiDwA’s employment programme focuses on migrant women’s access to the labour market, recognition of skills, education and work experience from abroad and the impact of the current recession on migrant women and families. The attainment of economic independence is crucial for women, especially for migrant women experiencing domestic violence so that they can make decisions based on safety and not poverty.
Gender Based Discrimination: AkiDwA’s gender based discrimination programme advocates for the equality of treatment and engagement for migrant women through legislation, policy and practice reform and through awareness raising training and promoting balanced public debate. AkiDwA’s policy work aims to progress equal access to rights, services and economic opportunities and monitors safety and protection issues, in particular within State systems, lobbying for necessary reforms. AkiDwA supports the strengthening of women’s voice in civic and political structures.
AkiDwa’s long term legacy outcome is that the rights of African and migrant woman living in Ireland will be respected and protected.
“We are working together in solidarity, building an integrated society, one in which all people are valued, treated with respect and dignity, and enjoy equal opportunities and protections.” Salome Mbugua, Director, AkiDwA

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