What strategies are African and migrant women developing to overcome the challenging moment we are facing? In the III Forum of African Women in Italy, women with different expertise, working in various countries gate together to exchange their experiences.
by Juliana da Penha
Saturday, 14/11/2020 at an online conference, African, Italian and migrant women representing different organizations and fields of work, developing projects in Europe and Africa, discussed the challenges, the resilience and active participation of African and migrant women during the pandemic at the 3rd edition of Forum of African Women in Italy.
The Forum is the result of the collaboration between networks of African women’s associations in Europe, Italian women’s associations, the Centre for African Studies of Piedmont, the Intercultural Centre of Turin, the Abele Group, the Metropolitan City of Turin and the Piedmont Region.
Organized by the Collective of African Women in Italy, the event invited women experts in entrepreneurism, environment and health, creating a significant discussion concerning African and migrant women matters.
The Forum was mediated by Colette Meffire, journalist and member of Mosaic Association in Italy and the speakers presented their work, in different languages: Italian, English and French.
Among the speakers:
Emanuela Del Re, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy.
Suzanne Bellnoun founder and president of OFAD – Organization of African Women of Diaspora in France.
Lilie Amba Kombo Ky-Maka, Coordinator of Rayon de soleil pour l’ Afrique in Belgium.
Joëlle Baccialon General Secretary of FCEM Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide in Monaco.
Luisa Bruna Caprotti Entrepreneur and Vice General Secretary of FCEM Femmes Chef d Entreprise and Secretary of the Board of AIDDA Piedmont and Aosta Valley in Italy.
Merit Humoru Vice President of the Collective of African Women in Italy.
Anita Calcatelli former physicist and researcher, from Gruppo Spazio Donne – Cascina Roccafranca I Torino, Italy
Elodie Ntamuzinda of Francophone African Women’s Network in Congo.
Dr Ima Jackson clinician, lecturer and researcher, working across health, education, the cultural sector and skills and employability in Scotland.
Dr Suzanne Mbiye Diku, a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics, medical director of the National Institute for the promotion of health of the migrant population in Rome and the fight against poverty diseases. She is also president of Tam Tam d’Afrique, Association of Congolese Women of Origin in Italy.
Marie-Jeanne Balagizi, Coordinator of the Italian African Forum and President of the Collective of African Women in Italy concluded the event.
The next steps are the creation of working groups, in different areas: healthcare, environment, women’s association’s entrepreneurship and female employment to discuss issues further and find ways to collaborate.
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Good initiative, keep it up it is needed by many African women in Italy