Our Work

Integration is a  very broad area which  covers  a variety of factors  that impact on  how easily  migrants are able to  fit in and feel included in the everyday life of the communities where they live.

During the life span of our current strategic plan, AkiDwA will focus on activities  that  promote  employment and entrepreneurship,  that encourage civic and democratic participation, and which combat  racism and discrimination.

AkiDwA research on migrant employment carried out  in 2017  found that while migrant women had higher levels of education than the general Irish population, they were generally living at the margins of society, struggling with unemployment, or working in unregulated jobs like home care. In 2016, 42% of complaints taken to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Equality Acts were because of racial discrimination.

In 2019, our Brain Gain event  in Dublin will celebrate ten years of successfully bringing migrant professionals and entrepreneurs together.

AkiDwA sees access to employment and gaining economic independence as being critical to integration  for migrant women. In order to achieve positive outcomes for themselves, their families and communities, migrant women need access to meaningful jobs which fully engage their qualifications, skills, education and which allow women  to utilise work experience gained in  their countries of origin.  AkiDwA  projects such as  our Door to Work Programme promote  professional and personal development  and bring employers and migrant women together.

Other AkiDwA  projects  that  promote integration,include our  Influential Migrant Women  group, which  has been providing  a platform for migrant women leaders from all 26 counties in Ireland to meet regularly.  AkiDwA has helped migrant women who are active and influential at local, regional and national level to collaborate on projects and  allows members  to work together to shape future policy. The objective  is to build the capacity of migrant women to represent themselves, their families and communities. Influential Migrant Women  meet to discuss current issues such as addressing racism, civic and democratic participation, access to employment and entrepreneurship.

AkiDwA connects migrant women to new opportunities,  and supports our members wherever we can,  by providing letters  of reference and access to training.

AkiDwA advocates for equality of treatment in access to resources and opportunities. Through outreach and networking, AkiDwA conducts research on  the experiences of of migrant women around the country focusing in particular on women  and families  living in Direct Provision. AkiDwA uses  our research findings to lobby for change in areas such as in health, employment, housing,  and education.

The outcomes of our research are used to formulate policy papers, such as the new standards for Direct  Provision (August 2019), that resulted from AkiDwA working with the Department of Justice to improve conditions following the the findings of the McMahon Report in 2014.

In AkiDwA’s work on health, we concentrate on women reproductive health and mental health as our priority. We also work with policy makers to inform policy and to ensure it reflects the diversity of women in Ireland.

In 2017 the organisation undertook-research on migrant women’s health and access to health services. This research found that there are gendered barriers, as well as barriers to migrants when accessing healthcare services, and that migrant woman as a group have specific needs within the healthcare system which are currently not being met. This fact was reiterated by focus group findings which were held with migrant women as part of the research. According to the research findings women born outside Ireland make up almost 39% of maternal deaths. Further, within the healthcare system there is a lack of culturally competent services and health service providers are not aware of culturally sensitive issues. Many women feel there is lack of understanding of their cultural background and country of origin from the healthcare providers, resulting in misunderstandings, negative perceptions and stereotypes, which then in turn hinder equality and integration. There are further health challenges facing refugee women and those in Direct Provision.

AkiDwA provides training in reproductive health to women living in Direct Provision on contraceptives, STIs and sexual health, cervical screening and smear test, crisis pregnancy and fertility. We also have a complementary programme bringing reproductive health training to men living in Direct Provision.

AkiDwA has an ongoing research project on the mental health of refugees and women living in Direct Provision, called Let’s Talk. The research will collect experiences of women on mental health and wellbeing and their experiences with mental health services in Ireland. AkiDwA will then offer psychosocial support to women across the country in the form of Let’s Talk workshops. The Let’s Talk report is forthcoming in 2020.