The first Dialogue for Women of the Diaspora event held on Sunday 08/26/07 at the South African Consul General’s residence was an extraordinarily successful one for most of the attendees. It brought together three generations of women of all socio-economic backgrounds, from Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East for an afternoon of food, conversation and community.
No one had any clear expectations of the afternoon, yet we were all excited and strangely optimistic. With the busy lives which we lead in Canada, we do not usually have the opportunity to just meet and talk in a supportive, non threatening arena. Approximately 85 women turned up – some traveled from cities in the GTA to be here.
The Consul General welcomed us and spoke of her vision to commence a cultural dialogue that would make us all stronger and more successful; Carole Adriaans, the President of SAWW described her vision and dreams for women and young girls when she started South African Women for Women. She challenged each of us to find our own path to help the community of girls and young women at risk here and in our motherlands.
In an atmosphere of cordiality and sisterhood, each person introduced herself to the group, described her background and her profession or career and sometimes how she attained it. Some talked about family members killed, or lost and missed – but everyone spoke; we embarked on an extensive discussion of personal, professional struggles and the socio-economic isolation most of us face to varying degrees.
Immigrants from Third World countries who came to find a better life in Canada were not aware of the social, emotional isolation, or the pain and depression that would descend on them as visible minorities; some of them did not know how, or were unable to integrate themselves successfully into the greater mainstream Canadian community. Since there is a shortage of adequate Settlement agencies for women who need a more advance form of skills development beyond basic job search and ESL skills, this group has remained in ethno-specific boxes and tried to cope with an inability to move up in the Canadian job market without fine-tuning their entrepreneurial or career-preparedness.
The women in attendance were searching for an inter-connected Afro- centric community to replace the ones they left behind. It was obvious that there is a need for an Immigrant Integration Programme for those women who still need adequate counselling in tools to navigate educational and professional upgrading and re-certification in Canada.
There is a need for an ethno-cultural network to provide support, guidance and re-training when needed without a fear of betrayal and/or sabotage.
Zenzele will create a database of settlement services and resources that could address the concerns and issues of Afro-centric women which will address the following:
- Feelings of aloneness, isolation and depression;
- A lack of adequate ethno-cultural support systems and counseling for mental illness issues, bereavement etc;
- Assist in locating appropriate educational referrals, job creation, career direction/advice, life skills and spiritual guidance;
- Various health issues unique to multi-cultural women and which often require supportive connections/ groups to ameliorate the feelings which several women addressed at this meeting, and to ensure crisis help-lines for those in need;
- Provide Mentors to facilitate successful integration and growth.
Through Zenzele, we hope to facilitate various programs that can serve the needs of the women of the African Diaspora in a new and meaningful way.