Empowering the Congolese Women

132 views 9:26 am 0 Comments August 19, 2023

Action Plan Proposal

Project title Empowering the Congolese Women in Victoria.
Target Group Australia has become a famous destination for refugee from various countries, one of them is Democratic Republic of Congo. In Victoria, there are approximately 736 total population of Congolese refugee residing with 243 of them being Congolese women. Talking about their lifestyle in Victoria they have been facing numerous challenges and hardship. Women are particularly vulnerable facing discouragement, they have been underrated, and taken as for granted. Some of the problems and demerits faced by Congo refugee community in Australia are given below:

Language barrier: people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have their own language to communicate so, while moving into the Australia they faced communication problems with Australian people.

Cultural barrier: moving into the completely different country like Australia, where their culture and traditions are not like the Congo cultural norms and values. For instance, they might feel disconnected and separated from the community they are living.

Educational barrier: The developed country like, Australia has their one technology advanced in the field of education. The Congo refugees who are not used to with those technology can create a gap in the education.

Feeling of insecure: after coming into the Australia the Congo refugees might feel like discriminated in jobs, community, and social values.

Financial barriers: While adjusting in the Australia refugees might face the financial barriers. This might cause various problems while accessing the educational resources, social and other activities.

The strengths and Assets of the Congo refugee community in Australia:

Strong community relationship: The Congo refugees community people usually shows a strong community relationship with their people by helping and supporting each other.

Educational motivation: Many Congo refugee’s students have seen their parents struggling with their language and economic barriers, that is why they has a willingness to pursue a high-quality education to build their community in a better way.

Resilience: The Congo refugees community move into the developed country like, Australia. They see lots of opportunities here and they got the motivation to overcome their challenges.

Cultural diversity: As, Australia is a multicultural society. The Congo people really get a good changed to learn all the positive aspects of multicultural community. By which, they know their values and get a motivation to open their culture as well.

 

 

Funding available $10,000 per year for 2 years = total project funding $20,000

Rationale and Background

Overall purpose / Rationale and relevance

Aim of the project

This Project is centred around assisting Congolese women who are residing in different suburb in Victoria. They face numerous challenges like language, cultural, education and financial barriers. This project aims to establish different programmes and create supportive platform where women could share their problem without being judged and motivating them.

With this project, we aimed to provide inclusive support for women in every aspect where they require and focus on developing their social networks and equipping them with necessary skills. They are struggling to facilitate arrangements and provide guidance to overcome basic skills.

This community development project helps to empower and nurture the Congolese women helping them to overcome threat and flourish their settlement in Victoria.

To raise awareness about importance of financial independence among Congolese women.

Outcomes / Impact

Outcomes

Skills Development: Acquired practical skills such as vocational training, sewing and parlour skills. Participants gained potential income generating opportunities.

Empowerment: Gained sense of empowerment and self-confidence through the development of new skills and enhanced their ability to contribute to the families and communities.

Financial Independence: Participant are better equipped to secure income for themselves and their families through self-employment.

Community Engagement: Become more engaged in community activities, workshops and events fostering a sense of belonging and social integration.

Cultural Exchange: Provided a platform for sharing traditional skills and cultural knowledge among participants, enriching the refugee community’s diversity.

Health and Well-being: Engaged in productive activities can contributed to improve mental health and overall well-being among refugee women.

Impacts

Economic growth: As women contributed to local economy there is a positive impact on the community’s economic development.

Reduced Dependence: Empowered women are less reliant on aid and external support contributed to greater sustainability within the refugee community.

Gender Equality: Empowerment initiative challenges traditional gender roles and promote a more equitable society.

Education and Prospects: Improved financial stability allows refugee families to invest in education for their children, breaking the cycle of poverty.

Approach

Implementation

Activities and Strategies

Tailoring Scheme

Provided Individualised Learning Plans:  Tailored programmes provided to participants with individualised learning plans that were according to their individual requirements and ability levels which guarantees learner could went at their own speed and concentrate on aspects they needed to strengthen. Offered useful, hands-on instruction with sewing machines, textiles, and various types of clothing. Numerous changed for participants to practise sewing, patternmaking, and clothing building. Conducted the Seminars for fashion design incorporated into the curriculum so that participants could learned about various fashion trends, styles, and garment designs. Invited seasoned tailors and fashion designers to provide guest lectures and lead workshops. Also, we arranged for industry visitors to visit fashion studios or factories to promote the business among families.

 Knitting tutorials

 Beginner to Advanced stages: we divided the knitting programme into several stages to accommodate both novice and experienced knitters. Provided knitting assignments that got harder as participants’ skills improve.

 Community Knitting Circles: Established knitting clubs or circles where members could exchange concepts, designs, and finished products. This encouraged a sense of support and camaraderie among knitters. Encourage participants to employ ecologically responsible knitting techniques by educating them on available sustainable.

Parlour classes

We provided a proper parlour class to the Congolese woman which includes three months basic and three-month advance course. Hired professional make artist to provide   training about basic and advance course. Conducted workshops about makeup, hair design, threading, Medicare, and pedicure. Encouraged women to participate actively to perform different activities learned during workshop and training period.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Project timeline Timeline of activities and strategies over the 2 years.

2021 (January- August): Knitting was conducted. we all members and in coordination of professional knitting person has provided different training of knitting to make varieties of woolen clothes through which all Congolese women can learn about knitting technology and can sell those clothes to upgrade their financial status.

August 2021- April 2022: Make-up class had conducted. At first, we hired a professional certified beautician   and conducted a parlour training. They learned different services related parlour like make up, hair style, waxing, facial, nail extension, manicure, and pedicure. After the completion of this training, they build up confidence to be financially independent in such a way that they start their own business and could took contract to do professional make up. Additionally, they can provide home services.

April 2022- December 2022: Tailoring training had conducted. As our target is to help Congolese to make them independent person in the community. We also provided training of tailoring so they can stitch different designers clothes and can take contract of office clothes and traditional clothes to upgrade their financial status.             

Stakeholders

-Refugee Resettlement Agency

-Government Agency

-Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)

-Community And Religious Organizations

-Education Institutions

-Media Journalists

-International Organizations

Budget

Our budget is allocated for different activity and all of them are mentioned in activity section.

Project management

Project management and implementation This project is managed by all the members in the group, to achieve all project goals within the give period. It has five stages in which initiation and conception is done by Anisha Adhikari and Kiran Tiwari, project planning is done by Manisha kadariya and Soniya Tamang, Execution is done by Shristi Adhikari and Sangeena Kunwar, monitoring is done by Shakshi Gyawali and Sandhya Khadka and closure is done by Nisha Adhikari. 
Monitoring and Evaluation

How to you plan to evaluate the project?

What methods will you use and at what points in the project will you use them? For example

Outcome Method Who will conduct it Stage of project
Improving and making Congo refugees’ life better. By conducting interviews, group and discussion and programs with 100% confidential environment.

Students- Akriti, Anisa, Kiran Tiwari Manisha, Nisha, Kiran Devkota , Soniya, Sandhya, Shakshi, Sangeena, Shristi

Throughout.,

At events,

Post events

Easy way to adapt the Australian cultural norms.

Creating awareness program and giving education of Australian norms.

Job security

By providing education and skills.

Remember to include the principles of evaluation:

Participation, Empowerment, Consent, Confidentiality

Sustainability

Sustainability is to be discussed in the group presentation

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