Affair – Wikipedia

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Afra ( AFRA International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives ) is a non-profit organization of women of black African origin based in Vienna, Austria. The starting point of the work of the association is on the one hand the reflection of needs of black women and children and the development of individual solutions, on the other hand networking and lobbying at national and international level as well as public relations for socio -political positioning black women and their concerns.

The organization was founded in 2006 by the Cameroon Beatrice Achaleke, who is now the managing chairman of the association. For years she has been committed to equality between migrants, especially black women, in Austria and already created the “Black Women Community” in 2003 under the impression of the violent death Seibane Wagues, the goal of which was to improve the integration of women in Austria.

The activities for equality for black women as part of the club activity began in June 2007. In the second half of 2007, due to public relations, numerous affected women became aware of AFRA and found a platform to find out and exchange information about various concerns.

The active members are women with many years of experience in working in areas such as migration, anti-racism and intercultural communication, as well as the conception and implementation of EU projects and professional networking. The working languages ​​are German, French, English, Swahili, Pidgin-English and many other African languages.

The mission is based on “self -representation, self -empowerment, self -confidence, self -determination, development of leadership skills and participation. Afra is convinced that diversity is an indispensable enrichment for every society ”.

Based on the fact that black women and children form a minority that is exposed to multiple discrimination in everyday life, the association work focuses on:

  • The targeted further training to promote independence and self -realization of black women and children.
  • Development and strengthening of social skills through formal and informal networks.
  • Development and imparting skills to combat racism, sexual harassment and sexisms, as well as all forms of discrimination in everyday life.
  • Event of symposia, conferences, workshops etc. to sensitize the public on topics that affect black people.
  • Orientation and advice for black women and children in the areas of health, school, politics, profession, etc.

Cooperations [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

In addition to its main activities, the association also operates cooperations with other organizations.

Communication campaign “Black Austria” [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

The concept of “Black Austria” developed from 2004 was made together with the club from 2006 M-Media implemented. At the end of December 2006 to the beginning of January 2007, an advertisement and poster campaign to reduce prejudices against black people in Austria was realized [first] .

Black European Women’s Congress 2007 [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

Initiated by Afra International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives and in co-organization Tye International (NL), the first “Black European Women’s Congress” took place in Vienna from September 27 to 29, 2007. The congress represented a contribution to the “European year for equal opportunities for everyone” and served primarily as a discussion and exchange forum for black women from the EU countries. During the two-day congress, the participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas with one another through impulse departments, workshops and discussion rounds, to discuss or find out EU topics with reference to “equal opportunities for all” from the perspective of black women.

Black women are an ethnic minority in Austria, some of which meets multiple discrimination and social exclusion in everyday life. Very often black women in Europe are confronted with “foreign” definitions, with external names such as B. “foreigners”, “colored”, “black Africans” etc. The working group “Identity and (self) emphasis” discussed the effects of such terms from the perspective of black women with the aim of themselves in a pan-European context, in the sense of one to define and position political empowerments.

Subsequently, strategies for equality for black women and to position their concerns in the pan -European political landscape were drawn up in the discussions and workshops. So the need for the need for regional cooperation, networking and joint lobbying at European level. Finally, the around 100 participants from 16 EU member states, Switzerland and the United States wrote the “Vienna Declaration (Vienna Declaration)” [2] With concrete demands on the five congresses at EU member states and institutions. This includes, among other things, the demand for the application and enforcement of Article 13 of the Amsterdam contract in order to completely extinguish all forms of discrimination within the EU member states.

In order to signal the willingness to dialogue with the institutions mentioned, this was Black European Women’s Network (BEWNET) founded that should be started as part of the EU year for intercultural dialogue in 2008.

Mimpol [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

In 2008 the project was Migrants make politics (Mimpol) created with which the political participation of immigrants in Vienna, later, should be improved all over Austria.

Mimpol is intended to serve as a non -partisan, intercultural communication platform between immigrants and politicians in Austria and promote the intercultural dialogue between immigrants and politicians (mentors) by advising immigrants (mentees) through the Austrian political landscape and there are immigrants and their needs, but also opportunities and get to know potential. This should enable intercultural encounters and strengthen social and political skills, support young politicians and create political role models from immigrant communities.

Target group programs [ Edit | Edit the source text ]

The association offers programs tailored to target groups, such as a health forum, a language center, the Youth’s Leadership Forum, Scholarships, Diversity Training, a Personality Development Forum and an Intercontinental Catering Service.

  • Social Marie 2007 For the advertising and poster campaign “Black Austria” [3]
  • MiA-Award 2008 In the field of humanitarian and social engagement for Beatrice Achaleke [4]
  1. ↑ Black Austria ( Memento of the Originals from February 18, 2018 in Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been used automatically and not yet checked. Please check original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this note. @first @2 Template: Webachiv/Iabot/www.blackaustria.at
  2. ↑ Viennese declaration @first @2 Template: dead link/www.bert.eu ( Page no longer available, search in Webarchiven ) Info: The link was automatically marked as a defect. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this note. (PDF; 21 kB)
  3. ↑ Award winner of the Social Marie 2007
  4. ↑ MiA-Award: MIA winners 2008 @first @2 Template: Link/www.mia-award.at ( Page no longer available, search in Webarchiven ) Info: The link was automatically marked as a defect. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this note.