AkiDwA Graduation Ceremony
AkiDwa is hosting a special graduation ceremony for a cohort of women seeking asylum in Ireland, who have been undertaking capacity-building training with AkiDwA over the past few months.
AkiDwA has continued to work hard on FGM in 2023, springing into the new year with several publications, events and continuous community activities and support.
We took this year’s 6th of February International Day for Zero Tolerance of FGM to launch the FGM A Guide for Educators Handboook (2nd Ed.).
Given that 1,600 girls are at risk of FGM in Ireland, and the frontline positions that teachers hold in children’s lives, this is an important publication for educators to be aware of and to apply. Right the way up to university-level education, educators are in a unique and influential position to be able to play a big role in the journey to ending FGM. Senator Anne Hoey, who launched the Handbook on the day, commented that the guide provides “wonderful information for all educators”. AkiDwa hopes that educators will step up and take note of the valuable lessons contained in the guide.
The findings of the associated research concluded in November 2022 that underpins this Handbook, Knowledge of Educators in Ireland on Female Genital Mutilation, will surely prompt educators and policy makers alike to take pause to reflect on how they can improve their knowledge and delivery of education on FGM in all Irish educational contexts.
As part of a brand new support programme that they began in February, AkiDwA has also been delivering capacity-building training to a cohort of women.
The capacity-building training itself has involved a group of thirty-four women who are residing in four Emergency Accommodation Centres in Dublin. These women have been undergoing a seven-week capacity-building training as part of AkiDwA’s project with IOM Ireland on ‘Responding to the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Needs of Women Seeking International Protection’, funded by the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth.
The training has focused on personal development and life skills, and has covered topics such as effective communication and assertiveness, dealing with conflict, women’s safety and security, women’s reproductive health, dealing with change, parenting, laws, rights and entitlements and personal goal setting.
The ceremony will take place on Friday the 21st of April 2023, from 10.30am-1pm in Dublin.
AkiDwa would be delighted if you would accept their invitation to attend this graduation day and celebrate the achievements of this group of women. The organisation is looking forward to hear whether you, or a representative from your organisation, can attend.
Please RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/e/Y2KbavFiP6
