Journey of leadership

with The Azalea Initiative

Countries like Afghanistan, the families are the fundamental in changing attitudes of the communities. Men are traditionally seen as a leader of the family. On the other hand, girls are seen as a second-gender and follower.

Sehri

Afghanistan

Since young, society members always feel that women must always be soft. When women has period they cannot go out. The communities prioritize boys over girls. Men are breadwinner and women are inferior to the men.

Yom

Myanmar

Somali women mostly talked about being controlled mentally and they are not allowed to make decisions or join discussions most of the time. One of the reasons why they have mental health is because they often gaslit and blamed.

Koush

Somalia

Women in the

communities

Women from the refugee communities come from various background, culture and tradition. However, they almost all share one thing in common. Women are often seen as a second gender, and most of them struggle to put their self-growth as a priority.

During a resilience workshop, we asked three 18-year-old Afghan girls what they were thinking about. One said, “Coming to this workshop, we had to take a bus. And on the bus, we are often looked at differently. Like why are we out and about on our own. This is our reality; we are expected to stay at home. After our IGCSE, what is the next step for us? I don’t even know.”

This circumstance is not unique to just the three Afghan girls. Most refugee women often grapple with “What can I do?”, “Am I allowed to do it?” and “Can I do it?”. Their displaced status intersecting with gender-specific issues puts them in a disadvantaged position.

the role 

of women

We believe that refugee women are the changemakers that can positively impact their communities. They are uniquely positioned to address community issues and play a vital role in building stronger, more resilient societies. Refugee women have firsthand experience of the challenges and needs within their communities. Having lived through displacement, conflict, and adversity, they possess deep insights into the issues affecting their fellow refugees and host communities.

They also have a strong connection to their cultural heritage and traditions, allowing them to navigate cultural nuances and sensitivities within their communities. Their cultural competence facilitates effective communication, trust-building, and collaboration with community members, ensuring that interventions are culturally appropriate and respectful.

the azalea

initiative

for women

This is out theory of change. “If we create a safe space and opportunities for refugee women to invest time and resources in their growth, they will be empowered and equipped to drive change for themselves and their communities.” That is why we piloted The Azalea Initiative in 2022. The Azalea Initiative is a year-long women’s leadership programme designed to equip women from marginalised communities to be changemakers. This growth-focused programme develops their capacity and readiness to address issues in their community through life-sharing, knowledge-building, impact-making and networking.

 

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