filia.die frauenstiftung

The second ProjectParty at filia – already an "institution" with clear rules of the game and many interested visitors.

filia founder Ute Pfeifer hosted the Party in June 2008. As a result of the great response in the previous year, it was held at the same venue and time as the General Meeting of the endowment contributors. This gave more contributors and many visitors the opportunity of getting to know a woman and her vision supported by filia.
And what a vision! What a woman1 Beatrice Achaleke, Head of AFRA (International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives, based in Vienna), had the idea of a Europe in which all voices are heard, including the voice of black European women.
"We are not victims", stresses Beatrice Achaleke – black women in Europe want to be perceived as counterparts, want their own particular reality to be recognised and taken into consideration. The movement emanates from them; they themselves determine the thematic areas that the Black European Women’s Council (BEWC), newly established in 2008, will introduce at European level. The BEWC sees itself as the overall representation of groups of black women from many European countries. More than 40 women from 16 Member States collaborated at the launch in April.
As the evening drew to a close with an African buffet, there was scope for more intensive discussions, for joint ideas and lots of laughter.
Some quotations from contributors: "It was a sustainable Project Party. It has enriched my life and sharpened my senses." "I am proud that filia has made a contribution to this." "Ms Achaleke represents par excellence 'the spirit' that filia wants to support."

Postscript

Ms Achaleke organised the official founding event of the Black European Women's Council in Brussels already in September 2008. "Black European women" is a political concept. The women of African origin or descent with their competences and their potential are a part of the mainly white European societies. They call for their special problems to be perceived – racism, sexism, discrimination on the employment market, lack of representation at political level. At European level the women seek dialogue with those bearing political responsibility. The publication "Voices of Black European Women I" (also supported by filia) was presented in Brussels as well.
The third general meeting of members was held in April 2009.
To learn more go to: www.bewnet.eu

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