Final Momentum Results Celebrated
After two years of intense collaboration, the MOMENTUM partnership shared the results of the project and reflected on the experience of the project implementation during a two-day visit to Athens in December 2023.
Together with migrant and refugee women who were trained during the project and members of the multistakeholder groups established across the five countries, the partnership had the chance to present and discuss the outcomes of the project implementation in the context of the EU conference carried out on December 11th.
The Conference was welcomed by Mr. Makis Drakopoulos, Director of Programmes and Institutional Fundraising, Actionaid, who stressed the importance of the multistakeholder collaboration scheme introduced as part of the project in the process of TCN women.
Glykou Ioanna, Head of Socio-Economic Integration Department, Ministry of Migration and Asylum, also welcomed the commencement of the conference and stressed the commitment of the Ministry to facilitate TCN women’s access to education and the labour market through tailor made programmes responding to the multiple barriers women face.
A keynote speech was delivered by Angelique Petrits, Policy Officer at DG HOME, who addressed the conference and enriched the discussion by bringing the European Commission dimension and presenting the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion.
The roundtable on the direct services provided to migrant and refugee women showed that through the project activities:
Women were enabled to recognize their existing skills and experience exploring ways of utilizing them in the new context.
Self-confidence was increased due to both the acquired knowledge and skills and through the empowerment activities.
Employability was boosted through job counseling sessions, training and contact with employers through the workshops and field visits, fostering confidence in applying for jobs
Job readiness increased, as women felt more prepared and confident in pursuing employment opportunities.
A sense of belonging, safety, and empowerment emerged within training groups, serving as supportive networks to help women overcome challenges and build empowerment.
The roundtable on multistakeholder collaboration highlighted the benefits across all countries, including:
Increased flow of information across the different sectors and stakeholders involved in migration and integration
Increased opportunities for synergies and collaborations
Actions designed promoting access of migrant and refugee women access to vocational training and employment.
The second day, the partnership together with the trained women and the members of the local ecosystem visited the Acropolis. After being inspired, participants visited the headquarters of ActionAid Hellas and reflected on the experience of the project. The input by the trained women, the trainers, mentors and the members of the local ecosystems was of great significance for the partnership who are committed to continuing this effort in the future.
