Introduction - Why this booklet?

Why this booklet?

"There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women." Kofi Annan

In 2008 (and also in 2009) one of the priority themes of the European Commission is "Violence against women". Linked with this priority theme the empowerment of women, and more specifically the empowerment of young ethnic minority women, takes us one step further in SALTO's advocacy role for young people with fewer opportunities.

Examples of good (Youth in Action) practice demonstrate that young ethnic minority women benefit extremely well from the educational frame offered by the Youth in Action programme with many projects linking empowerment as a process with emancipation as their final aim. Yet young ethnic minority women remain a group which is often invisible or underrepresented in international training courses, seminars and events.

"The term empowerment has different meanings in different socio-cultural and political contexts, and does not translate easily into all languages. An exploration of local terms associated with empowerment around the world always leads to lively discussion. These terms include self-strength, control, self-power, self-reliance, own choice, life of dignity in accordance with one's values, capable of fighting for one's rights, independence, own decision making, being free, awakening, and capability -- to mention only a few. These definitions are embedded in local value and belief systems.

Empowerment is of intrinsic value; it also has instrumental value. Empowerment is relevant at the individual and collective level, and can be economic, social, or political. The term can be used to characterize relations within households or between poor people and other actors at the global level. There are important gender differences in the causes, forms, and consequences of empowerment or disempowerment."
( UNICEF, Women's Equality and Empowerment Framework)

Empowered people have freedom of choice and action. This in turn enables them to better influence the course of their lives and the decisions which affect them.

In order to give the opportunity to ethnic minority young women to empower themselves, as a group and as an individual, this specific target group needs specific support and methods. As the SALTO Resource Centre on Inclusion we are convinced of the strength of the Youth in Action programme as an excellent tool in order to reach this aim.

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About this booklet

This booklet is based on the SALTO Training Course "E.M.power young women from ethnic minorities": a partnership between SALTO Cultural Diversity, the National Agencies of the United Kingdom and Denmark and SALTOInclusion.

Designed to increase the use of the European Youth in Action programme in work with young women with an ethnic minority background (refugees, diverse minority groups, immigrants, etc.) as a tool for emancipation and empowerment, the TC utilised a variety of theoretical and practical inputs to build on the existing skills and knowledge bases of participants. This booklet aims to share those, and further, inputs with a wider audience.

Read more about it on www.salto-youth.net/TCEmpower/

Empowerment has become a common buzz word in recent times. There is a common understanding that empowerment, and in particular the empowerment of women, can lead to collective action for positive change. Within the movement for the empowerment of women there exists an understanding that young women from ethnic minority backgrounds have additional support needs within the empowerment process.

For example: local project work is a critical tool that assists them in their efforts to find their position or role within family, community, society and further. International project work takes the empowerment of young ethnic minority women to a whole new dimension and affords them the opportunity to position themselves and their cultures within an international setting.

However, experience tells us that whilst there is a willingness on the part of workers to engage with young ethnic minority women, there are a number of challenges to them making this valuable experience a reality, these include:

• Limited awareness and understanding, by workers, young ethnic minority women themselves and the wider community, of the core values and influencing ideologies of work with young ethnic minority women
• Concerns of family members and religious and community members
• Values, habits related to their specific ethnic minority and cultural background
• A lack of resources (staff, funding etc)
• A lack of information on the practicalities of setting up a project

With this in mind the TC E.M.power and this resultant booklet were devised with the aim of helping young ethnic minority women, and those working with them, address these challenges.

Skills and Knowledge = Power.
Do you agree?
Yes?
Then read on to find out more!

• E.M.power is part of the SALTO Inclusion for ALL series of publications. Find the complete collection at www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/InclusionForALL/
• All methods and exercises used at the E.M.power training course are also documented online in the SALTO Toolbox for Youth Work & Training at www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/Training/

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SALTO Inclusion - focusing on different inclusion groups

The SALTO Inclusion Resource Centre's mission is to encourage the Inclusion of ALL young people within the European Commission's Youth in Action programme. Various categories of young people are missing from international youth projects for a variety of reasons, for example those that come from a disadvantaged (sub)urban area.

The European Commission's Inclusion Strategy for the Youth in Action programme lists a number of obstacles that young people can face, which prevent them from taking part in international Youth in Action projects. These can include:

• Social obstacles: discrimination, limited social skills, anti-social behaviour, (ex )offenders, young single parents, broken homes, etc.
• Economic obstacles: low standard of living, low income, dependent on social welfare, long-term unemployed, homeless, in debt, etc.
• Disability: mental, physical, sensory or other.
• Educational challenges: learning difficulties, early school-leavers, school dropouts, no qualifications , different cultural/linguistic background, etc.
• Cultural differences: young immigrants, refugees, national or ethnic minorities, linguistic adaptation and cultural inclusion problems, etc.
• Health problems: chronic health problems, severe illnesses, psychiatric conditions, mental health problems, etc.
• Geographical obstacles: remote or rural areas, but also urban problem zones: decaying city centres, suburban mass-housing estates, areas of social misery, districts with a high crime rate or lack of social networks etc.

Find the European Commission's Youth in Action Inclusion Strategy at www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/InclusionStrategy/

The Youth in Action National Agencies and the SALTO Inclusion Resource Centre should take action to pave the way for more of these young people with fewer opportunities to become involved in the Youth in Action programme. In 2003, SALTO Inclusion started its target group approach, bringing together youth workers who work with groups of young people with specific disadvantages:

• Young people with disabilities (2003),
• Gay-lesbian-bisexual youth (2005),
• Young ex-offenders (2006),
• Young people from rural and geographically isolated areas (2007)
• Youth in disadvantaged (sub)urban areas (2007)
• Ethnic minority young women (2008)

Find a complete overview of the SALTO Inclusion courses at www.SALTO-YOUTH.net/InclusionCourses/