African Women's Cross-Cultural Exchange Day 2008

The African Women's Cross Cultural Exchange Day was held on Friday 13 June at the Footscray Baptist Church Hall. The original idea was proposed by WHW FARREP worker, Rumia Abbas, herself a refugee from the Horn of Africa. Rumia expressed frustration with the number of events for refugee women that involved African women learning from western service providers. She wanted to reverse those roles, encouraging African women as the best experts on their own lives.

Hararian wedding demonstration at the African Women's Cross-Cultural Exchange Day 2008

Hosted by Women's Health West, together with migrant and refugee African women, the United Somali Women's Organisation, the Royal Women's Hospital, Doutta Galla Community Health Centre, Western Region Health Centre, City West Water, Immigrant Women's Domestic Violence Service and African Holistic Social Services of Victoria, the day had several aims:

For African women's voices to be heard

To alert service providers to relevant issues as identified by culturally and linguistically diverse African women

To raise awareness and understanding of different African cultures

To celebrate the positive aspects of different African cultures from the perspective of African women

To introduce FARREP workers as a key resource for cultural and health issues for African women in the western region affected by FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) and to reinforce this as one cultural practice to be left behind

To provide information to assist health service providers to adopt more culturally sensitive practices that recognise the differences in culture among African communities.

Service providers were welcomed with a traditional coffee ceremony. They were invited to join women from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Burundi in a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere as they shared their stories, knowledge and culture, through presentations and a variety of cultural performances. The day was a celebration of African culture including arts and crafts displays, traditional African dress, African food and henna painting.

Henna decoration

The African Women's Cross Cultural Exchange Day was successful at many levels. African women creatively presented their unique cultures and talked about their diverse experiences. They also had the opportunity to meet other women and service providers to discuss challenges and opportunities for their respective communities.

For service providers, this day was a great opportunity to meet women from different communities, exchange information and form networks with other service providers.

FIND OUT MORE about our work with African women.