With “Femmes Dynamiques – Strong Women, Strong Society,” we worked in 2020 to support Muslim women in Berlin, especially women from African and Asian countries. Workshops, counseling, and sports were meant to strengthen their participation in society – and, through them, that of the people around them.
Background
Muslim women from Africa and Asia are affected by intersectional discrimination: they are disadvantaged on several grounds at once. Many find it hard to look after their health, to take part in society, and to get involved in public life.
On top of that, many leisure activities, including sports, do not fit their living situations.
The idea: sports bring people together
Sports provided the shared framework for the project: they make the program attractive and build community. Workshops and counseling were offered around the physical activity. The motto was “by women for women.”
What we offered
Workshops
The workshops were about building community and gaining knowledge: on education, anti-discrimination, health, sports, and participation. Topics included the education and health systems and the job and housing markets.
Counseling
A counseling service built on the workshops. Here the women could explore topics in more depth and talk about personal questions, including experiences of discrimination. Counseling was free of charge.
Sports
A low-threshold sports program made it easier for the women to get active themselves – with exercise that fits into everyday life.
Childcare
Childcare was provided during the workshops. That way, mothers could take part too.
Stronger together
The women were to build networks among themselves and make contacts with public agencies. Together, we wanted to stand up to discrimination and represent the interests of Muslim women.
In the summer of 2020, a group of 20 women met on several Sundays at the premises of Moabiter Ratschlag e.V. in Berlin-Moabit.
The project was funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
