Migrant women’s life improvement through body oriented approach Erasmus Project

Project Title

Migrant women’s life improvement through body oriented approach

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Gender equality / equal opportunities

Project Summary

The starting point for this project were the difficult living circumstances of migrant women, characterized by a high risk of poverty and a weak financial position. This frequently comes together with a lack of self-confidence and a negative wellbeing. Accordingly the main goal of the project was to improve the quality of life of migrant women. The starting point was an empowerment process for migrant women themselves, so that they could become more aware of their potential and gain more self-confidence. This should be the basis for more emotional well-being as well as for a better approach to the labor market.

The five project partners from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey combined their expertise in the three main points of reference – interculturality, women’s empowerment and the body-oriented approach – in order to develop and implement a suitable offer in the adult education.
The field of action of the partners varied from local migrant organization (Stichting Tour Rotterdam) to a network of people supporting migration-process (Intercultural Forum Fulda e.V.), adult education provider (A.RE.S. Campobasso), to public authority (Izmir governorship) and international association (Eubikus eeig). The diversity of the partners should provide insights into how to gain better access to the target group of migrant women, and what collaborations and networks are particularly useful here.

To realize these goals, first the concept of a body-oriented training for women with a migrant background was developed. This was named “mind4body” and consists of an active program of seven steps towards more empowerment and independency. At the same time, a training course for trainers was developed, with which the teaching staff of the participating partners should be equipped with all necessary skills to be able to realize the mind4body training. So planned, done so:
Each project partner sent four participants to the international training for Mind4body trainers under the direction of Eubikus (mostly with a migration background themselves).
Following this, the partners tested and evaluated the mind4body training on site. Where necessary, the concept was adapted. More trainings were carried out and implemented in the offers of the partners. Cooperation with local migrant self-help organizations was an important factor in reaching the target group.
Based on this, the project partners have developed various activities to disseminate the body-oriented approach (publications, newsletters, multiplier events, presentations). In addition, the project team has produced several outputs to document and reproduce the results: a manual about the mind4body trainings, a brochure about the training of trainers, and videos for demonstrating mind4body.

The evaluation of the mind4body training showed the great impact of this innovative body-oriented approach: the communicative and social competencies of the participants have expanded significantly. They feel more emotional balance, energy and motivation and have a better social network. They have developed more self-confidence and got to know better their own strengths and potentials. On this base the participants have been able to improve their position in the labor market and taken steps to take live in hand themselves.
In addition, the following has been achieved:
– The partner organizations are able to address a socially relevant topic (migration) with their work, have set up corresponding networks and established contacts with relevant stakeholders.
– Adult education trainers have acquired gender and intercultural skills. They have learned to apply the body-oriented approach and are able to give successful mind4body trainings.
– The involved organizations and trainers have built up an international network.
– The results were disseminated in the areas of migration, education, employment, health, women’s empowerment, youth work and social work. The materials and offers (mind4body training and training of trainers) will also be available in the future.
The response to the results is very positive, the approach is already picked up and used by other organizations and trainers. Overall, our project has contributed to a greater sensitivity towards the situation and the needs of migrant women.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 165370 Eur

Project Coordinator

Europäische Vereinigung für Bildung, Kultur und Soziales ewiv & Country: DE

Project Partners

• A.RE.S. scarl
• IZMIR VALILIGI
• Interkulturelles Forum Fulda e.V.
• Stichting Tour