African Women Empowered Network (SCIO)

Constitutional objectives

4 The organisation’s purposes are: (a) To support, inspire, empower and promote the interest of African/ ethnic minority women, children and their families to realise their life aspirations, and increase their self-determination by removing structural barriers that limit their economic and social advancement. We will deliver mentorship programmes with a focus on personal growth, skill-building, and access to opportunities. (b) To support employability by equipping African/ethnic minority women with the competencies they need to overcome employment barriers and thrive in the modern workforce across Scotland amid at closing gaps in employment outcomes by enhancing readiness for competitive job markets. We will host career-readiness sessions to equip women with targeted tools to navigate job markets. (c) To promote health and wellbeing among individuals and families with culturally sensitive approach through multifaceted workshops and campaigns focussed at African/ethnic minority communities in Scotland to address health inequalities experienced by marginalised communities through education that respects cultural nuances. We will run health promotion campaigns and workshops addressing mental health, nutrition, and maternal well-being, tailored to African and minority ethnic cultural contexts. (d) To build stronger communities by promoting cohesion, cultural integration and strengthen relationship by holding free and open multi-cultural events across communities in Scotland to celebrate diversity, inclusion and reduce loneliness and social isolation. We will organise inclusive community events, such as multicultural festivals and intergenerational storytelling forums, and community get together to reduce loneliness and foster belonging by encouraging intercultural dialogue/engagement and community relationship-building. (e) To tackle poverty and reduce inequality of community wealth distribution by engaging with local authorities and agencies and advocating fair and equitable access to timely information and resources to the underrepresented and adversely racialised minoritised communities across Scotland to address the systemic poverty and ensure equitable access to vital services and opportunities. (f) To stimulate entrepreneurship among African/ethnic minority women to promote economic growth by offering regular workshops and connecting with successful women entrepreneurs for mentorship and coaching support and guidance. We will facilitate business incubators and entrepreneurship bootcamps, connecting women with successful mentors and peer networks to grow the number of women-led businesses and promote financial independence among ethnic minority populations. (g) To promote equal representation of African/ethnic minority women in leadership across all sectors of the Scottish economy by holding workshops directed at leadership skills-building, job-shadowing, volunteering, training, networking and creating visibility. We will also deliver leadership training programmes, including shadowing placements, public speaking workshops, and networking events to increase visibility of ethnic minority women in decision-making spaces. (h) To promote race equality and anti-racism education by engaging with Schools, local Councils and organisations including the Scottish Government in order to build a society where everyone is respected, valued and loved equally. We will collaborate with schools and public institutions to develop anti-racist educational workshops and campaigns that challenge discrimination and promote systemic change. This will help to actively dismantle racism through education and policy engagement that centres lived experiences and community voices.