BEWC Activities 2010

BEWC 2nd Strategic Meeting Vienna July 2010

He main activity of BEWC 2010 was the organisation of the 2nd Strategic meeting in Vienna, from 1-2 July 2010. This BEWC strategic meeting was hosted by AFRA, co-organized by the Renner Institute Vienna with the financial support of filia-diefrauenstiftung.

The aimed of this meeting was to develop the organisational structure and governance, as well as the BEWC working 2010-2015 agenda. This working agenda will be presented for adoption at the next BEWC General Assembly 2011.

The participants includes Beatrice Achaleke (BEWC president, Austria), Yvette Jarvis (BEWC vice-president, Greece), Rita Naloop (representing Hellen Felter, BEWC Treasurer, Tiye International, the Netherlands), Salome Mbugua (BEWC Board Member, Akidwa, Ireland), Suzanne Diku (BEWC Board member, Rome Black Women Association, Italy) and Omotola Kaebe (BEWC member, Tola’s Teaching Institute, Germany).

The first day of the strategic meeting was dedicated to the context, means and tools of the Black European Women’s Council. First of all the DVD “The Birth of the Black European Women’s Council” was showed to open the meeting. Martin Janata of the Renner Institute Vienna welcomed the participants before the president of the BEWC, Beatrice Achaleke, emphasized the necessity of a strategic meeting to reactivate the BEWC again and to define common goals, an organisational structure, duties and a strategic plan.

The following points were discussed to feed the strategic plan of the BEWC:

• achievements and dreams
• competences and skills of the BEWC members
• fears concerning Black European Women and the BEWC
• challenges

The fist day was closed by an embassy dinner courtesy of the Cuban ambassador, Her Excellency Norma Goicochea Estenoz.

On the second day the focus was laid on formulating the objectives, discuss the BEWC governance and structure, proposing BEWC activities and projects as preparation of the strategic plan of the BEWC. The objectives will be jointly formulated and adopted at the next general assembly in 2011.

Other activities

Besides the strategic meeting the following activities took place.
To create more visibility and synergy some members of the BEWC were invited to the World Diversity Leadership Summit Europe in Vienna from 11th-12th March 2010. WDLS-EU 2010 provided a great networking opportunity and strategic positioning with companies such as Walt Disney, Adecco North America, Virtcom Consulting, Diversity Practice, and with personalities like Josy Garlacher, Tanya Odom, Lois Cooper and many more.
Exchanges with these personalities and organisations were all centered around creating more visibility for BEWC, creating strategic alliances and discussing strategies on possible sources of funding and strategic networks.

Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference
3 members of BEWC (Beatrice Achaleke, Yvette Jarvis BEWC Greece, and “Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference” in Brussels in 2010. During both meetings the President & Vice President of BEWC not only visibly positioned BEWC at the Trans-Atlantic context but they also insisted on the recognition and involvement of BEWC as strategic partner in all issues relating to Black Europeans.

Participation at the 3. Meeting of the European Intergration Forum
BEWC is a registered member of the European Integration Forum and took part as such at the 3 Meeting of the European Integration forum in June 2010. At this meeting it was important to create direct contact to the current board members of the Integration Forum and to take part in the discussions from the perspective of Black European Women.

Participation at the UN Human Rights Day 2010
Since 2009 BEWC has been appealing strategic partnership with the Helsinki Commission, and the organisers of the Black European Summit including Congressman Hastings and the European parliament. During this meeting it was possible to meet and speak to Congressman Hastings personally, and other members of the European Parliament and Clack Caucus including Rosa Brigonne, Hannes Swoboda, both EU parliament, and may to network with Pr. Allison Brackely (Author of many Blacks on Black Europeans, the US Ambassador to the EU, and many others.
Three BEWC Members represented BEWC at this meeting including Yvette Jarvis, Barry Biekmann and Beatrice Achaleke