Madina’s Story (how it all started) Madina was the reason we started the refuge women support group four years ago. Since then, we have continued to help newly arrived refugee women receive both social and economic support while adjusting to their new community. Over the past four years, Madina has learned English, developed lasting relationships with other refugee women and community friends. Since Madina, RAMWI has served about 300 refugee women and children by providing a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment.
Madina is a refugee from Ethiopia, who now lives in Hillsborough County. Since her arrival, Madina has been learning English, struggled to stay healthy, and is slowly adjusting to her new environment and culture. Madina enjoys having people over to her house and always displays a shy, yet friendly smile that greets you with warmth. As you get to know her, you realize that Madina is also a very determined woman with high aspirations. You also learn that her sweet smile covers memories of fear, persecution and survival. Before becoming refugees, Madina and her husband lived a quiet and happy life in their little town in Ethiopia, where she was a small business owner who supported her family. With the political turmoil in Ethiopia, Madina lost everything, and almost lost her life. Her life on the run started in 2011 and ended when she finally arrived in our community where she is learning to re-build a life for herself. Survival has now given way to hope. When she first arrived, Madina was not able to find a job due to her limited English and poor health. Then Madina started attending the refugee women support group (RAMWI) and learned to make her first scarf. She now makes beautiful and colorful scarves to sell in a micro business operated from her home. This income has helped to pay their monthly rent. By purchasing one of Madina’s scarves or any craft item made by RAMWI, you not only help support families like Madina’s, but you also partner with others in the community in giving our refugee population a new beginning. November 2013
. . Meet Rashida,
Rashida’s Story Rashida is a lively young lady from Sudan who has been attending the Refugee Women support group for 2 years now. When Rashida first joined RAMWI, she had been told that she could not achieve her lifelong dream of getting a driver’s license and starting her own day care center because she couldn’t speak English. At the support group, Rashida gained the confidence needed to take and pass her driving test and get her license. In one of the RAMWI sessions, Rashida also learned about adult education programs and enrolled to work toward becoming a licensed day care provider. Rashida and her family have moved to Pinellas County last year, but she continues to attend RAMWI meetings in Tampa. Rashida has also acquired a car and volunteers to drive other ladies to the meetings each month because she says, ‘this group is so good, as women we need to belong to something good because it will help our families and it helps us know we are not alone.’ Rashida continues to make connections with other women and uses all the resources and information provided at the support group to help others. Rashida often volunteers as our Sudanese interpreter, and is viewed as a leader among Sudanese community.
Rashida – to the left- and Florence (Founder of the Refugee And Migrant Women Initiative- RAMWI)
