Project Summary EN

20 different countries, they share the same values and can help one another. Gloria has made new friends as a result of her participation and has developed as a person. She hopes to be able to use what she has learned to help others and now has a better understanding of how she can. The Project gave her a chance to feel more of a part of the community and she now feels like an Italian citizen. Oxana Comănescu is a 46 year-old woman of Moldovan origin who has been resident in Romania for 20 years. She married a Romanian man and has two children, though is now separated from her husband. Oxana has participated in activities in relation to migrants in the past and joined the MIE training as she was keen to help other women who had been in a similar situation to her, coming to a new country where they do not know anyone and are unfamiliar with the language. She could relate to many of the issues they were faced with. Oxana felt that giving her the trust and responsibility to act as a ‘leader of integration’ made her feel important, responsible and was happy that she could do this as a woman. The training helped her to understand what approaches to take when presenting information, inter-cultural communication and how to approach migrant women to get their engagement. She also learned the importance of creating an environment of trust and confidence. As a result of her participation, Oxana has recognised she is a strong woman and feels integrated into and a part of Romanian society. She hopes to use the communication and facilitation skills developed in the future and to establish links with other migrant women in her area who she may be able to help. Oxana has said ‘This course made me aware that migrants, and especially migrant women, are considered important spokespersons of migrant communities. When they come to Romania, women migrants now have a tool at their disposal to help them overcome obstacles and integrate faster. I wish I had such a support when I came here, 20 years ago!’