SEEAWA is made up of a small (but mighty) team of ESEA women from with diverse backgrounds and experience but who share similar values: the importance of community, making the invisible visible – recently meeting MP Annaliese Dodds to discuss solutions to the challenges affecting women and girls, listening, spas (thank you Hackney Sauna — Community Sauna Baths ) and good food (we recommend MR JI Asian Restaurant Camden) ; supporting others, our team and ourselves. People solve problems, not policies or laws; and frontline community groups and organisations are able to more swiftly respond to spotting challenges and finding solutions. And the beneficiaries we support know the challenges they face and are co-participants in navigating their way to solutions.
We support ESEA women navigating issues that are affecting their everyday lives from navigating oppression, racism and domestic abuse that impacts their work, home and health in various ESEA languages.
We want ESEA women to thrive, flourish and lead lives that are full and rich of limitless possibilities. What might that look like? We have started a leadership training programme so that women can tell their own stories and build on developing their skills to shape public opinions and political will. As well as frontline services, research, advocacy and lobbying are key parts of our organisation to help ESEA women be visible, rise and empower themselves and others.
We are also non-hierarchical. Can you guess what this even means? The philanthropy sector is riddled with gatekeeping, lack of information and power restricted. We hope to challenge and change this but this means starting internally. If you work in an organisation with innovative ways that leads to greater power-sharing, let us know!