Australia Africa Women’s Leadership Project

In keeping with ECCV’s commitment to foster greater participation and leadership skills among Victoria’s new and emerging communities, two public forums were held during FY2008-09 to promote the themes of gender equality and democracy highlighted by the centenary celebrations of women’s suffrage in Victoria.

The first of the two forums – which formed the second stage of the Australia Africa Women’s Leadership Project – was held at the North Melbourne Community Centre and featured Tanzanian-born Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance, Ms Fiona Richardson, as the guest speaker. The second forum took place at the head office of the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, attracting a healthy representation of the growing number of African families making their home in the Shepparton region.

Both events showcased an educational booklet produced by ECCV which recounted the long journey to obtain Victorian women the right to vote and was translated into the African languages of Dinka, Somali, Arabic and Swahili. Then attendees were given the opportunity to discuss their own experiences and ask their own questions about the democratic process and how to participate more meaningfully in decision-making processes.

The initiative was one of the projects funded by the Victorian Government’s ‘Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Grants 2008’ through the Office of Women’s Policy (OWP).

Australia-Africa Women’s Leadership Project

As part of the celebrations to mark the Centenary of Women’s Suffrage and with funding provided through the Office of Women’s Policy, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) has produced a special anniversary booklet about the long journey to obtain for Victorian women the right to vote.

The booklets – which form part of our Australia-Africa Women’s Leadership Project – are designed as an educational resource for women from Victoria’s Horn of Africa, Sudanese, and Democratic Republic of Congo communities and has already been translated into four African languages: Arabic, Dinka, Somali and Swahili. Please find below the links to the booklets in the languages produced: