Shama, the ethnic women’s centre based in Hamilton, is hosting an open day for the public to come and witness different works done at the centre for the women in the community. The community open day is organised on Monday, August 13 from 12 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. that will give people a chance to look inside and find out about the programmes and services available for ethnic women in Hamilton.
“This is a great opportunity for husbands, brothers and friends to come and check the centre, people can also chat with our team about our work,” Silvana Erenchun Perez, Manager at Shama told The Indian Weekender.
“There will be lunch available between 12 and 2 pm, and tours and games through the day,” Ms Perez added.
In 2017 more than 250 ethnic women and their families participated in the classes and events at Shama, and the social work team supported more than 200.
“At Shama Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre, the staff understands that being part of an ethnic minority or settling into a new country can be very stressful. Issues of language and culture and the lack of support networks add to the stress, and one can feel remarkably lost.
“Shama is an organisation run by ethnic women for ethnic women. It is a vibrant, sustainable and growing centre, which provides culturally appropriate support, advocacy and programmes to be a source of strength and empowerment for ethnic women and their families,” Ms Perez said.
Shama’s aim is to support the development of a genuinely multi-cultural New Zealand where all women from ethnic minorities can be fully integrated into the Kiwi society. The goal is to let the migrant ethnic live their lives with dignity, free from fear of violence and discrimination, and to be recognised as valuable contributors to their local communities.
“Shama is a community hub for hundreds of ethnic families in the Hamilton area, as we provide peer-to-peer support for ethnic women through the running of regular classes in crafts, cooking, learning to drive, as well as parent support and playgroups,” Ms Perez said.