PRESS RELEASE
Amsterdam, 20 December 2006

Black, Migrant and Refugee Women: Important Players in Philanthropy

Groundbreaking report reveals the role of women in 'diaspora philanthropy'

‘The participation and contributions of migrant women to communities and societies in Europe as well as in their countries of origin are often ignored. The research report (she gives back) shows that their role is comprehensive and of major importance.’ 
Prof. Dr. Halleh Ghorashi, extraordinary professor Management of Diversity and Integration at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam 

According to the World Bank, 175 million migrants sent $230 billion back to their home countries in 2005. This stream of money, known as remittances, is collectively one of the largest cash flows in the world and a growing area of study. But so far, no research has investigated the contribution of migrant women to this massive, global cash flow. Neither has there been study into migrant women’s diaspora philanthropy; development contributions focused on creating structural social change. Therefore Mama Cash, an international women’s fund dedicated to advancing women’s rights worldwide, decided to conduct this research herself.
 

The research report ‘(she gives back) > Migrant women’s philanthropic practices from the diaspora‘ explores the unique role migrant women play in diaspora philanthropy. (she gives back) focuses on migrant women philanthropists in five European countries—Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and France—and provides a first look at how migrant women influence wider social change through continued financial and immaterial support, communities and societies in their home countries and in the diaspora.

The participation and contributions of migrant women to communities and societies in Europe as well as in their countries of origin often go unacknowledged. The lack of attention given to their role underlines the false assumption that they have no money or aren’t in a position to invest it, and denies the reality that migrant are serious players in development work. The report (she gives back) reveals just the opposite; migrant women are becoming increasingly economically self-sufficient worldwide and are important actors in the fields of philanthropy and development.
 

By releasing its findings, Mama Cash contributes to the visibility of migrant women’s role as philanthropists and their impact on social change. She aims to increase cooperation between funding and development organisations and black, migrant and refugee women’s groups, and wants to use the research findings and new insights as an instrument to inspire other foundations to also invest in women’s organisations that are active in diaspora philanthropy.

This study and the report (she gives back) were made possible thanks to the contributions of the Levi Strauss Foundation and Oxfam Novib The Netherlands.

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