International Women's Day 2011 - 20 Inspirational Women from African Diaspora in Europe

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, the African Diaspora Professional Women in Europe (ADIPWE), has compiled its first ever list of 20 Inspirational Women from African Diaspora in Europe.
By: Francine Beleyi, founder of ADIPWE
 
March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Tomorrow 8th March 2011, the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day will be celebrated all over the world with lists of top women featuring powerful women, celebrities and other well known personalities. Rare are the lists to celebrate women of lesser prominence but who have achieved success in their own ways and are impacting the lives of many others in their communities and beyond.

Whilst significant milestones have been achieved for women’s equality in Europe there is still a long way to go, especially for minority women. These women lack visibility and although their achievements are recognised by their peers, their names and faces often remain in the shade.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, the African Diaspora Professional Women in Europe (ADIPWE), an online forum created by Francine Beleyi, has asked members of the public to nominate women of African origin in Europe who they find inspirational. Nominations were submitted between the 24th January and 03rd March 2011. A list of 20 Inspirational Women from African Diaspora in Europe is now available.

This list reflects the diversity of Diaspora women and show how well they have infiltrated all sectors of industry: they are engineers, scientists, inventors, bankers, doctors, artists, media personalities, writers, speakers, bankers, politicians and entrepreneurs.

These 20 women are inspiring people in their home countries and in their continent of origin, as mentioned in their profiles. They have physically left the continent but remain emotionally attached. They are conscious of their responsibility towards the development of Africa and are committed to transform the ‘brain drain’ into a ‘brain gain’.

The UNDP report on the African Diaspora in Europe (June 2008 seminar in Brussels) recognised that the Diaspora has a unique strategic position between the Western, developed countries and their countries of origin in Africa. The Diaspora has the potential to play a significant part in the development of Africa as they are often very skilled professionals. This UNDP report indicates that in the EU alone there are 3.3 million people, including 1 million from sub-Sahara Africa, who comprise the modern African Diaspora. That is people who have left their countries of origin for economical, political or other personal reasons and their descendents. This number doesn’t include non EU member countries.

Although women in the world, and especially in Africa, still face major challenges with a huge need in the areas of education, health and poverty, there is much encouraging evidence of progress. Multiple initiatives are launched every day by African Diaspora to participate in their continent’s development: social entrepreneurship projects, microfinance, mobile technology businesses, online ventures, education and health projects are flourishing. They understand that nobody else will build this continent but Africans themselves with the help of others. So much has been achieved by African women including securing the top job of a country like the Harvard-educated Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia, the first elected female president in Africa's history. Other women on the continent and outside are rising to leadership positions, breaking the circle of poverty for themselves, their family and their communities. The UNDP slogan for 2011 International Women’s day campaign says it all: “When women succeed we all win”.

We hope this first ADIPWE list will increase the visibility of African Diaspora women in Europe and encourage other women to come forward, to inspire and be role models to the next generation.  

To discover the top 20 Inspirational African Diaspora women 2011 list go to http://www.adipwe.wordpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM7pUo35D48



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About ADIPWE
African Diaspora Professional Women in Europe (ADIPWE), is an online forum with the aim to:
- Celebrate the success of African Women in Europe
- Give visibility to African Women who have achieved success but are still unknown
- Inspire the new generation of African Women and share ideas to fulfil their potential
- Contribute to Africa rebranding and development by identifying opportunities to transfer the vast amount of knowledge gained in Europe

This forum is open to all women of Africa Diaspora but also to those who have a passion about African development.

Fore more information about this list or general information about ADIPWE, please send an email to Francine@nucleusofchange.com or visit http://www.adipwe.wordpress.com.
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Source:Francine Beleyi, founder of ADIPWE
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Tags:100th Anniversary, International Women S Day, African Women, Europe, Diaspora women, Top List, ADIPW, Francine Beleyi
Industry:Business, Education, Society
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