Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) Manchester is setting up a solidarity group – WSG

Posted on December 18, 2008
Filed Under North West, Refugee, Women's Event, Women's Group | Comments Off

WAST volunteer supporters are setting up WAST SOLIDARITY GROUP – WSG

WAST as you know was set up as a self help/ support group for and by women asylum seekers, however the Friday group has developed into a busy forum which many organizations agencies and individuals who are not asylum seekers, but want to support the group, have come to. Following a discussion at the WAST management group it was felt that WAST Friday group should strive to be the unique forum that it was set up for, for women asylum seekers/WAST members only.

WSG is therefore being formed to support WAST in its aims of self help, sharing and empowerment for women asylum seekers. In practical terms this means that WAST would like to request that;
* Agencies and individuals who want information or want to give the group information/ support, should do so by writing, ringing, emailing or meeting a management group member who can then pass it onto the members; wastmanchester@yahoo.co.uk or 0161833 8835. So WSG can help new supporters/ organizations/ researches/fundraisers etc to support WAST without actually being at the Friday group. It has been suggested that WAST Friday group also run special Friday meetings on occasions when agencies are invited and share the skills information with members.
* Individuals who want to meet WAST members or support them in their anti deportation campaigns and/or give any other support (see below there’s lots of ways!) can arrange with the management group members to come on any day of the week to the office (10- 4pm )or still come on a Friday and work upstairs with WAST. members while the self help group is going on down stairs and so they are available to support women if they need particular help on the day.

Forming WSG will also help to;
* Better support WAST women by being more familiar with help available and skills offered.
* Formalising your support to help WAST be able to fund raise more effectively by showing how much support we have. To acknowledge the partnership that exists between organisations, individuals and WAST and make more of your support.

All we need you to do is to get back to us to say you’d like to be in the WSG and request a form to complete.

Thanks and best wishes
Vicky Marsh
WAST support volunteer

Women’s Electronic Village Hall (WEVH), Ada House, 77 Thompson Street
THIS IS AN ACCESSIBLE BUILDING
Tel: 0161 833 8835
Email: wastmanchester@yahoo.co.uk

This Saturday 20th December why not come along to the Christmas Get Together and meet some of the WAST members at Friends Meeting House, any time between 1 and 4pm.

The Work of WAST

THE FRIDAY SUPPORT GROUP
The WAST management group run a weekly support /self help group for any woman asylum seeker, who can then become a member of WAST. The group share experiences and support one another in a safe ,secure environment. Women exchange information and ideas and offer one another friendship and empowerment in the face of the asylum system which makes women isolated, frightened, destitute and powerless.

WAST WORKSHOPS
WAST lobbies for the rights of women asylum seekers in general and to raise awareness about issues that force women to seek international protection and the injustices they undergo while going through the asylum system. WAST members run workshops around issues of women, asylum and gender persecution/violence for organizations, community groups and public service providers (in health, education and social services) and also give public talks on the issues around women asylum seekers and on their own individual anti deportation campaigns both nationally and locally. Please contact the management group if you would like WAST to run a workshop for your organization.

WAST MANAGEMENT GROUP
Lydia – Asle – Isata – Emiola – Florence – Mavis – Sara – Naima
Members of the management group run the WASTOFFICE office Monday to Friday 11am to 3.pm if you would like.If you or a women asylum seeker you know wants to meet them or other members of WAST, ask the management group or ring the office on 0161 833 8835 or email us at wastmanchester@yahoo.co.uk to arrange a time to come in. Vicky, who is a volunteer supporting the work of the management group and a WAST Solidarity Group member is also often in the office and will also help arrange other members of WSG (WAST Solidarity Group/support volunteers) to come in.

THE WAST BOOK “AM I SAFE YET?”
If you have not already got one please ask the management group for a copy. If you are involved in any other organizations please tell them about the book we can sell them from the office or you can order them on the web http://www.racearchive.org.uk/publications/Howtoorderpublications.htm

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