Copenhagen has three different integration houses for women with refugee or migrant background: Kringlebakken, FAKTI and Diversity Works (formerly Indvandrer Kvindecentret). Though all three focus on women with refugee or migrant background, they have very different target groups, daily programmes and goals. They also have things in common, and collaborate with each other in several ways. All are situated in the same part of the city, Nørrebro - which has a large percentage of refugees and migrants - but also attract many users from outside Copenhagen. They are run by three very dedicated women, and they are mainly funded by Copenhagen Municipality.
EWSI presents these three houses in separate integration practice articles. Read about the other two here: FAKTI and Kringlebakken.
Diversity Works is the largest of the three, placed in a busy and central part of Copenhagen. The main focus for the centre is empowerment, knowledge and job training. The centre is a voluntary community with an initial focus on women with ethnic minority background, now also open to men and children. Everybody in the house contributes and develops their competencies and strengths for better collaboration. This is achieved through counselling and activities promoting improved quality of life and independency. In 2018, the centre had 13 000 visitors from 57 different nationalities, decreasing during the COVID-19 period.
Project Goal
Women from ethnic minority groups in Denmark sometimes struggle with a number of challenges, even after many years in the country. These can include language, lack of network, isolation, work, digital skills, health issues, trauma. Diversity Works comprises diverse communities that work to strengthen opportunities, equality and co-citizenship. The goal of the centre is to provide a social community, offer answers to questions around rights and obligations, and provide access to concrete ways of improving skills and knowledge.
The centre has 4 strategic focus points:
- Professional counselling is offered from a point of respect and recognition;
- Supporting the development of individual skills through homework cafés, mentorship and courses;
- Working towards equality in health via information meetings, health checks, exercise and food clubs;
- Helping more ethnic minorities into the labour market through qualification building and advocacy towards a more spacious work market.
© Diversity Works, 2020
Who benefits
Many of the women and families using the centre will experience personal empowerment, develop strong support networks, learn more about their rights and duties in society and about health issues, and will become increasingly self-supporting. As with any project succeeding in improving the experiences of migrant women, it also benefits their children, their partners and Danish society as a whole.
How it works
The centre was established 1982 as a result of collaboration between various Christian communities, and respects any woman's right to live by her own norms - cultural as well as religious. It is situated in central Nørrebro, an area of Copenhagen wherein there is a high percentage of residents with roots in Africa and the Middle East. It is open on weekdays from 10am - 4pm, and on four evenings for women and children specifically, until 8pm.
The centre offers:
- Counselling
Legal
Economic
Social workers;
- Network
Help with homework and Danish language
Job counselling
Computer class
Exercise and yoga
Sewing workshop
Community lunches
Dialogue café;
- Health
Health check from professionals (free and anonymous)
Exercise and healthy food
Information about health, prevention and treatment;
- "Send More Spices"
A catering service, run by ethnic minority women as a social economic business;
- "Healthy Communities"
Cooperation with other local communities for ethnic minority women across Denmark.
Two new activities were established in 2020: courses to prepare for citizenship application, and a youth café.
© Diversity Works, 2020
Results
In 2020 the centre had 6 649 registered visits from people of 60 different countries of origin, mainly Somalia, Pakistan and Morocco. This figure is approximately 50% smaller than the numbers recorded in the years prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further results include:
- 1 442 homework help sessions for adults, youth and children;
- 1 216 counselling sessions, juridical/economic/social;
- 1 415 participants in network activities;
- 123 participants in job counselling or computer courses;
- 49 mentor agreements made with adult women and youth;
- 165 participants in health activities.
Evaluation
The Copenhagen Social Survey Agency said in a report in December 2020:
”(We) find that Centre for Migrant Women (now Diversity Works) offers a high level of holistic support, focusing on the general goal of the organisation. Its effort is based on a community- and resource focused approach, using empowerment to create better integration and inclusion for the women and their families. One example of success is the social economic-project ”Send More Spices”, which has been successful in terms of job creation, self-esteem and recognition of the project from society”.
The centre's 2020 annual report can be read in Danish here.
© Diversity Works, 2020
Funding and resources
Diversity Works' budget for 2020 was 5.2 million DKK, including 2.8 million DKK received from the municipality of Copenhagen and 2 million DKK from philanthropic foundations and private donors.
Diversity Works has 14 full-time employees and approximately 180 volunteers.
About this good practice
- Project dates
- Geographic area
- Denmark
- City
- Copenhagen
- Organisation
- Diversity Works
- Website
- Contact person
- Mirka Mozer
- Position
- CEO
Details
- Original source
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