What began as a women's collective by and for migrant women in September 2018 became a registered association on June 28, 2019. Together with founding member Evelyne Leandro, we reflect on five years filled with many successes, significant achievements, and some challenges.
MQC " Mulheres que contam" June 2024 - Foto: Camile Papazian
"When I arrived in Berlin and met the Janainas, I realized that I was not alone—that my journey was similar to that of other women. I felt more courageous to overcome the hurdles of life in a new country," says Roseane P., a participant in the 'Frauenpower in Mitte' project.
Janainas was founded by eight Brazilian women with the aim of creating a space for exchange and growth, where they could support and understand each other. Celebrating Successes
An important milestone was the "Tackling: The Path to Realization" project series in 2020. In four themed groups, the nine participants gained knowledge and support on integration, life planning, and creative self-realization. Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, there were notable successes: two women found jobs, two started their own projects, and one wrote a book!
Volunteers
There were also challenges. For many years, the founders worked almost exclusively on a voluntary basis, which led to overextension. To address this, the association launched a volunteer program in November 2021. Today, around 20 active volunteers assist with the implementation of projects and events. The association is continually advocating for recognition of its work and appropriate funding.
Much Achieved
"Being part of Janainas means being part of the story that many migrants in Germany are writing. It means fostering collective growth within and with a community," says Evelyne Leandro, summarizing the association's mission. Since 2019, more than 13 projects and 15 events focused on education, self-help, art, and culture have been organized. "We have reached well over 1,800 women in our five years—we are very proud of that."
Information about the association's projects and overall work can be found here.
This article first appeared in the 2/2024 edition of Brunnen Magazine.
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