WOW (WOmen knoW)

WOW (WOmen knoW) is an innovative project aimed at migrant women who wish to enhance their professional skills in the social economy. Designed as a springboard to employability, this program emphasizes work-life balance by incorporating participatory research on childcare, conducted in partnership with IRFAM. This approach addresses the major obstacles faced by migrant women in their socio-professional integration, while offering solutions tailored to their realities.

Over a period of five months, WOW offers comprehensive training including modules on entrepreneurship, project management, and accounting. These sessions are enriched by expert contributions, real-life case studies, and practical workshops. The aim is to enable participants to develop a deep understanding of the dynamics of the social economy and to prepare themselves effectively to join or create collective structures.

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the experimentation with temporary culinary cooperatives. For two months, participants work together to create, produce, and market food products in a collaborative setting. This experience allows them to test their skills in real-world conditions, strengthen their ability to work as a team, and explore models of shared governance. These cooperatives also offer a unique opportunity to showcase the cultural and culinary expertise of the participants, while allowing them to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the Belgian market.

At the same time, participatory research conducted as part of the project focuses on childcare solutions. By actively involving participants, this approach explores ways to address the challenges of parenting and professional integration, such as creating childcare facilities tailored to the specific needs of migrant women.

With WOW, Le Monde des Possibles offers an integrated approach that combines training, experimentation, and research to empower migrant women to thrive in their professional lives while overcoming structural barriers. This project illustrates a commitment to sustainable and equitable inclusion by valuing the skills, aspirations, and needs of participants.

The WOW project is structured around several key objectives and activities to support migrant women in their socio-professional integration journey:

Acquire entrepreneurial skills:
- Take modules on business creation, project management, accounting, and communication.
- Conduct market research and develop concrete business plans.
Experimenting with cooperative projects:
- Set up temporary culinary cooperatives to test professional activities in real-life situations.
- Enhance participants’ skills while strengthening teamwork and collective intelligence.
Exploring the social economy:
- Discover the principles of social economy, shared governance, and collective intelligence.
- Learn about the concepts of sustainability, product enhancement, and respect for the environment.
Addressing the challenges of childcare:
- Participate in participatory research to identify solutions tailored to the needs of migrant women.
- Propose concrete ways to balance work and family life.
Promoting independence and fulfillment:
- Provide a safe and inclusive space where participants can develop their skills while exploring their career aspirations.
- Strengthening the self-confidence and financial independence of migrant women.

With WOW, Le Monde des Possibles offers migrant women a unique opportunity to access practical tools to help them enter the job market, while promoting their skills and experiences.

Bread & Roses | Le Monde des Possibles : WOW – WOmen knoW

Session 1: September 5, 2023 – February 1, 2024
Session 2: February 26, 2024 – July 11, 2024

Session 1 :

Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Session 2 :

Monday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Potierue 10, 4000 Liège

Training for women only

Minimum French level A2.1 acquired

15 Minimum

Free

Didier Van der Meeren - womenknow@possibles.org

I feel really good in the group; we are all very sociable and listen to each other. I am very happy that we are all women and mothers; we have a lot in common.

Anonymous

In 2022, I discovered I was pregnant and, after nine months, I had to stop working to give birth and take care of the baby. I talked about it a lot with my psychologist, and she was the one who referred me to the WOW training program. By enrolling in the WOW training program, I was able to not only take the training and enroll my child in daycare, but also meet other people who were going through the same difficulties and return to work at the pizzeria for three weeks.

Teresa

My name is Eni. I am the mother of two children aged 9 and 11. I have been here for three years and it has not been easy. When you arrive in Belgium, you have no information about how things work here. I found out by chance that there was a nursery at my children’s school, which was great news. I decided to sign up for the WOW training course. I also did an internship at IRFAM and Le Monde des Possibles, where I learned a lot! I would encourage you to do an internship because it really helps.

Eni

• My name is Lydie, and I have been living in Belgium for 23 years. I had a difficult experience with childcare. I was forced to stop my training because I had to look after my children; there were no places available in nurseries. One morning, my husband came to get me and told me that I had to look after the children and stop my training.

During the WOW training program, I was able to do an internship as a supervisor in a school. It was an experience that gave me the key to open the right doors.

In conclusion, we would like to see more childcare facilities so that migrant women can contribute their talents to society. Migrant women have the will, the skills, the qualifications, and the ability… let’s support them!

Lydie