Celebrating strong Manchester women of heritage (2)

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By Chantelle Tindall

Manchester paid tribute to the contributions of its strong women of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) heritage, recently.

I spoke to some of the organisations in attendance to get a clearer idea of what they offer their various communities.

Joyce of the Waiyin Society told me that they don't just provide services to the Chinese alone, but the wider Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) community, where they teach English and provide free hot lunches in their three centres in Manchester City Centre, Cheetam Hill and Ardwick. The Waiyin Society also provides general advice services, a youth programme and computer classes, all benefiting members of the BME community greatly.

Amna Abddulatiff of the Women's Platform said the birth of the organisation was borne out of the fact that she wanted to stop being the token person from the BME community whenever there was a need for her services in a predominantly white women's platform. Her experiences as a Half-British-Half-Libyan woman was completely different from the experiences of a White British woman when dealing with cases like marginalisation. She needed to connect and reach out to women like herself who shared similar experiences.

Women's Platform allows the voices of marginalised women and groups to be heard and understood in ways that lead to positive development. On the day, the Women's Platform recognised Bosnian refugee women. This was because, according to Amna, their ordeals during war times in Bosnia, seem to go unnoticed. It was a perfect example of giving previously muted voices an opportunity to speak out.

The Dynamic Support Group is involved in serving their community through various means including helping the aged in whatever capacity they can and running African tie and dye classes. They also perform other virtuous deeds.  Community on Solid Ground are involved in organising events like traditional Asian weddings. They are trying to preserve for the future, age traditions of the past. They even organise My Big Fat Asian Wedding.

Fiona of Manchester BME Network said the organisation comprises about 300 different self-funded charities carrying out different community services.

Fit After Cancer Treatment (FACT) charity also recognised its founder and her effort to help people who had been through cancer treatment into full recovery through healthy living after treatment.

Peace campaigner - Dr. Erinma Bell MBE explained that the event was also an opportunity to nominate or recognise past or present strong grassroots women of BME heritage in Manchester.

She nominated Mrs Ugorji Agbai as the Strong Manchester Woman of Heritage for our (Nigerian Women's Group) table. Her achievements and why she was chosen was read out for all to hear by Pauline, a member of the group.

Mama Ugorji (Ugorji meaning Eagle), was a progressive individual who sought to improve herself through education. She took part-time jobs as an Accounts Cashier/Clerk and then as a teacher at Elizabeth Gaskell College in Manchester to assist her husband with caring for their family.  She was always looking to improve and better herself and furthered her education in Hotel Catering and Institutional Management passing both with flying colours and then became an Associate Member of the HCIMA.

Mrs Agbai upon retirement became active in church and community services in Manchester including the Christian Open Door - a philanthropic organisation which cares for children all over the world; the African Community Centre for the Welfare of Aged Africans; and the Nigerian National Union Manchester Branch where she was President of the Women's Wing.

She was also a very prominent and respected figure in the Nigerian and African community at large in Manchester and an active member of the Igbo community Association of Manchester and Otu-Umu-Nne society Manchester.

Mrs Agbai of blessed memory is also the mother of Dr Erinma Bell. It is without doubt that Dr. Bell is "a chip off the old block." She is carrying on the exceptional work done by her mother through the many different activities and charities she supports in the Manchester BME community.