Association of Women Friends With Itinga – ‘Ammiga’

Ammiga is an organization that acts with a view to preventing and combating violence against women. It also works on preparing women to defend before the different levels of the public administration – federal, state and municipal – effectiveness in the implementation of policies regarding the reduction of unemployment rates among women, especially Afro-descendant women, and the levels of socioeconomic vulnerability of these women.

Since its founding in January 2005, in the municipality of Lauro de Freitas, metropolitan region of Salvador, Ammiga has been carrying out several activities and working in many political spaces. The group conducts courses on political education of women and digital inclusion, promotes seminars regarding STDs, self-esteem and gender and race relations and develops artisanal works.

The group liaises with other non-governmental organizations whose intervention is based on gender relations and feminism, such as CFEMEA – Feminist Center for Studies and Advice and SOS Body – Feminist Institute for Democracy. It also participates in the articulation and strengthening of Women Forum of Lauro de Freitas  , Bahia’s Forum for Solidarity Economy and the Network for the Prevention and Combat of Violence Against Women , apart from integrating the political committee of the Brazilian Women Group (AMB).

In 2008 the group had the support of Brazil Fund for the project ‘Training and articulating women of Lauro de Freitas for the fight for public funds’.

The Project

The initiative proposed in 2011 – ‘Structural and organizational strengthening and sustainability of Ammiga‘ – has the main goal of contributing to the restructuring of the group’s activities and the building of its sustainability. The idea is to ensure the strengthening of the actions within the set of competences of the organization, especially in the process of training the members and in establishing other partnerships in the city.

Since 2009 Ammiga has faced problems that have hindered the maintenance and implementation of the political agenda proposed, reducing their actions. The situation required the group to identify ways that would ensure the sustainability of the organization to enable the continuity of their actions. The structural reorganization, to be guaranteed with funds of this project, is part of that process. The physical space of Ammiga should serve as a local reference, which receives women, guides and promotes the necessary liaisons in line with its goals and mission.