Centrum Buitenlandse Vrouwen Tilburg

Het CBV, persoonlijk en maatschappelijk tegelijk.

The Centre for Foreign Women (CBV) in Tilburg

The centre opened in 1981 and was formed from an amalgamation of 3 projects concerned with informal education, adult education and equal opportunit•es or the emancipation of women.

Objectives

The CBV's premises allow foreign women and girls an opportunity to meet in informal surroundings, in the context of their own cultural identity, to exchange the information and experiences and to take part in activities attuned to their own needs. The CBV's aim is to make it possible for women and girls of foreign origin to achieve a distinctive place in Dutch society and create the conditions to improve their status in the community as a whole.

Target group

The Centre's activities are principally intended for women and girls from Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Morocco and Greece. In view of the fact that their background is mainly Muslim, it is important that no admittance to the premises is allowed to men. The courses are also open to women from other countries, such as refugees from Bosnia and Somalia and women from Surinam, the Dutch Antilles and South-East Asia. The decision to focus on women from Mediterranean countries was based on the fact that they are the most disadvantaged group in the Netherlands.

Activities

The activities may be subdivided as follows:

1. Recruitment and promotion.

This refers to activities and courses which may constitute the first step towards breaking down the isolation experienced by foreign women. They may include casual meetings and activities such as coffee mornings, information sessions and weekly lessons in subjects as sewing, swimming, cycling, courses on economical and social •ndependency.

The information sessions mostly have an educational character. The subjects are: health, education of children, environment. This information is given in their own language by especially for this aim trained women. The CBV organises the information sessions in its own building, but also in the community centres of the city.

2. Education

This includes literacy and Dutch language courses. The former may teach literacy in Dutch but Turkish and Moroccan women with a scanty knowledge of Dutch may also attend literacy courses in their mother tongue. After all, it is easier to learn to read and to write one's own language than a foreign language. These classes are mainly attended by older women. The Dutch language classes are intended for women who hope to progress to Dutch-language educational institutions.

CBV organises the educational classes in subjects such as: orientation on employment possibilities and qualifications, information about the elementary and secundary school system in the Netherlands.

3. Preparation and support for vocational training.

Since in the past it has proved to be impossible for many foreign women to bridge the gap to further education of vocational education, the Centre provides a number of preliminary courses in, for example, basic elements of social work, information, orientation on education.

4. Confidence training and organisation.

The former is intended to improve the knowledge, understanding and skills that women need if they are to have a position of autonomy in society as a whole. At present it involves advice and support about structure and functions of one organisation. The Moroccan and Turkish women already formed their own associations; the Greek have established a monthly contact group.

The importance of the Centre

The CBV is of great importance to foreign women. Its activities are well attended. The Centre makes it possible for women to get out 'of the house and meet women of their own nationality who are in the same situation as they are. They feel encouraged and strengthened and they work together on their future and integration.