Justice for Domestic Workers Celebrates Learning
(an UMWEP- UNITE the UNION Lifelong Learning Project)
http://www.wea.org.uk
http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/lifelonglearning/

On  the 26th of August, 2012 Sunday, marked the most awaited Celebration of Learning by the Justice for Domestic Workers. Around a hundred members  and supporters attended the event. Marissa Begonia, previous Chairperson now Coordinator of J4DW welcomed the guests and people from different communities and media groups, reminding them the important role of Education and Learning in the campaign and struggles of the the Migrant Domestic Workers here  in  the UK and worldwide.

"Providing migrant domestic workers with the education we need enables us to develop knowledge and skills and feel more confident in  fighting to  eradicate the  vulnerability and isolation of  migrant  workers i  society and  defending our rights both as individuals and as a union. Unite's UMWEP ( United Migrant Workers education Project) has shown us the way  that the education is there whenever we need it bringing this  course to us, we are one Big Family. We can't wait for the next one!"

Justice For Domestic Workers is a  self- help build  organisation of Muti-national migrant domestic workers mainly from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Morocco, Sri Lanka  and Nigeria. One of its objectives is to provide and armed mdws with education and  skills, know their rights and be updated with the laws that affect the community.

NOCN (National Open college Network) Certificates were given  to 18 learners for successfully completing a TUC(Trade  Union Congress) Introductory Union Reps course by  Marissa Begonia and  Jake Lagnado, WEA Union Reps  Tutor.The  Course was  adapted by  WEA in partnership with the  Justice for Domestic Workers and Unite the Union and was designed to ensure that it  meets the  needs of the vulnerable workers.

Jake Lagnado expressed  his heartfelt gratitude to be working with J4DW who despite of the vulnerability of their status, had greatly embraced the value of education and training  skills brought by the course. He pointed out that what the group learned  from  the course will contribute a big help to developing and supporting their members.

WEA TUC Course Coordinator, Monica Gort highlighted the significance of TUC courses in providing a learning  environment where learners can work collectively to share experiences and knowledge.

 J4DW Registration Monitoring and Evaluation

Poetry and Art Workshops

The celebration also  showcased various talents such as acoustic guitar play and song rendered by Realizza Otarra, self-written  poem delivered by Noani Mukromin, international dances from Indonesia, Nigeria and Morocco led by Khadija Najlaoui and Foulera Adams. It was  indeed a successful celebration of learning and learners!

(WEA Newsletter October 2012)

J4DW in Unite the Union Women's Week National Conference

Eastbourne, July 22-27, 2012

Education, Training, Speaking in Public are important knowledge and skills we have to learn so we gain confidence to speak, lobby and campaign for our rights as workers both national and international.

Marissa Begonia represents Leadership and Development delivers her speech for Women in Politics at Unite the Union Women's Week Conference July 27, 2012 Eastbourne Centre.

J4DW during our major rally to oppose the changes in Overseas Domestic Workers Visa last April 4, 2011 at House of Lords, Parliament which was a  return to slavery for migrant domestic workers. These changes take effect last April 6, 2012 where new incoming mdws can no longer have the right to change employer, and they could only stay in the UK for 6 months. J4DW opposed these changes and campaign for the restoration of the ODW VISA and the ratification of ILO C189, decent work for domestic workers.

J4DW provides one to one reading in UMWEP's calsses, this is through volunteer Tutor and members do help and support each other like in this photo a Filipino(right) is helping a fellow J4DW Indonesian in her reading. Sutipah has shown positive progress, she has been a speaker and emcee in J4DW's special events.

J4DW campaigns for the restoration of Overseas Domestic Worker visa and Ratification of the ILO C189, Domestic Workers Convention

The Philippines become 2nd Country to ratify the ILO C 189 on the right  of Domestic Workers which also means that  the international Convention law is now into force.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched for the alternative on 26 March 2011. We are now back to march for a future that works On Saturday 20 October 2012 Unite will be marching in London against the cuts and against the coalition.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched for the alternative on 26 March 2011. We are now back to march for a future that works

On Saturday 20 October 2012 Unite will be marching in London against the cuts and against the coalition.

J4DW's Workshop at  The Show Room

This is also in collaboration with Tate Modern and Unite the Union's UMWEP Project 

"Making  Domestic Work visible in British Society"

The workshop start at 11:30 and run until 2:30pm.

The activity will be a creative cardboard furniture building workshop that Andrea of the Show Room  lead and there is discussion around childcare and parenting with free refreshments.

Briefings and workshops at the Show Room.
Only by sharing our stories we are able to let everybody understands about the plight of domestic workers.  This is one major work of J4DW that we should be able to speak out to everybody and in public to raise awareness and campaign  to improve the living and working conditions  of domestic workers.

Exploring with Tutor Monica

Time to work, we need to make sure we have correct measurement!

We can handle this, simple numeracy of measurements, opps! the need to work together....yes, it's team work!

Enjoying while working and having fun with Tutor Steven

Look! what we've created....can you guess what is it? hmmnn...it's how you interpret our ART Work!

Our Finished Home Furnitures! Al smiles because we are happy with our work, it is strong that we can sit and use.

Can I bring home this chair please?

Relaxing at the Park while Tutor Monica is giving us last instructions for our Project that we need to do.
Thank You The Show Room for  the learning experience and skills in furniture making and ARTS you have shared with us...we have a moment of Sharing on how we share the work within the household  that allows  our employers to be able to do and achieve really high in their profession  and that we are part of the British Society that often invisible and such important contribution is not recognize and J4DW demands recognition by improving the working and living conditions of domestic workers and respect our dignity at work and in the British Society as a whole.

J4DW joins the One Billion Rising Workshop Campaign hosted by Stella Creasy,MP for Walthamstow

Look! Restore Overseas Domestic Worker Visa got the most points  as number one priority of  OBRUK campaign. DFID to properly fund UN Women- from £10m to £21m Per Annum or more for this campaign.

It's Rossana, Stella Creasy,MP of Walthamtow, Marissa and Andrew  at One Billion Rising Workshop in the UK

 
This campaign is designed to make tackling violence against women and girls a priority for everyone

Unite the Union's Strategy for growth

Lheta attending the UMWEP's Summer School with Unite the Union at Faraday House

Saroj lends a helping hand to a fellow learner at Summer School  Class

Wrapping Up the session.

Unite's Olympics for Gold!

J4DW with the V-DAY Warriors during the Filming of One Billion Uprising Commercial campaign  to stop Violence against women and girls.

Unite the Union Women's Week National Conference,
                                                                        
  Eastbourne Centre, July 22-27, 2012

Diana Holland, Asst.General Secretary of Unite the Union at the opening of the National Women's Week Conference, women's Equality at the heart of the Union.

Participants from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and USA, Women's Steel Workers Union 

It never easy to be in the wider world where no one knows about the issue of Domestic Workers, we all need to work hard to win our course mates first so we get their support and do something to help us  campaign with us. Here we are preparing our speech.

Already by asking a direct question Nuraeni received a standing ovation, how much more if she delivers her speech?. Her question to Baroness Glenies Thornton, MP- Shadow Minister for Equality, "The ConDem Government removed the basic rights and protections of domestic Workers, Has labour Party maintained its position in support of the old Overseas domestic worker visa?", The Baroness responded," Yes, Labour Party hasn't changed its position in support of the ODW Visa".

Marissa delivers her speech for the Leadership and Development Group, Women in Politics -  against new legislation for oversees Domestic workers visa in women's week course during speech session in Eastborne centre, UK

Nuraeni and Noani are relaxing at the balcony seaside view from their room in Eastbourne Centre.

It's Party Time for the Particiants

Launch of ESOL Nexus Project with British Council,    
                                                                    
 June 17, 2012 at Kingway Hotel, Holborn

This ESOL Film will be available on DVD and On Line

Carlos Cruz talks about the importance of English  education that Unite the Union is delivering to members  and Migrant Workers. The informal education that UMWEP's has successfully delivered and that it is there when they needed especially the migrant workers who are specially vulnerable and couldn't access the college education.
This is the  part 1 of the film please watch!

Marissa Begonia says, "Integration begins the moment we start to care".
This is Part 2 of the Film, please watch!

Rupika receives her gift from Michelle of British Council for participating in the Film  together with fellow J4DWs who have participation also.
This is Part 3 of the Film, please watch!

Noani dedicates her song, "The Power of Love", saying because of the education and support from her J4DW she is able to improve build confidence that helps her through to survive.
This is Part 4 of the Film, please watch!

And Look! All is beautiful, encouraging domestic workers that they do need to look after themselves while looking after their families, spend sometime to treat themselves and learn to socialize because they deserve to have a time of their own. This is Part 5 of the Film, Pleas watch!

This maybe a launch of the ESOL Project but we would also like to remind that we are here also to call fro public support and remind the UK Government the need to ratify the ILO, C189.
This is the Part 6 of the Film, Please watch!
On Line Lessons of this British Council ESOL Nexus Project  will be available on September, 2012. This is available in the UK and worldwide! 

Exploring Tate Modern and Workshop, June 24, 2012

Unite the Union - UMWEP's  Project with J4DW

Making  Domestic Work Visible into British Society

Happy and contented J4DW Learners as they pose for a group picture after the workshop and tour and tour at Tate Modern ,  they explored around and realized that that ARTS don't have to be expensive. Like their expression to their different languages when sometimes they forgot to speak in their own language rather than English, " we call it the 'ARTS of Language', where we understand that we wouldn't utter any word that harm us. 

Listening to the instructions of Nora of Tate Modern, who made this project possible for us
We are now going to create our own ARTS.

Touring the exhibition

On the ART Work, this is very focus and inspired with the great creation  at the display

Everyone is head down and Catherine of Unite the Union is watching them on the close guard!

The hard working J4DW! 

..and they are good listeners too!

The Happy Faces of a total learning tour and workshop, is this the final pose? thanks Tate Modern!

Encouraging them once in a while to treat themselves in the restaurant is part of educating them as well that they do need to spend some time and money also for themselves to socialize. The hungry J4DW at Tate Modern Restaurant.
Watch out for our Next Work Shop and of course our very own exhibition!