A group of women who moved to Malta – some for love, others for better opportunities – have set out to help fellow female migrants who may be feeling lost and vulnerable.

The women all come from different backgrounds but have a common aim: “We’re here for all migrants who are female, no matter where they’re coming from, how they came to Malta and why they’re here,” says Umayma Elamin Amer, one of the women behind a new non-profit association called Migrant Women in Malta.

“Our aim is to promote their voice within Maltese society and meanwhile help the Maltese community understand how diverse migrants are.”

Ms Elamin Amer, who heads the association, is flanked by its deputy president Dounia Borg. The association is so far supported by women from Libya, Hungary, Germany, Morocco, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Malta.

From Sudan, Ms Elamin Amer was last year based in Libya with her two teenage children and her husband, a diplomat.

Her eyes light up when she speaks of her move in August from Benghazi to Malta, where her children could continue their studies at a private school.

She insists it is important for a migrant woman to become competitive within the job market and be financially stable so she can contribute to the development of the community in which she now lives.

Ms Elamin Amer is also doing humanitarian and voluntary work and speaks of the importance for migrant women of participating in similar activities to be able to integrate.

“Settling down within a new community is daunting to some but migrant women need to realise that integration also depends on their willingness to integrate,” she says.

Settling down within a new community is daunting to some but migrant women need to realise that integration also depends on their willingness to integrate

“Sometimes it is the migrant herself who builds barriers around her. Migrant women need to keep in mind that if they want the community to know about them, they have to first introduce themselves and get to know the community.”

She says she has not found it difficult to integrate because she does not have a language barrier. “I’ve travelled to several places so I’m also accustomed to different cultures. However, other migrants, especially asylum seekers who probably left their hometown for the first time, will find many barriers. So the group will be especially targeting vulnerable women.”

This new association hopes to be able to break down the barriers for the refugee community and build trust with migrants who have sought asylum in Malta, so that they could then tackle delicate issues like genital mutilation and domestic violence.

When women move to Malta they may feel lost even when it comes to the basics, like applying for an ID card. However, there are also more serious issues.

“There is a woman who discovered, after one year of marriage, that her husband was a wife beater and had fallen out with previous wives,” says Ms Borg, who moved to Malta 22 years ago after falling in love with her husband while on holiday here.

“I informed her of Appoġġ– which she had not yet heard of – and the couple underwent some therapy.

“However, they are now back to square one and the husband is leaving her penniless and threatening her that since she has not been in Malta for five years, she would be sent back to her country if they divorce.

“What does this woman do – remain in her abusive relationship for five years? There are some loopholes – or maybe lack of information – which need to be tackled.”

Another scenario is that of migrant mothers who are being urged to find a job but at the same time are experiencing a language and communication barrier at childcare centres.

“There is a migrant community in Malta and we need to pave the way to minimise the cultural clash. Peace is the way to overcome cultural and religious differences,” Ms Elamin Amer says.

The association’s first initiative is called ‘Say Hello’, which is all about introducing migrants to the Maltese community “without prejudice” and also about educating migrants about Maltese culture.

More information from the Facebook page called Say Hello Initiative or migrantwomenmalta@gmail.com.