MORE THAN 40 people came together at Hilton Reading for an afternoon of education and empowerment.
Utulivu Women’s Group titled its 19th annual conference My Voice: My Health & Well-being and featured guest speakers who offered reminders that members’ voices have the power to make a difference.
The organisation’s founder, Cecily Mwaniki, outlined the success Utulivu has had in achieving its ‘four P’s’: Provide spaces for volunteering in order to grow and thrive, promote health and well-being, provide space for having a voice, and provide space for cultural identity.
Eva Karanja, Utulivu Women’s Group manager, said: “Utulicu Women’s Group is a specialist frontline women’s organisation that supports Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugees (BAMER) women, girls, and their families in Reading and surrounding areas to ensure they are safe, healthy and have equal access to opportunities and resources.
“Next year will be the 20th year, so we are looking forward to continuing to celebrate the wonderful work Utulivu Women’s Group continues to achieve.”
Other speakers included Whitley ward councillor Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles, the RVA’s Rachel Spencer, ACRE’s Victor Koroma, Healthwatch Reading and Wokingham’s Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Project Salama’s Jacqueline Mukono, as well as Awadu Samalatou, Victoria Hunter, Tahira, Diana Greaves, Rose Wangui and Dr Esther Onenga.