Who are we?
Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA) formerly known as the Welsh Asian Women Achievement Award (WAWAA) is a charitable organisation. It aims to create a network of women and girls of ethnic minority origin in Wales to provide beacons of inspiration for current and upcoming generations.
EMWWAA's aim is to empower and inspire women and girls of ethnic minorities in Wales through recognition of their contributions. We aim to identify role models for communities and facilitate community cohesion and integration with the mainstream systems.
EMWWAA is able to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women of ethnic origin by organizing a bi-annual awards ceremony. EMWWAA profiles the achievements of women who are at multiple disadvantages. Not only are they women, but they are also ethnic minority women who have faced barriers of language, culture, appearance, and religion. EMWWAA seeks to make visible how these women have made significant contributions to Wales and to Welsh life and how they have used their talent to help and inspire others.
EMWWAA proudly works in partnership with Cardiff University, Welsh Government, University of South Wales, Cardiff Sixth Form College, EYST, Art Council of Wales, Women's Equality Network Wales, BAWSO, Race Equality First, Women Connect First, Race Council Cymru, C3SC (Cardiff Third Sector Council), NWAMI, Unite, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Monumental Welsh Women, Loud & Clear and Purple Plaques.
Our international international collaborator is Aspire For Her.
Dame Prof. Meena Upadhyaya
Congratulations to Dame Prof. Meena Upadhyaya for her recent DBE.
I am deeply humbled and profoundly honoured. When I received the news of my DBE, I was stunned. This recognition is not mine alone; it belongs to my family, who tolerated my long hours and moments of chaos; to my mentors and colleagues, who challenged and supported me; to my friends, who sustained me; to the communities that embraced me; and to the charity workers and volunteers who walked alongside me throughout this journey.
I arrived in this country several decades ago with nothing more than a 20-kilogram suitcase and the hope of building a life with my husband. I could never have imagined that one day I would be recognised in this way.
This honour is historic. It is an extraordinary distinction bestowed upon someone who has always considered herself an ordinary person. Yet its significance reaches far beyond my own story. It sends a message to every immigrant who arrives on these shores with uncertainty in their heart but determination and resilience in their spirit: your contribution matters, your presence matters, and your dreams belong here, too.
Here are some posts from Prof. Meena Upadhyaya and her followers:
Latest news
Congratulations to the newly elected Welsh Labour Leader and the First Minister in Wales, Mr Vaughan Gething and heartfelt gratitude to Mr Mark Drakeford for the outstanding contributions that he has made to all the communities in Wales.
Buy our new book
The stories of women from Wales’ minority communities are seldom heard. This book, part of EMWWAA's HLF project, reveals how black, Asian and other ethnic minority women have built lives in Wales and made significant contributions to Welsh society.
