AMAL Academy: Soaps with Hope
Empower migrant and refugee women in a safe space where they can develop technical and interpersonal skills, preparing themselves for the job market and promoting social inclusion.
Migrant and refugee women face greater difficulties in accessing the job market in Portugal: language barriers, discrimination and lack of recognition of their qualifications. These difficulties generate social exclusion, economic dependence and a waste of talent.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We offer training in artisanal soap production and soft skills, such as financial literacy, time management and communication, preparing participants for the job market.
We connect migrant and refugee women with companies that value diversity, promoting workplace inclusion through workshops, job fairs and strategic partnerships.
We organize intercultural events and activities with the local community to deconstruct stereotypes and create bridges between cultures.
WHY IS AMAL ACADEMY INNOVATIVE?
In a world where many migrant women face double discrimination – for being both women and migrants – the AMAL Academy offers a safe and welcoming space. Here, they can develop without constraints, share experiences and build the confidence needed to integrate into the job market and society in general.
Inspired by the ancient recipe for Aleppo Soap, the Academy uses this product as a symbol of interculturality. Even though the participants are not originally from Syria, the production process values cultural traditions, encouraging reflections on how to preserve and share their own cultural heritage in a new context.
The training goes beyond technical skills, integrating the development of soft skills such as financial literacy, time management and communication. This approach prepares women for different sectors of the job market, increasing their employability and economic autonomy.
The Academy develops the Intercultural Business Network , which facilitates direct links between skilled women and employers committed to diversity and inclusion. This innovative model ensures that the training offered translates into real opportunities in the job market.
Organizing intercultural events and soap-making workshops promotes dialogue between cultures, deconstructs stereotypes and strengthens ties between participants and the local community, creating a lasting impact.
“I worked on packaging Amal soap. Working with girls from different cultures and countries was interesting because I quickly adapted to the girls and I loved the difference between us and learned a few things from them. The packaging method was excellent and the most important thing is that it is an easy method that does not take much time. The girls and I learned how to package quickly, I love this project because it is natural and supports refugee women.”
GHUFRAN SHLASH, FROM SYRIA LIVING IN BRAGA
