LivornoWomen migrant leadership: The Centro Servizi Donne Immigrate Associazione di Promozione Sociale (CeSDI APS)
What is inspiring?
The Centro Servizi Donne Immigrate Associazione di Promozione Sociale (CeSDI APS) plays a particular role in Livorno as an association of migrant women for migrant women. The association was informally established in April 1996 by a diverse group of women from various countries, including Italy. The group began meeting at Amina's house, a woman of Somali origin, with the intention of building a space for dialogue, support, and mutual listening, thus creating a network of solidarity and mutual aid. CeSDI collaborates with the Municipality of Livorno in various capacities, such as co-designing programmes and services and carrying out linguistic and cultural mediation.
Contact
Centro Servizi Donne Immigrate Associazione di Promozione Sociale (CeSDI APS)
E-mail: cesdidonnelivorno@gmail.com
How does it operate?
The CeSDI offers activities of orientation, support, and accompaniment for migrants and/or those with a migratory background, facilitating their inclusion into the local social fabric – with a particular focus on migrant women. The CeSDI provides Italian and “citizenship courses”, linguistic and cultural programmes and assistance for migrants and refugees arriving at Livorno’s port, helping them access essential services and adjust upon arrival. In 2023, the CeSDI employed approximately 14 mediators who assisted 200 people, including many women (some pregnant), children, and unaccompanied minors.
A key aspect of the CeSDI is that it advocates for women’s rights and well-being, with a focus on combating gender-based violence and addressing issues related to female genital mutilation (FGM) within a human rights framework. The association conducts informational campaigns and awareness-raising efforts, primarily directed at migrant communities, to educate and foster discussions around these issues. The CeSDI also hosts conferences and debates on honoring and protecting the female body and collaborates on national and international projects aimed at preventing FGM. Additionally, the CeSDI’s welcoming services support women and families by providing guidance on local services. They assist with school and course registrations, municipal bonuses, and applications for rent and public housing, among others, helping newcomers navigate local bureaucratic processes. As part of the inclusion journey, the CeSDI also supports individual and collective women’s initiatives to network their skills and strengthen their socio-economic independence, and promotes self-management initiatives among women residing in Livorno.
Who initiated the project? How?
The CeSDI was informally established in Livorno in April 1996 by a heterogeneous group of migrant women from various countries, including Italy. The group began meeting at Amina's house, a woman of Somali origin, with the intention of building a space for dialogue, support, and mutual listening, thus creating a network of solidarity and mutual aid. From the very beginning, this initial group managed to create a welcoming and stimulating environment, which helped overcome the sense of isolation and loneliness often associated with the migratory condition.
In October 1997, the association was officially established with the aim of offering services dedicated to the migrant community and promoting social activities in the city, with a particular focus on women and children. In these 27 years, the association has welcomed hundreds of women and families, with diverse and sometimes very complex stories and migratory paths, supporting their arrival and inclusion into the community, both individually and collectively.
What is the outcome?
The CeSDI managed to create a broad cooperation network and to connect and join forces with considerable public and private institutions. For example, in October 2024, the centre signed an agreement with other local organisations to establish an adult literacy programme that promotes an integrated approach within the education system, guaranteeing all foreign citizens the right to learn Italian. The CeSDI also provided regular after-school homework support and additional training on cultural mediation for university students in collaboration with the University of Pisa, and worked with the Banco Farmaceutico to provide affiliated welfare entities with necessary medications free of charge.
Furthermore, the long-established migrant-led association could build upon its own diverse migration and arrival experiences and put this strength to use for newcomers in distress. In that regard, the CeSDI mediators played a key role in welcoming and supporting migrants arriving at the Port of Livorno on rescue vessels. In 2024, this included support for passengers from several NGO-operated ships: linguistic-cultural mediators supported the Ocean Viking with 55 people from countries like Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, and Bangladesh in April; Humanity 1 with approximately 200 people including children and unaccompanied minors, in June; Life Support with 47 rescued migrants from African and South Asian countries, also in June; and the MSF ship Geo Barents with over 290 migrants in July and August, primarily from African nations.