In a world where the resilience and strength of female immigrants frequently go unrecognized, empowering and supporting women in their pursuit of success is vital. According to the UN, female migrants comprise nearly half the global immigrant population—around 130 million as of 2020.
To help them, a visionary initiative by the Femigrants Foundation was taken up by Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva, who aims to empower women embarking on new journeys in foreign lands.
Femigrants is a dedicated non-profit initiative that empowers and supports immigrant women as they navigate their new country and culture. It offers various services to assist and uplift immigrant women personally and professionally. Through her website, Aytakin offers networking services that bring professionals and newly migrated women together on a single platform.
As an immigrant herself, Aytakin recalls how in a new country, everything was new to her. The culture, the society—every element left her in awe. She came as a student of social media, and the first challenge she faced was that of getting a well-paying job.
Despite having a successful career back in her country and U.S. education, the only jobs available for her and her husband as immigrants were low-paying jobs. They had neither a support system to help them nor a mentor to guide them through the trials and tribulations of establishing a successful career as first-generation immigrants.
Today, in hopes of reforming the mechanisms that charge the journey of first-generation immigrants, Aytakin set out to make her mark in the world. She wanted to take on a project to benefit female immigrants who aspire to become successful business leaders but are systemically undermined in their efforts.
One defining aspect of Femigrants is its emphasis on networking. Aytakin recognizes the importance of building connections and fostering professional relationships for career growth and personal development. She describes Femigrants as a platform to build a community—a sisterhood for global immigrant women to connect, support, and empower one another.
Through Femigrants, Aytakin provides networking opportunities through various avenues, such as organized events, workshops, training, and online platforms. Their online platforms, including Facebook groups and WhatsApp, are used to connect community members and facilitate interactions.
As Aytakin said, “My goal is to help immigrant women feel included in the new community they join by building a meaningful relationship with like-minded and successful immigrant leaders.”
Additionally, Femigrants offers resources and support tailored to immigrant women’s unique challenges. These resources and support encompass language assistance, cultural integration guidance, access to educational programs, career development workshops, and mentorship programs. With different members posting their success stories and addressing various topics on the community blog, it is an excellent source of motivation and information for immigrant women.
It is pretty evident that Aytakin strives to address the unique needs of immigrant women, empowering them to achieve their goals, enhance their skills, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. She is adamant about creating a comprehensive support system for immigrant women, combining networking opportunities, specialized resources, and a supportive community to help them thrive in their new environments.
Aytakin’s dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed. Last year, she received double gold awards from the Women Changing The World Awards, presented by Oprah Winfrey’s all-time favourite guest, Dr. Tererai Trent, which celebrate and recognize women achieving outstanding success. These awards honor her work in empowering immigrant women globally.
Her efforts have taken her to international stages, where she represents global immigrant women in cities like London and Paris. This year, Aytakin has been announced as an ambassador for the 2024 Women Changing the World Awards, presented by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
In her keynote speeches, Aytakin shares her vision of expanding Femigrants’ reach and establishing new branches, including plans to open a second home for Femigrants in London. This expansion has garnered significant support, including from Sarah, the Duchess of York, who praised Aytakin’s efforts.
“I am proud of you! Thank you for building a community for immigrant women,” the Duchess remarked, offering her support in making London a welcoming new hub for Femigrants.
After traveling Europe as a speaker and meeting many immigrant women, she came back to America with new ideas to help Femigrants’ community grow through unique event experiences that will connect founders to investors, mentees to mentors, and leaders to coaches.
As they continue to grow and expand their reach, they get male peers too to be involved to support their initiative. It starts from sponsorship to board members to alleys.
One of them is Azar Aghasiyev who serves as the Chief Financial Officer and a dedicated Board Member. As the CFO, Azar oversees the financial health of the organization, ensuring sustainable funding and financial practices that enable the foundation to expand its support programs for female immigrants. In his role on the board, Azar is involved in strategic decision-making, program development, and policy advocacy that align with the Foundation’s mission.
“As a male immigrant, I believe it is imperative for us to empower female immigrants. Empowering women is not just a moral responsibility; it is an essential step toward building a more inclusive and prosperous society for all,” said Azar Aghasiyev.
As Aytakin continues her work with Femigrants, her dedication to supporting immigrant women highlights the importance of community and resilience. To join the transformative Femigrants community in building bridges of opportunity for immigrant women, click here and visit their website.
You can also support Femigrants in helping immigrant women become successful leaders by donating at: https://femigrants.com/donation/
Published By: Aize Perez