Kepa’s strategy and the Autumn Meeting

Date: Friday, November 25, 2005
Place: Paasitorni, Sali Karl Lindahl.
Paasivuorenkatu 5A, Helsinki.

AFAES ry was represented by: Fatima Usman, Tiina Korhonen, Chikodi Udeh and Mohamad el-falou.

09:30-10:00  We took morning coffee and chatted a little bit with other associations representatives.

10:00-12:00  We listened attentively to Kepa’s strategy plan 2006-2010. During the question time, Mr Chikodi, on behalf of AFAES ry, asked: Since Africans living in Finland know the African culture, the terrain, etc. why not train, them so they can be sent by Kepa to train people there to help themselves?
To answer that question, we were told that Kepa is improving, and as an example they mentioned providing at today’s meeting translation into English (which they did, but unfortunately, only in the morning meeting- many foreign NGOs representatives left the meeting simply because they couldn’t understand what is going on). They said that “more is to come!”
There were different questions on different issues; many of them outside the field of Kepa’s.
A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the audience that the Ministry is going to increase the funds for Kepa. She also promised to use her means to improve the status of NGOs.

12:00-12:55 Lunch.
 
13:00-14:00 We attended President of the Republic awards to Kumppanuus Prize 2005. However, many foreign NGOs representatives didn’t understand what was going on because there was no more translation into English. They were lost because there was no announcement about that. That was in contradiction with the promise about translation mentioned in the information paper.

However, Heidi Hautala, president of the board of Kepa, ended her speech by introducing an excellent entertaining: Classical African music! And the President of the Republic of Finland enjoyed and appreciated that music much! 
 
14:00-16:00 We had Autumn Meeting: They declared the meeting opened. 52 associations were represented. Then, the following happened: names, registration, revision of some voting rules, budget introduction and voting the new board members.

The voting resulted in a positive way; they have now an immigrant in the board! This has never happened before. AFAES ry has been fighting long for getting this through. Kepa deserves credits for that! This is a good way to integrate immigrants in Finland!

16:00-19:00 We congratulated the new immigrant member of the board, enjoyed chatting with her, promised her our support, and had an intellectual conversation with her during the cocktails.