Women and migration: when obstacles multiply

In a global context where female migration is on the rise, women today represent nearly half of all displaced people worldwide. In Europe, they already accounted for more than 51% of newcomers in 2020.

And yet, their journeys, contributions and ambitions remain largely invisible. Because they are women. Because they come from another country. Because stereotypes, administrative hurdles, and a lack of professional networks accumulate — preventing them from accessing their rights, finding employment, or securing funding.

On one hand, they face challenges common to all women:

• Balancing professional ambitions with family responsibilities
• Limited access to funding to start their businesses
• Underrepresentation in entrepreneurial networks and decision-making spaces

On the other hand, they encounter barriers specific to migration:

• Language and administrative hurdles
• Non-recognition of their diplomas and professional experience
• Discrimination
• Economic insecurity and social isolation

As a result, the unemployment rate among immigrant women reaches 14%, double that of women born in France. A silent exclusion that deprives society of an incredible wealth of talent and potential.

The transformative power of connection

At SINGA, we witness it every day: one encounter can change everything — a journey, a career, an entire life. It can start with a door opening, with someone who believes in you, or with a space where you can fully be yourself — without needing to justify, explain, or defend your presence.

These moments, suspended in time, are often the starting point of a profound personal and professional transformation. Through the campaign “The Moment When…”, we invite you to discover some of these key turning points we’ve witnessed at SINGA:

• The moment when Nada, who fled Sudan, dared to pick up a paintbrush again during a retreat organized by SINGA Lyon. A seemingly simple gesture that reopened the door to her artistic future. Step by step, Nada began exhibiting her work — and today, she leads creative workshops for other women who have experienced exile.
• The moment when Georgia, in Switzerland, saw her bakery project recognized by the SINGA Switzerland Award. More than just a prize, it gave her back the professional legitimacy that migration had taken away.
• The moment when Bella, a tech entrepreneur in Berlin, won the Newcomer Startup Award for her online child protection app. That recognition cemented a powerful belief: for tech to be truly inclusive, it must include the voices and ideas of those who are so often unheard.
• The moment when Sumaia, a jewelry designer forced to flee Kabul, took the leap and showcased her creations at a local artisan market with the support of SINGA Strasbourg. Seeing the public’s positive response, she realized her skills and creativity absolutely belong here.

More than a campaign — a daily commitment

With this campaign, SINGA is not just sharing real stories. We want these voices to be heard. We want to shine a light on those transformative moments when a woman stops being seen as “a refugee” and reclaims her full identity — as a creator, an entrepreneur, a citizen like any other.

These moments are at the heart of our mission. And to make them possible, we need to create the right conditions:

• Safe spaces for dialogue between women, where sisterhood becomes a resource, a source of support, and a driver for both personal and professional rebuilding.
• Practical solutions to help balance parenting and entrepreneurship, so newcomer mothers can develop their businesses without sacrificing their role as parents.
• Open platforms and public stages, where their voices enrich our collective memory and transform the way society sees migration.

These efforts are paying off. Today:

• 74% of the women supported by SINGA say their socio-professional situation has improved.
• 67% say they have regained confidence in themselves.
• 73% feel more useful to society.