'Hate and racism makes me afraid but I have an amazing neighbourhood'
BBCA migrant woman who has made Northern Ireland her home, has said she can "feel afraid to go out" because of fear of hate and racism.
Domingas Gusmão was speaking to the first minister as part of an innovative new project where 100 migrant women have shared their stories.
The East Timorese woman told Michelle O'Neill: "Even if it [hate attacks] happens somewhere else, I can feel afraid to go out. I have younger kids, and it concerns me, but I am lucky, and my neighbourhood is amazing."
The project features people from a diverse range of backgrounds including East Timor, Ukraine, Poland and Syria.
The Heritage Journeys: Voices of Migrant Women in Mid Ulster project combines photographic portraits, video interviews and cultural material which will be archived at the Linen Hall Library in Belfast.
The women involved have been living in Mid Ulster between 2000 and 2024.
The project is run by First Steps Women Centre (FSWC) based in Dungannon.
'We want a better future for our families'
The project's website was officially launched in the lead up to International Women's Day and contains a collection of all the women's portraits and stories.
Gusmão has been living in Dungannon for 15 years after moving to join her husband who was working in the local food industry.
She said: "It was hard when I first came here because I didn't have any English, but with the support of First Steps I learnt the language and as a result got to learn about so many different women who use the centre and their backgrounds.
"Dungannon has become my second home from home and all three of my children were born here, so to them it has always been home."
She added: "I think sometimes migrant people can be seen as something else, but we have so much in common, the truth is many of us just want a better life and a better future for our families."
FSWCThe project also includes an interview between Gusmão and O'Neill.
During the interview, the two women connected over motherhood and family, but also tackled the issue of racism.
In closing the interview, O'Neill told Domingas: "I can say to you, as your first minister, I want to build a society and a home for everybody that's inclusive, where everybody is welcome, and where we celebrate our difference and our diversity, and that we all recognise we are stronger for it."
'Not everything was easy at the start'
Ewelina Dus moved from Poland to County Tyrone 20 years ago.
"I'll not pretend like everything was easy from the start, but I've always liked the sense of community here.
"Even when I first arrived, I remember walking down the street and people you didn't know would stop to say hello and ask how you are, and I fell in love with that."
She added: "The heritage journeys project has been amazing to be part of; I've loved hearing all these amazing women's stories alongside my own.
"To hear how and why they came here and bond over that has been really powerful."
Dungannon is one of Northern Ireland's most diverse towns, with more than 3,500 people living in the area who were born outside of the UK or Ireland
The figures for Mid Ulster show that the number of race hate crimes fell by 10 in the last year, with 44 in 2024 and 34 in 2025.
But in the last few weeks there have been a number of high-profile incidents across Northern Ireland including racist graffiti dobbed on a Belfast apartment building and a letter containing sectarian and Islamophobic messaging being shared on social media.
Gillian Glass is the coordinator of the Heritage Journeys project.
She said projects like this are important because they go beyond the headlines and get to the people behind the statistics.
She said: "I think it's vital that the wider community hears the stories of these women so people can understand they are like anybody else.
"The project shows there is a common humanity, and you get a real sense of their hopes and dreams, and it's a chance to celebrate their culture and traditions."
She added: "Some of these women have left quite sad circumstances beyond their control, but others have also chosen to make Tyrone their home, many are economic migrants they are working hard here and we should celebrate that."
FSWCDomingas also gifted the first minister a hand-crocheted red-and-green table centrepiece and a crocheted gift for Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly.
Michael McGoldrick is CEO of First Steps Women's Centre.
He said: "As a woman who has grown up in Mid Ulster, and who is now first minister for Northern Ireland, we couldn't think of anyone better to conduct the first interview released as part of this landmark legacy project and to encourage other women to take part.
"This project reflects First Step's Women's Centre's unique position within an increasingly diverse community, and we're proud to be making space for the fascinating and diverse stories of so many women from around the world who now call Mid Ulster home."
The project received money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
