On June 15, 2015, in Padua, a dream was born for migrant women: The Colors of She Who Knows. Ten years later we are celebrating the life and relationships that have bloomed with passion and dedication during this shared journey. Together we contemplate the many signs of hope that have accompanied us.
The Colors of She Who Knows is a path for women from different cultures, countries, religions, and traditions that creates an alliance among them in the richness of their differences. It offers listening, support, and education on the themes of health, society, law, and psychology.
The name is inspired by the SFP program “She Who Knows,” born in Rome in 2013, which believes in women as people able to give life to, protect, and share generative wisdom.
“The dream of The Colors of She Who Knows was born from my experience of service with the charity Pane dei Poveri in Padua,” says Sr. Loredana Giugliano. “In daily conversations with families in difficulty, especially the immigrant families, I realized what was central, though often invisible and unrecognized, was the role of women. 
Those I met were mothers, laborers, keepers of the home and of the kin, but they were often alone, without time for themselves, and, at times, victims of violence or abandonment. I strongly felt the desire to offer them a different place: a space to regenerate, seek advice, rest, grow, and, above all, create an alliance among women. Together with Sr. Tiziana Merletti, we welcomed the challenge of bringing together many women who were very different in origin, language religion, and culture. We believed in it, and the 16 women at that time coming from Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Albania, Ukraine, and Cameroun—with their 11 children—believed in us: the dream became reality and transformed into a journey, of which we are celebrating 10 years!”
Sr. Giovanna Dada, who currently runs this program, describes her experience in this way: “In this space of care, I contemplate with amazement the strength of the women who entrust themselves to one another, sharing their joys, pain, and hopes. I see firsthand that peace is possible, if we know how to welcome one another. I will continue to take care of it, so that it blooms in the splendor of Colors!” Sr. Giuliana Vitale adds: “It is like a window that opens onto a colorful horizon: Stories of women who are far from home, with daily challenges, but with extraordinary dignity and resilience. I saw the birth of a spirit of family, a deep alliance that goes beyond languages, religions, and borders.”
In making ourselves the traveling companions of these women, we learn to let ourselves be transformed and to have a new view of reality, like Sr. Tina Ventimiglia says: “For me it was a precious occasion of human and spiritual growth. Encountering their stories, welcoming their realities, and walking together in simplicity has enriched my perspective and my heart. The energy that circulated among us—Sisters, women, and professionals—was born from the sharing of time, skills, and human warmth. I gratefully carry the memory of these days, which to this day help me to welcome with care and delicacy the women I encounter.”
It is impossible to tell all the experiences and the fruits of these ten years of history, but the words of Sinica, a friend who comes from Romania, summarize well the intensity of the relationships born from this journey: “Initially, I was just curious, but from the first time something special was born. I participated in almost all the meetings, together with women who came from all over the world. We laughed, we cried, we shared meals and conversation. This group has really brought color to my life. Together we faced problems and received support. I have been part of it now for nine years and I carry every second I experienced in my heart. Thank you to the Sisters and those who accompanied us: today I have a stable job and I can live with more serenity. It is also thanks to The Colors of She Who Knows that I am the woman I am today.”
Some professionals have supported the program’s journey, giving their time and skills and in exchange they received unexpected gifts, like Maria, a pediatrician, who recounts: “It is an intimate space where the spotlight is on the stories of women. I offered listening and presence, but I received much more: the strength of feeling like sisters, the beauty of simple gestures, the hope that is transmitted. The Colors of She Who Knows are, for me, the colors of the soul: of hope passed from hand to hand, of dignity that resists, of the encounter that enriches both sides. And in this quiet exchange, I continue to receive more than I am able to give.” Eleonora, a nutritionist, adds: “It is a time for sharing my knowledge, which corresponds to sincere listening. In exchange, I receive living curiosity, profound experiences, and the value of a dialogue that enriches both parties.”
The Colors of She Who Knows is not just a program: it is an intertwining of stories, a living mosaic of alliances among women, a space in which “diversity is a richness,” as Tindara, a gynecologist, emphasizes, “where I received authentic gratitude, which still resounds within me today.”
After ten years, the journey continues to generate new life for those who accompany and those who are accompanied, in a mysterious exchange of roles within which everyone gives and everyone receives. The journey continues in the ever richer, more aware, and more colorful present!
Sr. Carmen De Matteo, Sr. Loredana Giugliano, Sr. Giovanna Dada, and Sr. Tina Ventimiglia, SFP
