IWSO September 2024 Newsletter

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IWSO Connections September 2024

In this edition of "Connections," Melissa Elizabeth Eberly, immigration and family lawyer with Gibson Piazza Anders, discusses the announcement of a new pilot program to support caregivers and Canadian families. The intention is to make the caregivers program permanent. Get the latest update on IWSO's Industrial Sewing Project and Irma Bailey, Administrative Assistant shares her perspectives on how much IWSO has grown. Find out more about the benefits of using an RESP to save for your child's education from Ms.Tony-IIebor, Branch Manager with TD. Barbara Woodside shares her personal experience volunteering with IWSO's LIS department and how it's brought her closer to the women she works with. Please consider a monthly donation in the name of a friend or family member as we move closer to the holiday season. Having a reliable, steady stream of monthly income, helps IWSO plan for future projects. The recipe to try this month is Ukrainian Borscht! Take a break, sit back and enjoy reading about all the good things happening at IWSO.

IWSO WEBSITE

Ask The Bank Manager

In this edition of Connections, Ada Tony-llebor, Branch Manager with TD, directs us to the TD website that explains the benefits of saving for your children's education with the help of a government-registered Education Savings Plan (RESP.) Now is the time to begin saving for your child’s post-secondary education.

RESP'S FIND OUT MORE

Update - Industrial Sewing Project

Lucy Grossmann-Hansel and the Ottawa Community Foundation, are supporting IWSO's Sewing for Success Program. This program trains and prepares students for a career in the industrial sewing sector. We are now training the third cohort to enter this profession. "The students are eager to learn the sewing profession and excited about their future prospects," says Mozhgan Fahandezhsadii, Sewing for Success Program instructor.

READ ABOUT THE PROGRAM

IWSO's New Fall Schedule

There is always something going on at IWSO! English and French conversation classes, digital literacy, G1 driving test preparation in Farsi, and new Tea & Topics information sessions are always offered. Why not try something new?

Milk Drive Program

Since its inception in March 2023 and up until July of this year, the Milk Drive Program has handed out 24 bags of milk weekly to 21 families with each family having an average of 3 children. Many children benefit from this program each week at IWSO. Clients participating in the program say, "The milk drive has supported me tremendously because I don't have to include milk in my food budget." Another said, "I am so grateful, God bless you."

SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING

Another Successful Summer with Vintage Soil Farm

This summer was filled with farm fresh produce donated by Isabelle Rodè, owner of Vintage Soil Farm. "Clients of IWSO were thrilled to receive weekly organic produce from the Farm," says, Josephine Basudde, Manager of Crisis Intervention and Counselling Services. "It has been a pleasure to see how, working together, we can provide nutritional food to women struggling to feed their families." Vintage Soil Farm will continue to drop off autumn vegetables until the end of October." Please consider sponsoring an IWSO client by purchasing a farm share through Vintage Soil Farm.

VISIT THE FARM

Multiculturalism Day in Ottawa

This year, in celebration of Canadian Multiculturalism Day, the Ontario North East MOSAIC Employee Resource Group (ONE MOSAIC ERG) hosted a roundtable discussion about multiculturalism in Canada. IWSO is proud that our Executive Director, Mercy Lawluvi was among the panelists who participated in the discussion. Thank you RBC for all you do in supporting the community. We were honoured to be represented at the table.

LEARN MORE

Find Out Why Barbara Volunteers

"Who knew that volunteer work could provide such rich rewards. It is a community that I am proud to be part of. There are always volunteer opportunities at IWSO - try it. Or if you have no time available please donate – there are always more things to do than there are funds" says Barbara Woodside, volunteer extraordinaire.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BARBARA

From My Lens at Reception

Irma Bailey, Administrative Assistant at IWSO, shared her perspective of change at IWSO during a summer staff meeting. "Every day I’m inspired by the tenacity and dedication of all our staff at IWSO. We have one amazing team."

Legacy Giving at IWSO

Including a charitable bequest in your will or making a gift of life insurance, are simple ways to make a legacy gift to IWSO. Making gifts in your will, benefit the immigrant and racialized women we serve now and, into the future, all the while providing maximum tax benefits and peace of mind to you and your loved ones. Legacy Giving is a chance for philanthropists to connect to the deepest part of their personal legacies and actively build a more equitable world for everyone.To find out more, visit the link below.

LEAVE A LEGACY

Ask the Immigration Lawyer

Melissa Elizabeth Eberly, immigration and family lawyer with Gibson Piazza Anders, discusses the international student program in Canada. "This program has been the subject of a lot of media attention over the last year because a lot has changed. Foreign nationals looking to study in Canada must now show that they have more funds available to support themselves and their family members during their studies in Canada." Ms. Eberly practices both family and immigration law. She can be reached at: 613-238-2244.

FIND OUT MORE

Free Digital Literacy Courses

IWSO continues to provide immigrant and racialized women, digital literacy in three different levels. Level 1 for beginners, Level 2 for improving skills already learned and, Level 3 for more advanced learning. To register for in-person and online classes, contact a staff member listed in the flyer.

Join Friends of IWSO

Thinking about donating to IWSO? Please consider Monthly Giving which allows us to rely on steady and much needed income that we can use where needed the most. If you are thinking of giving someone a gift, monthly donations in their name is a wonderful way to honour a friend or family member.

GIVE THE GIFT OF MONTHLY DONATIONS

Website Available in Chinese (Simple)

IWSO with the assistance of our Language & Interpretation Service (LIS) is proud to offer our website in Chinese (Simple.) This is made possible by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Social Services in Ottawa

Connecting Ottawa knows the challenges associated with locating services in Ottawa. This helpful website allows you to find services in Ottawa and the surrounding areas by searching with keywords or by category.

CONNECTING OTTAWA

Gifts in Kind Program Makes Basic Needs Accessible

Amenah Abdulhameed, Settlement Counsellor with IWSO, understands how moving to a new country can take a toll on women. “We receive thousands of women and newcomers every year. Whether they’re fleeing abuse or going through transitional housing, many have nothing other than what they’re wearing,” she explains.

FIND OUT MORE

Medavie Donates $80,000 to IWSO's CWWV Program

Medavie granted IWSO $80,000 towards the Children Who Witness Violence Program. "This will create incredible in-roads to address the lengthy wait times for children needing counselling to address the violence they have witnessed either in the home or during war. We will now be able to hire an additional counsellor for the children we serve," says Charlene Kalubi, Children's Counsellor with IWSO.

MEDAVIE WEBSITE

Unifor Social Justice Fund Donates $3000

Unifor Social Justice Fund, granted IWSO $3000 towards our programs aimed at addressing Gender Based Violence so we can continue to serve immigrant and racialized women in Ottawa, in a timely manner. At IWSO, we strive to address the needs for all immigrant women who are survivors of violence in the home or war, regardless of their immigration status, gender identity, language ability, religion, dis/ability and, length of time in Canada.

UNIFOR ON FACEBOOK

Harry P. Ward Supports IWSO

For the third year in a row, IWSO has received funding for our programs dedicated to immigrant and racialized women fleeing violence. "We deeply value our long standing relationship with the Harry P. Ward Foundation. Their $2500 grant will help the women we serve receive the support they need to flee violence they encounter on a regular basis," say Mercy Lawluvi, Executive Director of IWSO.