The Ottawa Community Foundation Grants $25,000 to IWSO in support of The Children Who Witness Violence Program

Ottawa, ON – December 1, 2021.  Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO), today announced that they have received a grant from The Ottawa Community Foundation, a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa.  The Foundation’s grant of $25,000 shows the local community how important it is to reach children who have witnessed violence and teach them the skills and tools needed to approach problems in healthier ways.  Funding will go directly towards hiring a professionally trained counsellor experienced in working with children and trauma.

The Ottawa Community Foundation’s Director of Strategic and Community Initiatives, Rebecca Aird said, “Challenges associated with the pandemic continue to play out, exacerbating the already significant stresses faced by many immigrant families. Especially given that overall pandemic response funding is waning, the OCF is glad to be able to help IWSO continue to leverage its knowledge and skills to ensure that children who witness violence are supported in ways that will help them cope with and emerge from heart-breaking circumstances.”

“A Children Who Witness Violence Program tailored to meet the unique needs of immigrant and refugee children who have witnessed violence either in the home or during war is much needed in Ottawa.  These children need to heal and grow without fear. We are grateful to the Ottawa Community Foundation for this funding which will enable us provide supports to vulnerable children and their mothers who have witnessed/experienced violence”, said Mercy Lawluvi, Executive Director of IWSO

“The pandemic environment has increased both the number of callers to our centre, as well as the complexity of our crisis response especially when children have witnessed violence in the home.” said Josephine Basudde, Manager of Crisis Intervention and Counselling Services. 

IWSO includes a multi-disciplinary team (crisis counsellors, professional translators, settlement and integration counsellors, and volunteers) offering comfort and support to Immigrant and Racialized women in Ottawa and the surrounding areas.

The Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF) is one of Ottawa’s most highly regarded philanthropic organizations, working with donors and the community at large to bring about positive, systemic and sustainable change in our city and beyond. The Foundation has built an enviable reputation for astute financial management, high quality donor services, strategic grant making and innovative partnerships across the city.

About Immigrant Women Services Ottawa:

The mandate of (IWSO) is to empower immigrant and racialized women in the City of Ottawa and surrounding areas to participate in the elimination of all forms of abuse against women; to provide culturally responsive services which will facilitate their access to community and mainstream services and provide other services/programs which will assist immigrant women in their journey to attain their full potential.  Immigrant Women Services Ottawa is a community-based agency serving immigrant and racialized women. We create opportunities for women as they integrate into a new society, rebuild their lives free of violence, and achieve their personal goals.

About The Ottawa Community Foundation:
The Ottawa Community Foundation is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. It attracts and manages a growing endowment, the invested earnings of which provide grants to charitable organizations.

The Foundation’s role is as a neutral broker in support of all charitable causes that contribute to the community’s quality of life. With a growing profile, the Ottawa Community Foundation has built an enviable reputation for astute financial management, high-quality donor services, strategic grant-making and innovative partnerships. For more information, visit www.ocf-fco.ca.