National Organization Focusing on Women and Girls Supports Immigrant Women Services Ottawa with Major Grant

Ottawa, ON – April 21, 2021… Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO), today announced that they have received a major grant from a national orga- nization that focuses on women and girls, the Canadian Women’s Foundation. The Foundation’s grant of $47,500 will establish them as a leading supporter that will strengthen and expand IWSO’s counselling and wraparound programs for victims of abuse during the pandemic. Funding will go directly to support- ing victims of violence, and is much needed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased demand on IWSO’s services.

Canadian Women’s Foundation President and CEO, Paulette Senior said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in the risk of gender-based vio- lence in Canada, and racialized and newcomer women face additional barriers to support. Services that address these unique challenges are so vital, and we’re grateful for the incredible work of IWSO during this trying time.”

IWSO includes a multi-disciplinary team (crisis counselors, professional trans- lators, settlement and integration counselors, and volunteers) offering comfort and support to Immigrant and Racialized women in Ottawa and the surround- ing areas.

“As an organization that serves immigrant and racialized women who are vic- tims of violence, our clients face multiple barriers to getting the help they need even in normal times. This is because they may lack the necessary language skills, social supports, and awareness of their legal protections to seek as- sistance,” said Mercy Lawluvi, Executive Director of IWSO.

“When the Province of Ontario declared a State of Emergency in March 2020, we quickly transitioned our services to a remote environment where our staff work from home and provide services over the phone or online, said Manal Fseifes, Coordinator of Crisis and Counselling.  “Thanks to today’s grant, our front line workers will be able to continue to be responsive to the needs of the women we serve as the complexity of their situations continues to be exacer- bated due to Covid-19.”

The Canadian Women’s Foundation is Canada’s public foundation for diverse women and girls. They focus on women and girls because they face distinct barriers that require distinct solutions and because gender equality improves economic and social conditions for everyone.

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 opportuni- ties for women as they integrate into a new society, rebuild their lives free of violence, and achieve their personal goals.

About Canadian Women’s Foundation:

We fund programs across Canada, prioritizing communities where the need is greatest. These programs address four urgent issues: gender-based violence, economic security, girls’ empowerment, and inclusive leadership. We aim to be inclusive of diverse people across gender and sexuality spectrums. We fo- cus our efforts on supporting those who face the most barriers and have least

access to relevant services. This includes people who identify as women, girls, trans, genderqueer, non-binary, and 2SLGBTQI+.