The Kiwanis Club of Ottawa shows it’s support with a donation of $2500 to the Children Who Witness Violence in the Home Program

Ottawa, ON – August 20, 2021… Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO), today announced that they have received a donation of $2500 from the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa.  This donation will be used towards staffing the extremely important position of a counsellor for children who have witnessed violence either in the home or due to war.

Kiwanis Club Direct Assistance Director, Tom Donohue said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors we are honoured to support Immigrant Women Services Ottawa through this program which strives to assist the children of immigrant women find healthy ways to cope with the violence they have seen and break the cycle of abuse and violence in the home.  We believe in order to end all violence against women, we need to start with children and equip them with the skills to engage in healthy and rewarding relationships as they move forward in their lives.”

“We are grateful to the Kiwanis Club for understanding that this programming aimed at children who have witnessed devastating violence, is one of the ways to end abuse and violence against all women.  Keeping this valuable and essential program running required a significant amount of funding and we are delighted that the members of the Kiwanis Club have chosen to support IWSO,” said Mercy Lawluvi, Executive Director of IWSO.

Newcomer women in our area often come to Canada with their children having experienced unspeakable violence in either their home or due to war in their country.  Ending the cycle of violence starts with their children.  IWSO’s Children Who Witness Violence Program, aims to supply these children with healthy coping skills so they can experience a life without violence as they move forward in their own relationships.  We are grateful to the Kiwanis Club for choosing to support such an important program,” said Josephine Basudde, Manager- 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.

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 Kiwanis Club of Ottawa:

As a Service Club, the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa provides in excess of 10,000 hours of community service annually to a wide range of projects locally, regionally and internationally.  The Club has a number of committees that create and operate community service projects.  Throughout the year, the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa uses its donations to help people and organizations in the community.  Both individuals and organizations can make requests for support.  Requests can be for a wide range of needs, such as helping a child attend summer camp, building a ramp for a senior, or helping individuals with disabilities purchase a medical device.