Multicultural Women’s Organization of NL (MWONL)
(Established in 1982)
Making Connections and Mapping SystemsServices and Supports for Immigrants and Refugees
Kaberi Sarma-Debnath, RSW
Executive Director
MWONL
Nov 15, 2017
About MWONL
Non-profit organization, delivers gender-
based culturally appropriate services that
facilitate the integration and full
participation of immigrant and newcomer
women and their families in the
community.
Migration is not an easy thing to do which involves lots of stress.
Adjusting in a new society
Leaving job, friends and family behind
Learning a new language
Finding place to live, jobs, and learn to survive in
what seems like a different world.
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Migration and Challenges
separation from family members
isolation
lack of recreation
cultural barriers
fear of deportation
Migration and Challenges
4
Migration and Challenges (cont.)
Our Mandate
To achieve equality and advancement for
immigrants and newcomer women and their
families of different cultural and linguistically
diverse background. MWONL also assist them
in integration and more participation in the
community and to become contributing members
of Canadian society.
Programs are▪ gender-based
▪ culturally competent
▪ comprehensive
▪ easily accessible
▪ offered by professional staffs and
supported by committed board members
and volunteers.
Our GoalsTo empower the immigrant and newcomer
women and families to participate our gender-
based culturally appropriate support and
programs.
Funding
The MWONL is funded by:
- Women’s Policy Office for our core programs.
- For seniors project from Department of
Children, Seniors and Social Development,
Community Healthy Living Fund
- Small donations, fundraising and sometimes
small project grants are our another source
of funding.
•to provide social support to the immigrant and newcomer women and families in the province
•to identify the needs of women from diverse background and to find solutions to the issues and challenges they are facing
•to increase public awareness on the status of immigrant women in the province and in Canada
•to promote changes where necessary to improve the quality of their lives
MWONL’s Support and Services for
Immigrant’s and Newcomers Women and Families
Programs and Services
Career Development and Employment Support
Health and Wellness Programs
Trans-Cultural Competency & Awareness
(TCCA) Training
Leadership and Skills development
Professional Social Work counseling and
support
Seniors and Youth programs
Programs and Services (cont.)
Volunteer opportunities
Community Partnership
Basic Computer Training
Resource directory (a listing of interpreters)
Newsletter
Transcultural Competency and Awareness (TCCA) Sessions for service providers.
Diversity counselling Transition in Career Development Programs for
newcomers
Client Groups served
The people who received our services were from different counties of origin which included:
- Mexico, Bangladesh, China, Canada, Columbia, Egypt, Liberia, Libya, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Nigeria, Nepal, Philippines, Peru, Sri Lanka and Canada and many more countries.
Media Coverage
The article published in VOCM on March 20, 2016 about the "Get together event for
Syrian newcomer women and their families" on Friday March 11 at MWONL
Office. Zaren Healey White from MUN International Student Advisor kindly wrote and
published this article,
http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=61314&latest=1
"The Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador wants
newcomer women and their families to know that their organization is here to help. The
group recently hosted a get together and socializing event for Syrian newcomer women
and their families at their office at 44 Torbay Road. With the assistance of an Arabic
translator, the organization welcomed newcomers, providing information on the work
they do, links to other community partners, such as the Refugee and Immigrant Advisory
Council and the Association for New Canadians, and provided an opportunity for the
women and their families to meet new people and introduce themselves. There was even
a clown to entertain the kids.The organization's Executive Director Kaberi Sarma-
Debnath says they provide many services, including career development and employment
support, health and wellness programs, violence prevention services, trans-cultural
competency and awareness training, among many others.
The Multicultural Women's Organization is a non-profit organization that provides
gender-based, culturally appropriate services to immigrant and newcomer women and
their families. It is funded through the Women's Policy Office of the provincial
government."
This Cultural Competency and Awareness
Training is designed to share knowledge to
multiple service providers about the unique
needs of minority, underserved immigrant
women and their families.
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Trans-Cultural Competency and Awareness (TCCA)
Learning Objectives
Our aims:
to train service providers to learn the unique needs ofcultural differences.
to assist them to be better equipped to serve immigrantsand diverse populations.
to teach intercultural skills that increase one’sunderstanding and ability to work with people fromdiverse cultural backgrounds.
to help in identifying cultural differences in clients and co-workers and learn its impact
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Trans-Cultural Competency and Awareness (TCCA)
Why it is important
• There is an increasing diversity in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Cultural Competency knowledge helps in - preparing service providers more responsive and
aware to a community made up of diverse cultures.
- raises understanding of cultural diversity and human rights as keys to strong and healthy communities.
- help service provides and the immigrant community to understand more clearly how we interact with each other
•
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Needs of Cultural Awareness
Why is Cultural Competency
Important?
Help service providers
➢ to be more knowledgeable immigrants
cultural practices
➢to reduce communication barriers
Steps to Becoming Culturally Competent
Individuals working with different ethnic and cultural
groups can become more culturally competent by
advancing through three main stages
❖Developing Awareness
❖Acquiring Knowledge
❖Developing and Maintaining Cross-Cultural Skills
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Our Success
- partnerships and networks with different
community organisations in municipal,
provincial and national level
- greater demand and interest to attend our
programs
- drop-in and onsite visit
- health and wellness programs including
cooking, yoga, movie, and outings, leadership
activities
2017 Women of
Distinction
Award:
Women of Distinction
Awards are presented
locally by YWCA’s across
Canada to recognize the
leadership of women who
contribute to the
development and well-
being of other women
and to the overall
improvement of the
community. Women of
Distinction Awards are
recognized across
Canada as one of the
most prestigious awards
for women
Yamuna Kutty, Vice President and Kaberi Sarma-Debnath, Executive Director, MWONL were
nominated for the 2017 Women of Distinction Awards! (36 inspiring women have been
nominated).On February 3rd, 2017 YWCA hosted Nominees' Reception at City Hall in Foran
Room. The Awards Ceremony was held on March 8th at the Bella Vista.
Achievement
Shamila receiving the lifesaving
certificate presented to her by the
St. Johns Ambulance on May 25th,
2017.
Saving A Life
Fathima Shamila Iqbal, President
of the Multicultural Women’s
Organization of NL,
was driving home from work in
February 2015 when she saw an
elderly man fall while shovelling
snow. She rescued the 80-year-old
man by using CPR.
Contact Information
Multicultural Women’s Organization of NL
(MWONL)NUPORT BUILDING, Box # 9
44 Torbay Road, St. John's, NL, A1A 2G4
Tel: 709.726.0321, Fax:709.726.0321
Website: www.mwonl.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWONL.WOW
E-mail: