SAWRO

Dear Community Members,

Happy Holidays! We hope that you all have a safe and healthy holiday with family and friends.

Due to the holidays, SAWIS will be operating in a reduced capacity. Please see the calendar attached to find our holiday office hours. SAWIS will resume regular schedule and programming on Friday, January 2, 2026.

We appreciate your understanding during this time and wish you a happy and safe holiday season.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-686-0701, or sawro.office@gmail.com. Thank you.

Warm regards,

SAWRO Office

Immigrant women are raising their voices and calling for change!

This Gender Equality Week, we stand together to demand policies that put equity, dignity, and justice at the center — for all women, no matter their immigration status.

Across our communities, immigrant women face barriers to healthcare, housing, decent work, and fair immigration policies. But we also know that when women come together, we have the power to transform systems that hold us back.

Please see our posters outlining our demands attached — these reflect the real priorities immigrant women are fighting for.

We are inviting our community, allies, and supporters to join us in amplifying these voices and pushing for real change. Gender equality is not complete until it includes immigrant women, and together we can build a Canada where every woman and their family can live with security, justice, and respect.

Let’s stand in solidarity this Gender Equality Week — because equality for some is not enough. Equality must be for all.

Attn All:

The South Asian Women’s Rights Organization (SAWRO) / South Asian Women’s Information Services (SAWIS) is thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for Board of Directors, Officers, Advisory Committee, and Search and Elections Committees members for the 2025-2026 term!

We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals who are committed to advancing the rights and well-being of South Asian women and communities. As a member of our governance, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of our organization and supporting our mission to create a meaningful impact.

How to Apply: Please find the application link at https://forms.gle/NFNoTbm9N8hy6BS66 by Friday, September 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM. 

To learn more about the role and responsibilities, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Regards, 

Search and Elections Committee (2024-25)

Attn All Community Youth:

Every year, the South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services (SAWIS) hires students through the Canada Summer Jobs initiative funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

This year, we are looking to hire four students for the following positions: Youth Development Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and two Office Assistants, as well as an Education Outreach Worker. Eligible CSJ applicants include those between the ages of 15 and 30 at the start of the employment period, have a valid SIN, and are either Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees with confirmed protection. International students, youth awaiting refugee status, and those with a temporary visitor, youth, or work visa are ineligible.

To learn more about these positions, please visit the Government of Canada Job Bank Website or see the document attached below.

If you’re interested, please follow the instructions on ‘How to Apply’ on the first page. The application deadline is Monday, June 02, 2025, @ 12:00 PM.

Regards,

SAWIS

416-686-0701
sawro.office@gmail.com

Dear community members,

Alongside our daily service activities, we support the full participation of community immigrant women and their families in Canadian civic and political life. This includes carrying out initiatives to increase community member’s knowledge about Canadian civic and political life, as well as accessing opportunities to participate in decision-making processes.

As a non-profit, charitable, community-based, and women-led organization, SAWIS does not participate in any activities to support, endorse, or solicit on behalf of any candidates or members of any political parties. As we approach election periods, our work is to educate community members through workshops and forums to support the informed decision-making of community members when participating in any civic and political processes.

We appreciate the diversity of our community’s thoughts, beliefs, and values. However, we received complaints/concerns from community members about the use of misleading and concerning recruitment practices. If you or someone you know has been approached for recruitment through these practices, please contact SAWIS immediately so that we can assist you in addressing these issues.

We encourage community members to make informed decisions before endorsing political party members or candidates. Making an informed decision means being fully aware of the member or candidate’s beliefs and values on key issues (such as employment rights, housing, healthcare, immigration, etc.) and that they align with your own beliefs and values.

Some important tips to help you make an informed decision include:

1. Ask questions! Until you are sure about what a member or candidate stands for, it is unwise to support or endorse them. Ask them about issues that concern you based on your lived experiences, or ask them questions about key issues such as housing, healthcare access, immigration, employment, etc.
2. Research! A member/candidate will always represent their affiliated party. If you are unsure about their policies, check out their affiliated party’s website to learn about their stances on key issues.
3. Take your time! You are not expected to commit immediately, and anyone who is pressuring you to sign up for a membership is usually going against their party recruitment processes. If you feel pressured, decline the offer so that you can take time to consider your options.

Lastly, it is important to know about the membership process for any political party if you wish to be a member. If you wish to be a paid member of any political party, please check their website! Membership fees are not usually reimbursed by other members of the political party or any candidate.

We believe everyone has the right to make an informed decision. We are against any form of coercion, including false financial incentives, used to recruit members of our community, many of whom are struggling in Canada with limited resources while facing multiple systemic exclusions.

For more information, please feel free to reach out to us!

Best,

SAWIS Admin
sawro.office@gmail.com
416-686-0701

Attn All:

The South Asian Women’s Rights Organization (SAWRO) / South Asian Women’s Information Services (SAWIS) is thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for our Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term!

We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals who are committed to advancing the rights and well-being of South Asian women and communities. As a member of our Board, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of our organization and supporting our mission to create meaningful impact.

How to Apply: To express your interest or to learn more about the role and responsibilities, please email us at sawro.office@gmail.com by Friday, September 6, 2024 @ 12:00 PM. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

SAWRO Search and Elections Committee

Dear Members:

SAWIS will be hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 1 PM to 4 PM, at the Oakridge Community Center, 63 Pharmacy Ave. Every year, our members select and decide our team of officers and board members through a member voting process. We believe in accountability and transparent leadership and request our members to participate in the process during our AGM.

To be an eligible voter, you must have been involved with SAWIS for more than 6 months. To check you eligibility as a voter and if you are interested in voting, please contact us and speak to our Search and Elections Committee.

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

SAWIS Search and Elections Committee

416-686-0701

sawro.office@gmail.com