SAWIS to attend the 26th Metropolis Canada Conference in Montreal



SAWIS will be attending the 26th Metropolis conference, hosted in Montreal, QB. This conference is a space for interaction, dialogue, and learning among settlement service providers, practitioners, policy makers, researchers and civil society on topics related to migration, integration and inclusion.

SAWIS will be co-presenting with UofT and McMaster to discuss reflections and implications from community-engaged research with Bangladeshi migrants who receive services from South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services (SAWIS). The roundtable aims to discuss structural inequities resulting from migration, labor market discrimination, and gender-based violence, including insights on how SAWIS’s holistic approach to mutual aid, direct service, and advocacy seeks to foster social change for racialized immigrant women in Toronto’s East Danforth neighborhoods.



SAWIS Report back on community discussions about genocide in Palestine

Since October 7, 2023, more than 11,100 lives (and counting) have been lost in Palestine. We send our deepest condolences to all those living who lost their loved ones, and express our concern for the safety and security for everyone living in Palestine and surrounding areas.

SAWIS has been in conversation with community members living in the East-Danforth areas of Toronto where discussions about the genocide are taking place among Bangladeshi and South Asian immigrant women and girls. We foster and encourage a safe and inclusive environment for immigrant women and girls to participate in civic and political discussions. This is made possible due to our close connection and trust built with the community through day-to-day service, civic engagement, and public education activities. 

Conversations began with the fact that Israel was investigated and declared as an apartheid state (See Amnesty, 2022 and United Nations, 2022). It is also recognized that the current Israeli government is carrying out a genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza. This is made evident by the mass expulsion and displacement, destruction of civilian health and other infrastructure and institutions, and blatant disregard of human life resulting in the record-number of deaths and severe injuries. These actions, per the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Section 8, constitute war crimes. 

Our conversations not only examined the events unfolding, but also the responses of the Canadian government, political parties, media and other institutions representing civil society. 

As a society that expresses its commitment to advance gender equity, anti-racist initiatives, human rights, and reconciliation, our community is disheartened and concerned with Canada’s response. The inability to firmly stand against genocide and call for a ceasefire continues to creating a deadly situation for Palestinians and those living in the surrounding areas, especially for children, women, elderly, and people with disabilities who are much more vulnerable. Community women reflected on their lived experiences and highlighted the direct correlation between compliance with war, conflict and oppression abroad with discrimination experienced in Canada. They expressed concerns about the safety and wellbeing of ethnic and religious communities in Canada who are at risk of Islamophobic, anti-Arab, anti-Black, and anti-Semitic hate crimes and systemic discrimination. We caution that this is a very real outcome, especially as we see a general rise in anti-immigrant sentiments, much of which has been fostered in our society over the last few years. 

Community women also expressed their frustration about the lack of sincere engagement with the general public, especially with those who are affected by these discourses and decisions. They are not only frustrated with the disinformation and lack of critical discussions about the context of the genocide, but also with the discussions by decision-makers that does not reflect the values and needs of the general public. Our society has seen an increase in pro-war discussions and decision-making taking place in the midst of an affordability crisis. Community women strongly challenged the use of public funds, which many communities like ours are being denied access to through cuts to social programs and safety nets, for causes that the general public do not agree and/or consent to. 

While community women are ‘let down’ by the institutions that are supposed to represent them, they are not demoralized. We commend and support efforts made by communities across Toronto and Canada in organizing and participating in local, national, and international actions against genocide. We are proud to witness the unwavering strength and solidarity among the general population on this issue, including collectives representing a wide range of ethnic/religious groups (Arab, Jewish, Muslims, Indigenous, Black, etc.), occupations (students, trades union, teachers, healthcare, non-unionized and precarious workers, etc.), and gender oppressed and diverse communities. The values and needs of the general population are being represented through their efforts.  

Governments, policy makers, and public institutions have the duty to reflect the demands and values of the people. Community women urge elected officials and decision makers to take up the calls for  an immediate ceasefire, immediate relief, and safety and aid for Palestinians, and safety for all who are currently in Gaza regardless of their ethnicity and religion. 

Community women also urge the government to:

  1. Adopt a proactive anti-war stance as an integral aspect to foreign relations and policy discussions and decision making
  2. Incorporate anti-war perspectives as an essential part of Canada’s gender-equity, anti-racist, and humanitarian initiatives, both domestically and internationally
  3. Incorporate into regular democratic practices a process for genuine and sincere conversations with the general public and affected communities to ensure informed consent of Canada’s involvement in international struggles and conflict
  4. Prioritize the use of public funds to address the affordability crisis and meet the general population’s needs for social programs and safety nets

For those interested in supporting calls for ceasefire, please sign the petition below.

Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/ErrorPage/Default.aspx?Url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ourcommons.ca%2fpetitions%2fen%2fPetition%2fSign%2fe-4649&StatusCode=404

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m-2rjnwv9ofchsbobAFOqjU57lbMVvdI/view?usp=sharing

SAWIS Annual General Meeting 2023

***AGM 2023 LOCATION AND TIME UPDATED***

Dear Members:

SAWIS will be hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 2 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.

Click the flyer and link below for more information and agenda.

AGENDA for AGM 

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

SAWIS Search and Elections Committee

416-686-0701

sawro.office@gmail.com

Community Event – Activating and mobilizing community women to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Attn All Community Members:

SAWIS has been organizing focus groups, workshops, and service activities to address GBV in the community since 2008. Our experiences especially during the COVID-19 pandemic reveal the need to highlight community women’s voices to develop equitable and intersectional policies, programs, and services to meet our needs.

SAWIS is hosting an event on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 7PM to 9PM at 9 Dawes Rd to share community experiences and perspectives with activists, advocacy and other organizations.

SAWIS Admin

SEARCHING FOR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS!

Dear Community Members,

SAWIS is a community-based and women-led organization that is also a non-profit charity. We are operated by community women to serve our community. 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.

We are looking for qualified and dedicated individuals who will be services as Directors for our Board, Officers, and members for special committees! Eligible candidates approved by the Search and Election committee will be invited to the AGM to be elected/nominated by our Membership.

If you are interested, please contact SAWRO. Instructions for expressing your interest for these positions are below:

  1. IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A DIRECTOR POSITION: Email the Search and Election Committee by Sunday, August 20, 2023 with the subject line APPLICATION- DIRECTOR expressing your interest to apply as a Director. Your email must include: Your name and contact information, overview of your involvement with SAWIS/interest in becoming involved with SAWIS, and brief summary of your qualifications. Successful candidates will recieve an application that must be completed and sent back by Sunday, August 27, 2023.
  2. IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AN OFFICER POSITION: Email the Search and Election Committee by Sunday, August 20, 2023 with the subject line APPLICATION- OFFICER expressing your interest to apply as a Director. Your email must include: Your name and contact information, overview of your involvement with SAWIS/interest in becoming involved with SAWIS, and brief summary of your qualifications. Successful candidates will recieve an application that must be completed and sent back by Sunday, August 27, 2023.
  3. IF YOU ARE APPLYING AS A MEMBER OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE (ADVISORY AND SEARCH AND ELECTION): Email the Search and Election Committee by Sunday, August 20, 2023 with the subject line APPLICATION- SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEMBER expressing your interest to apply as a Director. Your email must include: Your name and contact information, overview of your involvement with SAWIS/interest in becoming involved with SAWIS, and brief summary of your qualifications. Successful candidates will recieve an application that must be completed and sent back by Sunday, August 27, 2023.

For more information, please contact SAWRO.

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

2023 Mother’s Day Celebration

Hello All!

Community women and girls invite you to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 27th, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at AccessPoint on Danforth to honor all mothers. The event themes will be strengthening the mother-daughter bond and empowering our women and girls to defend the rights of themselves, their families and the rights of all.
The celebration will feature songs, drama, dance, and storytelling reflecting the lives of our mothers in Canada and of our mothers back home. Community women and girls will also make presentations and lead discussion to explore challenges immigrant mothers face in ensuring the wellbeing and a bright future for their families in Canadian society, Refreshments will be served.

We hope to see you there!

SAWRO Admin

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

WE ARE HIRING SUMMER STUDENTS!

Attn All Community Youth:

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

This year we are looking to hire five students for the following positions: Youth Coordinator, IT Consultant, Health Outreach Worker, Financial Clerk and Administrative Assistant.

Eligible CSJ applicants include those who are between ages 15 to 30 years at the beginning of the employment period, have valid SIN and those who are either Canadian citizens, permanent residents or whose refugee protection has been confirmed. International students, youth awaiting refugee status and those with 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 are eligible and interested, please follow the instructions on How to Apply on the first page. Application deadline is Friday, May 26, 2023 @ 12:00 PM.

Regards,

SAWIS 

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

Financial Empowerment Series Launch & Tax Information Session

Dear Community Members,

SAWIS is launching a community financial empowerment workshop series on Wed, Mar 15, 2023 from 6 PM to 8 PM via Zoom and Facebook live. The series will focus on providing information to low-income and newcomer families to improve their overall financial well-being. We will also be hosting an online tax information session for newcomer families. The online session will be delivered in Bangla and English.

Join us by visiting the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianWomensRightsOrganization/

To participate or call in during the session:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83194672182

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

International Women’s Day Event 2023

Dear Community Members,

SAWIS is hosting a community forum on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Sunday March 19, 2023 from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM at the Oakridge Community Center (63 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough ON, M1L 4S9).

We invite you to participate in a community-wide discussion to address the inequities that create barriers for immigrant women and girls full inclusion in Canadian society by creating awareness and strengthening community voices. We are inviting community members, equity-seeking groups, and policy stakeholders to directly hear from community women leaders.

Light refreshments will be provided to attendees. For more information, please see the attached flyer.

Regards,

SAWIS/SAWRO Office

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

WE ARE HIRING!

Dear community members,

Our organization is looking for 2 full-time Employment Job Coach & Client Service Assistant (position title). Please see the details below about the job requirements, responsibilities, and details to apply. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.