Newcomer Women's Services Toronto’s Post

Economic mobility is crucial to independence. Often, women of foreign backgrounds are most greatly impacted by changes in circumstances, geography and other factors. Women, particularly immigrant women, are more susceptible to socioeconomic changes no matter their skills, education or experience. This is driven in part by how they are valued at work, often having reduced opportunities. This is why I was a board member of EmpowHer Institute and continue to support their initiatives when I can. This is why I pay attention to what Sloane Davidson does at Hello Neighbor. This is why I founded the non-profit WomenTechIceland. This is why I inform myself about the platforms and proposals of local, state and federal politicians/parties. This is also why I have spoken openly about my own experiences, and those of other immigrant woman over my 13 years in Iceland. A woman’s economic power makes or breaks her financial independence and self-sufficiency, her safety and health.

I confess that the challenges facing our senior population can feel overwhelming. There's a mountain of work to climb, and progress often seems slow. While government initiatives move in the right direction, we need a community-wide effort to truly make a difference. Your businesses, ideas, and opportunities can play a vital role in enriching the lives of our seniors. Let's challenge ageist stereotypes and recognize the immense value they bring to our society. By integrating seniors into your world, we can create a community where everyone ages with dignity and respect. How can we work together to build a better future for our seniors? Share your thoughts and ideas below, or better yet, reach out to us to connect with our seniors and explore how we can collaborate to create a more age-friendly community. #seniors #agingpopulation #ageism #communitysupport #socialimpact #inclusivity #diversity Image taken from https://lnkd.in/gGRBVJB8

More than one in three immigrant women hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, yet they are more likely to occupy low-wage jobs outside their fields of expertise and live in poverty compared to their U.S.-born counterparts! Women immigrants face unique roadblocks to professional advancement — such as lack of affordable childcare, occupational segregation, and rigid gender roles — which is why Upwardly Global is committed to supporting this community through our Women’s Economic Power (WEP) initiative. Check out our WEP website to dive deep into our strategies, learn about our impact, and explore compelling videos, stories, and data that shed light on this invisible issue. https://lnkd.in/e6mPqdAU

Across the globe, care work is an essential driver of society: it sustains communities and economies; provides care for children, sick and elderly people, and those living with disabilities; and sustains households and families. Care work is often viewed as a natural extension of women’s role, resulting in an unequal balance of care work assumed. Such disparity limits their opportunities to participate in decently paid employment, education, leisure and political life. Excessive responsibility and unequal constraints perpetuate cycles of poverty for women and girls, preventing them from being part of solutions. In partnership with the Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, national governments, UN Women, FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network and national women’s rights organizations (WRO), Farm Radio International worked with 16 radio stations to create 48 original episodes of radio programming, complete with mobile phone-based listener polling. We conducted a poll that gathered insights and perspectives on unpaid care work in homes from thousands of adult women, men and youth, aiming to capture a diverse range of viewpoints and experiences. We sought to gain insight into their understanding of unpaid care work, explore the social norms surrounding it and understand the necessary steps for effecting change. You can see the results of the poll in the attached pdf.

For many women, safe and secure housing is the key to unlocking a world of opportunity. It allows them to: 💚Focus on their families' well-being: A stable home provides a safe haven for children and a space for families to flourish. 💚Pursue education and career goals: By removing the burden of housing insecurity, women can invest in their personal and professional development. 💚Contribute to their communities: Empowered women become active participants in the economic and social fabric of their communities. This #InternationalWomenDay, we celebrate the resilience and determination of the women we serve. We also recognize the incredible impact that your support has in making their dreams a reality. Together, let's continue to build a future where every woman has the chance to reach her full potential. #IWD #HomesofHope #WomenEmpowerment #AffordableHousing

As a gender equal and positive change organisation,  We really wish to see the image of people working at home and for home - comes up as a couple or  the women doing it - are doing it out of choice and not a cultural compulsion or moral obligation that is being rubbed on them That way home feels like a long journey .. We still live in a place where we think the bigger and the taller the visibility statue is  The greater the person is It may be interesting to note that we have not read of any women statues being recently built or planned in that mammoth style What home makers and house professionals do is to a large extent also rendered as “Invisible Work” Being practitioners of providing safe water to underserved  Women become our end users and it is our job to bring those voices and their concerns to the forefront  and see how we can solve for them >>> Post Naandi Intervention - We have reduced drudgery of women, now 40% more men go and get the water cans from the safe water station >>> We have freed time of adolescent girls - who are otherwise forced to drop school to help in domestic work >>> Carrying water overhead in improper cans doesn’t just cause back pains, leg pains and bring up frozen feet, it actually hurts a lot in the very delicate neck area. We try to reduce this by providing water leak-proof cans >>> For elderly living in villages and left behind families (families where men and young boys migrate), we have reduced the water fetching stress by providing 100% safe water, 24 by 7 with less than 0.1% shutdown //Just the fact that a family is separated and living in two places already brings a sense of more vigilance and caution to these women// >>> We have reduced cooking times - because come what may, even if the pressure cooker gives you 4/5 whistles - sometimes Dal doesn’t come soft when boiled in bad/ high TDS water >>> We encourage women as our Water Centre assistants, since job opportunities for people who do not want to leave the village boundaries are very limited >>> If the health of the family is of utmost importance to the care takers, we have eliminated one risk of bad water is the most assured way So the next time - you read about a safe water intervention  Please bear in mind that in many ways a water project is a gender benefitting project too To read more about adolescent girls dropping off from schools - https://lnkd.in/gjj_Y6sg To know about why door delivery of safe water is equally important in rural areas  https://lnkd.in/gjj_Y6sg The challenges of cooking with bad water in the words of beneficiaries  https://lnkd.in/ggTytUWU No matter how small the support, If you choose, you can amplify the voices of those people doing the very important - yet invisible work ✊ 👍 #womenandwater #SDG6 #safewaterforall 

In today's rapidly evolving world, the challenges we face are vast and interconnected, impacting every corner of our globe. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we come together to advocate for and address the pressing issues that are shaping the lives of millions. Every child deserves a #safe, healthy, and nurturing environment to grow up in. Yet, many children globally are still vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and neglect. It is our duty to champion their rights, ensuring access to #education, #healthcare, and #opportunities for a brighter future. Gender disparities continue to exist in every aspect of life, from education to employment, to representation. To build a truly equitable society, we must challenge the norms that perpetuate inequality and work towards creating systems that empower all genders equally. #Urbanization has led to the rise of informal settlements where millions live in conditions that lack basic amenities like clean water, #sanitation, and adequate housing. Sustainable development in these areas is not just about infrastructure but also about empowering communities to take charge of their futures. We must advocate for inclusive #policies that uplift slum residents, providing them with the tools and resources to improve their living conditions. Our cities are hubs of innovation and progress, and the youth are at the forefront of driving change. From climate action to social justice, youth-led initiatives are shaping the urban landscape in transformative ways. Supporting these initiatives is crucial to ensuring that the voices of young people are not only heard but are instrumental in decision-making processes that affect their futures. At the heart of these issues lies a common thread: the need for #sustainable and inclusive development. It is our collective responsibility to champion these causes, ensuring that no one is left behind. By working together, we can build a world where every child, woman, man, and community has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s join hands and advocate for a better, more equitable future for all. #YouthAndUrbanism #Advocacy #SustainableDevelopment #GenderEquality #ChildRights #YouthEmpowerment #UrbanDevelopment

If any outsider has trouble understanding with the fuss in Kenya, here this is it. To add might water down the message. However, because she captures more on governance space it's easy to think, "oh no, our organization has created spaces for the young. Definitely that's not us" But it is you and you. 1.When you list an entry position that has mandatory 10+ years continuous experience in the field, what exactly do you mean? 2. when you have roles that will be youth friendly such as facilitation, AI like I just saw Bill and Melinda Gates want but still have a tone of other expectations, what are you saying to the youth? 3.When your work culture, programs etc are stuck in years and years ago and aren't reflective of the present or the future dynamics, what exactly do you expect? old skins to store new wine? Demystifying "youths don't have what it takes" 1. It's not the quantity of years of experience that should matter but rather the quality of the experience. I can be 25 with 15 years experience. I'll be happy to explain further how... 2.Part of onboarding should be to have additional training to your new staff. 3. Youths read, they're daily engaged in making themselves better. They've brilliant minds. Use it! Government officials/leaders thought that this is a generation that doesn't read and so the bill will pass as it has been in the past. No! They read and they came up with interesting modes to disseminate information (which is a skill you as the employer should want in your organization). It's a generation that doesn't just watch videos on tik tok as people assume but self teaches and learns in the university of YouTube. I learnt a lot of QGIS, spss, Advanced Excel there. 3.They are unruly, and need to be tamed? No I don't think they are. Do you know what actually is the problem? You see that 'desirable' point you have on wanting an adaptive person in your calls and adverts? The youth want you to lead by example by being adaptive to the current demographics. The government is in a quagmire because it's using old skins to store new wine. As an organization you need new set of skills in dealing with what is about to make up by more than 50% of your employees. Otherwise your HR will continue dealing with high turn over rates and attribute it to the "restlessness" of the millenials and genz. In fact, if you don't have a representative from those groups as part of your key decision makers, you have a blind spot in leadership. Obviously, they have to be qualified too. Things are changing, and governments, institutions and organizations have to adapt or they risk remaining behind.

🌟 Happy International Women's Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the resilience and invaluable contributions of women around the world. As we honour this day, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible women in the helping professions. Your dedication to supporting others is truly commendable, yet I understand firsthand the challenges you face in supporting yourself and prioritising self-care. Several factors contribute to our inclination towards helping and caregiving roles, and that can make it difficult to seek and receive help ourselves. Socialisation: From a young age, many of us are socialised to prioritise the needs of others and derive satisfaction from helping. This social conditioning can shape our identity. Cultural Expectations: Cultural norms and values often emphasise the importance of compassion, empathy, and communal support. In many cultures, caregiving roles are highly esteemed, leading individuals to aspire to fulfil these roles. Personal Experiences: Our own life experiences, such as receiving care and support during challenging times or witnessing acts of kindness, can influence our desire to pay it forward and support others in similar ways. Intrinsic Rewards: Helping others can elicit feelings of fulfilment, satisfaction, and purpose. These intrinsic rewards motivate us to engage in prosocial behaviour and contribute to the well-being of others. Professional Calling: For those in helping professions, such as healthcare and education, a sense of calling or vocation may drive their desire to care for others. They may feel a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment in providing support and assistance to those in need. We give help, we don't ask for it. On this International Women's Day, let's reflect on why it can be so difficult to prioritise our own well-being as a helping professional and explore ways to overcome these challenges together. By nurturing ourselves, we not only enhance our own resilience but also empower ourselves to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. I'm pleased to share a glimpse into a recent Professional Development Team Day I crafted for Darebin City Council's Children and Community Development Unit. The workshop focused on compassion satisfaction and fatigue, providing practical tools and insights to support attendees in their practice and promote holistic well-being within their community. Here's to celebrating the strength, resilience, and continuous growth of women everywhere. Together, let's navigate the journey of self-care and compassion satisfaction! 💖 #InternationalWomensDay #CompassionFatigue #compassionateleadership #SelfCare #earlychildhoodeducation

This photo has been making rounds on social media since yesterday, and each time I come across it, it elicits the same feeling in me: the reality that inter-generational spaces remain more of a buzzword than a practice. This image starkly illustrates everything wrong with the “system,” not just in Kenya, but across Africa and the world at large. In the photo, no one is under 45, there are no women, no youth, and no Persons with Disabilities. It’s the same old political landscape, dominated by entrenched patriarchal systems. Diversity and inclusion are “fancy” words that every leader or legislator loves to use, but rarely put into action. The decision-makers would rather cling to their exclusive circles, making decisions for citizens—who are largely young people—and then assert that they know best because of their long-standing presence in the field. The statistics are stark: Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with 60% of its population being young people. Yet, this demographic is glaringly absent from key decision-making arenas. Women, who make up half of the population, are also grossly underrepresented, with only 24% of parliamentary seats across the continent held by women. Persons with Disabilities, who constitute about 15% of the global population, are even less visible in these spaces. With such exclusion persisting, the change we aspire to will remain elusive. Inclusivity and diversity should be more practical than theoretical. We need to be intentional about creating spaces where young people, women, children, older adults, and Persons with Disabilities are included in discussions surrounding policy, politics, development, etc cetera. The landscape must change. We must demand and work towards a system where all voices are heard and represented. Only then can we hope to achieve the progress and equity we seek.