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W i2 - WM I HI I lilt‘llllUNltiu: 'W‘t'dllt‘stld‘v,\1Ilrllllk‘l It) goon o 6“”; ”NWW‘" 7’ I Wenty years of helpmg women cm”. "â€"1 i g AROUND i By IIiNNIHLR (litMstus .. . ~ f}: 3121;; 's;); l ; 1; } ’-, it. I" } tl‘t‘llllit Williams It it hit hoiiit in t I V “3%9w‘j fliga‘fi‘“ '4 ° \ .r ‘ “ r ‘ ‘ ‘ 3.323%» -': ‘ . i Rtiuyana in 2006 to start a new life in Y I ‘ _ Sgt ' . Make a werqnce by l (.aiiada. 4" . . a. After getting married. ”18erin ’ \ ' - g . VOIunteenng technician “WNW“ U“ midi“?! a 10h ' ' “=2 5, If you are interested in volunteering, but don‘t ‘ here, , 1 know where to start. attend the Volunteer Fair on “NI 5m WU“ di‘i‘UV‘JR’d that WUUId' = it “ i Sept. )3 at Conestoga Mall. to he held from 9:30 \ ii‘t be easy to do. V1.06; T. {”1140 6 pm. So «he‘s turned to Focus for lithHlL‘ , “:er A The Volunteer Action Centre will be there along ( WWW“ Waterloo “924“le an ”WWW" w ~ 3. ' l with more than 40 other not-forvprofit organiza- tion ”I“! 1“” celebrating 3” years "f ”'4'?“ ‘ 3.. x i . , tions offering interesting and rewarding volunteer l assisting immigrant and visible minori- 7 {‘3 32.5 it ’ , opportunities fur “mm, ”mm“, groups and ty women to become involved in (aria - ”4 t a: ‘ ' . ‘ adults. ‘ dill" “Ui'lt‘ly- _ 3“ ‘5' {a} .. \ ‘ For more information call SiHrTlQ-Bhlt) or She enrolled in I“ 5m" Unlimited ‘3‘ ‘ ‘f‘if'if'rf-f t . ‘ ’= _ check out the website at wuwvoluriteerkwca. program. which helps newcomers find . a ’ ”V‘s?“ ' V: ‘ . l yobs. - i; ’ 1' N -‘ l . , And so far she‘s happy With her deci~ ‘ _ .~ Â¥ » ~â€" . \ w I} south ASIan (Eulture wn , ,, , fl 7 r, we '~ 5" comes alive Its a great program, she said. It t. . ‘ f1 . ' helps you if you‘re really "m sure of §i 7 ,3‘.V,...,i§, , . .. ‘ . On Sept. 13, the Kitchener City Hall will play what to do about getting around. I find r . . vii. he . . :- ‘ host to a mix of South Asian colourful dances, this program helps. especially for peoâ€" $2}? " i‘ live music. fashion, food from different regions ple with language problems." ..;”\ " " . § from India and other special activities and semi- She's only one of many women who “’3‘? , .. if - {’3 nars when it hosts MEIA 2008. have been helped throughout the past Q, ‘ y Organized by the Indiaâ€"Canada Association of two decades. 1 ”N." , " " - Waterloo Region and supported by several other The organization got its start by a we», ; ' local South Asian organizations, the festival pro» group of immigrant women who real~ ' " ‘ 5’ Vides an opportunity for VISIIOI’S to gain an appre- ized many newcomers to Canada were Roxanne Williams, Gitanjali Chauhan and Eneja Lukenic are enrolled in Focus for ciation of the diversity and beauty of the South refugees with little education and few Ethnic Women Waterloo Region’s Skills Unlimited program. The organization is cel- Asian culture. skills that could lead to employment, ebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This one-day afiair starts at 10 am, and ends at said Olga George-Cosh, the executive “mm °""“°”"‘°m 6 pm. director of Focus for Ethnic Women. towards economic self-sufficiency. as allow women to fall through the ‘ MEIA 2008 includes colourful dances and live The group put together a funding well as giving them such life skills as cracks,"(;eorge-(‘osh said. i music. food tastings from various local restaurants, proposal to establish this organization how to create a work»life balance and to “We serve anywhere from 370 to 450 a bazaar that includes vendors selling a range of that was accepted, and they were on deal with the demands of their new womena year. and this isa lot." products that include fashions and jewelry, semi- their way. society. To mark its 20th anniversary. a color oars and workshops, and special activities such as 'l‘hey started off offering the Skills The Healthy Lifestyles program. hration will be held on Oct, 1 at St, henna and sari dressing. A children‘s activity area is Unlimited program that, at that time, meanwhile. is delivered through seven George Banquet Hall. This event. which l also part of the event. On stage, the varieties of delivered industrial sewing and Eng- area community groups. including the will also include an annual general performances are sure to entertain the whole famir lishiinrthc~workplace training, among Sunnydale Community Centre in meeting and awards ceremony, is open l ly. \ other things. It has evolved significantly Waterloo where Agnes Das works as its to the public. \ Admission is free for further infoririatioii about over the years and now provides job facilitator. RSVP by Sept. [2 at fiewfi'goldenhet the event, call 5197893~1180, 519-579-2797 or 519- search assistance. This program aims to enhance the or 519â€"746â€"341 1. 746â€"6540. or visit the I()\ website at \nywicawater Skills Unlimited is a llweek pro quality of life for immigrant women "It's incredible,” Georgeâ€"Cosh said loo.com. grain that includes iii-class training and through sharing. discussion groups and about the milestone anniversary. a work placement. celebrating. "We are not a teenager anymore v Lecture at CIGI looks at l But it's not just the program that has But one of the things Das thinks is we’ve stepped into adulthood." . changed ,7 its participants are much most significant is the support system The future will likely include a move } Chmglng the filture different as well. that develops among the women there. from its current location at 33 Bridge- . .. . _ ”'lht' majority oftlie women who are “For me. that's a success right there," port Rd. E. to a larger facility. \ The Signature 149$“! '9 “Fri?“ WI” continue on coming to the Skills Unlimited program she said. “That's really what's important And. George-(Josh hopes to provide 59f"- 15 $th (entre fl“ International (lover are professionals, highly educated and because they live in the. same commu~ new programs. including servtces for E nance Innovation. . ‘ ' iiist new to (lanada and they need to nity. and if they can reach out to each younger immigrant women between g ‘lhomas ”“IUN‘DIWW ”(if Chit” WI“ (““11“ learn the knowhow of looking for work other then that would certainly break the ages of I4 and IQ. l (,risis‘and Resilience: Why ”‘1‘ future WWI-I B“ in this new society." (reorget )osh said. the isolation." “We would like to help them make M‘W‘lnfl “k9 m“ Past 11““ What W" ( an H“ “Ml” ltI( us for Lthnic Women offers The not~for~profit organization also their integration into the Canadian It, much more than Skills Unlimited provides career counselling and biisi/ society faster.” (leorge-(kish said. “W “WI“ l5 “"‘Wmmfi‘fl I“? the U”“"“"”Y “l though, ness clothing for women looking for “So. definitely. we have plans, and Waterloo faculty "rims and ”(ii ‘ Its Investing in Women‘s I-titurr‘ pro iohs. I‘m sure we will accomplish them one II “II“ from 7 pm. I“ 9 IN“- I“ (.l( d“ atrium. gram assists newcomers in movmg “So what we try very hard is not to hyone,” P , , l 2" endoftherollcom A" ‘ CANAAD'S i . ~ 5‘ ' ’ a: i ' it ' EndwR 0 II t a, .’ ‘ . , . a FLOORING LEADER , ,_ Kitchener , ‘~ .. 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