Our mission
Strong women build strong communities.
Our story
Our name is Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto. The NEW in our name reflects our mission, which is to empower newcomer women and their families in building a life in Canada. We’ve been doing this since 1983 when a group of Latin American refugees founded the non-profit agency. In December 2019 we were awarded an international Peace Award for serving immigrants and newcomers.
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
We offer women-only English classes, we help people find work and we help them settle into their new home.
But we’re more than a school, employment or settlement agency. What makes us unique is the holistic approach that the NEW team—most of whom have lived experience as newcomers—has created to empower immigrant women in five critical areas.
1. CULTURAL INTEGRATION
In addition to learning English, the students study Canadian culture and identity. They also explore how to redefine themselves in this new context.
“We learned how to open a bank account, how to speak to our doctors and explain our problems to them. We learned about Canada; its laws, geography, history, culture, food and everything else that one needs to know about their country. We got to know about the Indigenous people."
A NEWCOMER ENGLISH STUDENT
2. ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
Our clients acquire the necessary skills—language as well as employment-related—to assist them in entering the job market and achieving financial independence.
“I landed my first job in Canada with their help. Newcomer Women’s Services—its teachers and staff—are the reason for my success in my new life.”
An English Student and Employment team client
3. SOCIAL INTEGRATION
Our clients establish social and personal networks.
“Like the North Star she [Settlement Program Manager, Natasa Boskovic] shed light on the path I needed to take and slowly but steadily and consistently, she helped me navigate through the daunting, unknowns of transition and change in a foreign land. Without any friends or family in Canada and with four kids, I found solace in her sincere, honest and practical resilience."
A Settlement Program Client
4. POLITICAL INTEGRATION
Our clients understand human rights—especially women’s rights in Canada. And they understand their role as citizens as well as the importance of voting and civic participation.
“My life was in danger back home… I worked with a non-profit organization, that focused on women empowerment, leadership & governance, education, and capacity building. Therefore, I wanted to be part of women's leadership in Canada. I believe women's issues are very similar all over the world.”
A Sister2Sister graduate
5. ADVOCACY
Our clients are coached and encouraged to stand up for themselves; to find their voice and to advocate for themselves and their families.
“[As a result of the Sister2Sister Program]I have learned that I am still a powerful woman, and my story has positively touched and given hope to many women. I still have room for growth and much more to learn as I continue on this journey of being a leader. My life is changing positively in that it has given me hope and energy to continue being a leader to other women within my community here.”
A sister2-sister graduate
Our Impact
15+ thousand
Since Newcomer Women’s Services opened in 1983, the employment team has worked with 15+ thousand clients to help them find meaningful work. Last year, the team worked with 1,650+ clients helping them land work, or receive information, coaching and training either 1:1 or at job fairs, webinars or in the computer lab.
4,900 hours of English Instruction
Our women-only English classes have an attendance rate of 80%. Last year there were TK women enrolled in the program and TK children attended the on-site childminding program.
2,600+
Last year the Settlement team handled 602 assessments, provided 1:1 settlement counselling to 230 clients and ran 72 workshops that were attended by 1,042 people. They connected an additional 683 newcomers to community supports from how to find a doctor to how to enroll their children in school.
Our Programs
Women-only English classes
Our English Language school was the first in Canada to embrace a Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) teaching and assessment model designed to enhance nationwide consistency and standards of quality in English as a Second Language (ESL). PBLA is grounded in recognized best practices in language instruction and assessment for adults. We were also one of the first to offer a women-only class for seniors 55+.
“The English classes helped me to get a job and helped me to meet new people. I can communicate now without needing interpreters or translators.”
English Student
"The senior's class is a perfect example of lifelong learning and its benefits.”
English Teacher, Dhurata Sinani
The English students attending the Newcomer Women's Services classes in Toronto gathered to create signs for the International Women's Day March.
Our Programs
Sister2Sister
Last year we launched Sister2Sister an immigrant women’s leadership program to empower women to advance in their workplaces and in society by giving them knowledge, tools, mentors, and coaching to enact societal change.
“Sometimes settling down as an immigrant can be a long and complicated process. Any immigrant needs a package of tools, strategies and skills to settle into a new society fully. The S2S program gave me those tools and strategies to help smooth my path. Without any exaggeration, this program can be life-changing, especially for newcomers who want to have a more productive life.”
Leila, Sister2Sister graduate
Meet four Sister2Sister graduates and discover how the program changed their lives.
Photovoice Project
The Sister2Sister leadership program takes a holistic approach to ensure that newcomer women learn, grow and develop their skills and network. One of the unique activities was the PhotoVoice project. The “sisters” were asked to write an essay inspired by a photograph that captured a story, emotion or idea that was important to them.
Seeing Eye to Eye
Alicia Sanchez has the rare ability to look into someone’s eyes for a long time without blinking first. The 16-year-old self-taught portrait artist specializes in drawing eyes. Alicia shared her talents with the Sister2Sister program by illustrating the sisters’ eyes. The sisters were asked to share how they felt before and after the program and the resulting slides were used on social media to promote the program.
Our Programs
Employment programs
The Employment team provides 1:1 support to job seekers to help them secure real jobs. They offer 1:1 career coaching, resume makeovers and mock interviews as well as organize job fairs, workshops and training programs like the Food Handler Certificate and CPR Certificate. During COVID-19 they continued to offer virtual 1:1 support as well as a week-long job-related webinar series that generated 104 registrations and a 69% attendance.
