MARCH UPDATES:
Welcome to our March's newsletter ! Many events were taking place this month, so stay tuned as we update you on our projects, activities and celebrations.
Pour la version française, cliquez sur ce lien : https://bit.ly/3cqkaQp
Nowruz 1400 On the occasion of the Persian New Year, the AWCM is hosting a festive online event on March 27, from 3PM to 5PM. Featuring music, poetry, games and cultural performances. This celebration of the beginning of spring, is a collaboration of the Afghan, Iranian, Azerbaijani & Turkish communities. It is a great symbol of the sense of belonging provided despite the pandemic. The event prepared by and for the community will showcase the talents of our members. Offered in English, French and Farsi, we invite everyone interested in exploring the rich culture and festivities of this annual event to come and join us ! Here is what awaits you :
Click on the Zoom link to attend our event : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88029428995
or use this meeting ID : 880 2942 8995.
AWCM's International Women's Day Event On the International Women’s Day, we were honoured to have with us an impressive panel of accomplished women and men. This year’s campaign #choosetochallenge encouraged us to question ourselves first, to challenge our own biases, what we know to be fact or true, but also to speak up, to act, to show up for others. Unfortunately the pandemic has brought the global community to its knees and women are at the core of it. It has increased the already persistent gender inequality. For change to occur, we need to challenge ourselves and others in our everyday life, not just on March 8. We want to thank our guest speakers who joined us for this special event, Sayed Mujtaba Ahmadi, Jennifer Maccarone, Tamarack Verrall and Homa Hoodfar. As well as our members, Jamila, Homariah and Morokh for their moving poems, last but not least our amazing performers Wasima Fazeli who brought light to this event. This well attended event would not have been such a success without all of our speakers !
Online Yoga Class ! Being at home, apart or not, moving is essential ! That is why, after each Thursday's english class, we offered our members to join a short and sweet chair yoga practice. These simple exercises help us refocus on ourselves while activating our body. We’re delighted to see that this class has become integral to our services, and it became a regular training to our members’ routine.
Feminist Recovery Summit The AWCM team had the pleasure to participate in the Canada's Feminist Response & Recovery Summit 2021 on March 8th & 9th with special guests, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef. Hearing experts and community leaders with lived experience conjointly examine the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable women was eye opening. Unfortunately, we realized that many community organizations working with women do face the same issues. However we are delighted to see that the floor was given for our voices to be heard, for feminists to come together and lift each other up, in order to take into consideration the lives of the women we serve and to better design the path forward towards a gender-equal society.
Centering Women Negotiating Peace in Afghanistan On March 10, we had the chance to be invited to the round table organised by the Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism and Women Living Under Muslin Laws. This online event addressed the role that women should be given in the peace negotiation in Afghanistan. The situation in the country is getting unstable as the days are passing since the Talibans are getting more and more powerful. However If Afghanistan remains in the hands of this terrorist group, women and minorities will be under a significant danger and will keep on living in fear. This event was a call for action for women and allies to sign petitions, write letters and keep being active as long as human rights are being violated.
Montreal Health Updates
The relaxation of the confinement measures are still going on. As the vaccine is being administered to more and more vulnerable people, Prime Minister Legault announced that the curfew will be pushed back to 9:30pm in Montreal, and that businesses will remain open up to 9pm. Mr Legault also mentioned that theatres and performance venues will be permitted to re-open as of March 26. In the Greater Montreal region, everyone over 60 years old is now invited to book their appointment to get the Covid-19 vaccine at clicsante.ca or by calling 514-644‑4545. To know more about the situation of Covid-19 all over the Quebec region, click on the link : https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/
Job offer ! We’re looking to fill out the position of bilingual Administrative Assistant/Communication Agent. We offer a 6 to 7-month contract beginning immediately, with the potential for contract renewal. This a full time position (30 hours/week and for the time being remote work is required. Our ideal candidate would be : - Passionate and dedicated person ready to help us with our mission - Has exceptional organizational skills, detail oriented and capable of managing multiple projects while respecting deadlines. - Understands social media strategies and copywriting - Can develop content, visual as well Main Tasks: - Provide general administrative support for projects and communications for the organization (e.g. answering phones and emails, note taking at meetings, updating internal and official documents) - Help to organize meetings and events including booking meeting space, corresponding with attendees and promotion, taking minutes, etc. - Update website and social media as needed Requirements: - Fluency in French and English is essential - Experience in office administration is a requirement - Experience working in community sector an asset - Previous experience in social media (primarily Instagram and Facebook) - Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office and computer skills Please send your resume and cover letter to info@awcm.ca.
Be Part of the Mission The AWC is looking for passionate and dedicated volunteers to join our team and help us with our mission. While unpaid, letters of recommendation and honorariums are given based on performance. By volunteering, you contribute your professional skills. In turn, you’ll get first-hand experience about how non-profit organizations are managed. You’ll learn by doing. Click here to find out more : https://www.awcm.ca/