PROVINCE REACHES OUT TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES CAMPAIGN.

The Ontario Neighbours, Friends and Families (NFF) – Immigrant and Refugee Communities Campaign, is a new and innovative public education campaign that helps immigrants learn the warning signs of women abuse while they are learning English. The campaign helps immigrant communities address violence against women by involving community members in developing strategies on how they can support women experiencing abuse.

On December 8th, The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister of Children & Youth Services & Women’s Issues, announced the NFF’s most recent initiative. COSTI, in partnership with St. Stephen’s Community House produced a fotonovela and toolkit, funded by the province, to raise awareness about woman abuse among English language instructors and students studying English as a second language in select centres in Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Kitchener, London, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Sudbury and Ottawa. The toolkit consists of lesson plans and resources that will be shared with learners.

For many newcomers, language classes are their first introduction to information about Canadian culture and local resources. For a variety of reasons, many abused women from immigrant and refugee communities do not seek help until the abuse has become serious or life-threatening. Aware instructors and students may be able to reach out to women in their ethno-linguistic communities before the abuse reaches crisis levels.

.Read More about the NFF Campaign and Minister MacCharles' announcement here.