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Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat |
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$50,000 TO SUPPORT FRENCH-SPEAKING WOMEN IN NEED |
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VANCOUVER – Societé Inform’Elles Society will receive a $50,000 grant from the Province in 2008 to support its work delivering outreach and counselling services for French-speaking B.C. women. John van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, announced the Provincial support at a francophone community fundraising event for the society last night.
“An increasing
number of immigrants coming to B.C. are French-speaking, and we expect the
trend to continue as we promote B.C. as a destination for skilled workers,” van
Dongen said. “Support for Societé Inform’Elles is part of our commitment to
help families, women and children in their own language.”
“Societé
Inform’Elles provides information, crisis intervention, and referral
services to women in difficult situations. It also empowers women with
information and workshops in French about the wide range of services and
programs available to them throughout B.C.,” said Ida Chong Minister of
Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues.
“This grant complements our
multicultural outreach services for women fleeing abuse, available in 20 other
languages, and helps ensure public services are more accessible
and responsive to those who need them.”
Women from diverse ethnic
backgrounds represent one-third of Societé Inform’Elles
clients. The society provides services including emotional support; referrals and
information about health; basic needs for newcomers such as food, lodging,
employment, income assistance, and child care; responses for situations of
violence; and legal information.
“Newly arrived French-speaking women often have
difficulty adapting to a new system, a new country, or even a new province.
They require information about their rights and legal status. The differences
in culture and customs are an everyday challenge for them, in addition to the
language barrier,” said Gisèle Nadeau, president of Societé Inform’Elles
Society. “Inform’Elles provides services that help heal
emotional wounds and break isolation to foster self-esteem and positive change
in women’s lives.”
The
Province’s funding will allow the society to continue its crisis intervention
services in French; train volunteers on topics related to violence against women and
children and women’s health; and provide peer support groups and workshops to help inform women about personal safety,
health and balanced lifestyle choices, stress management, networking,
immigration and refugee law.
The funding for this program is
provided under the Canada-British Columbia Cooperation Agreement on Official
Languages.
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contact: |
Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat 250 356-7373 |
Director of Development Société Inform’Elles Society 604 736-6912 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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