Founder's Statement

Objectives

The Immigrant Women’s Alliance (IWA) was founded to inform and empower women, especially immigrant women arriving in Canada, about the importance of education. We provide a safe space for women to share their educational experiences and wisdom with each other. We believe that education provides women with the opportunity for personal and professional growth, enables them to set a positive example for their children, and makes them into contributing members of Canadian society. Education also gives women the enhanced social awareness they need to make informed decisions about their lives, the lives of family members, and wider community life in Canada.

Many women arriving in Canada from other countries face multiple adjustment and integration challenges based on language, culture, beliefs, and social gender norms. In some cultures, women are confined to inferior roles and excluded from participating in the workplace and public sphere. These women have a great deal of unrealized potential. It can be difficult adjusting to the many opportunities available in Canada and we try to assist women in embracing new opportunities, especially in the area of education, and developing their potential to the fullest.

The guiding vision behind the Immigrant Women’s Alliance seeks to create a safe space where women with experience in the educational system can share their wisdom and knowledge with other women. The goal is to encourage and inspire women to overcome the barriers to education and work hard to fulfill their dreams. IWA believes that education enables women to play leadership roles in their families, the workplace, and society.