July 16, 2009
MONTRÉAL - The federal government is pleased to support four Montréal-based community organizations to carry out projects aiming to develop leadership in girls and young women in Montréal and various regions, and to improve economic security and address violence against women in ethnocultural communities, including Haitian-Canadian and Jamaican-Canadian women in Montréal. The Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), made the announcement today.
The attached fact sheet details the work of the four organizations that will receive a total of $349,401 in funding from the Women's Community Fund of the Women's Program of Status of Women Canada.
"Our Government believes that Canadian girls and women of all cultural backgrounds should be able to bring their own unique contributions to Canadian society," said Minister of State Guergis. "These projects by four Montréal-based organizations will help women gain the skills they need to contribute to the economic, social and democratic life of their communities. By supporting projects like these, we are helping to give women in the Montréal area the tools and support they need to empower themselves, and help build a better country for us all."
"When women are present in decision-making bodies, these organizations are made stronger and more representative," said Ms. Isabelle Krauss, Secretary-Treasurer of the Association pour le développement socioculturel de la femme. "Thanks to this support from the Government of Canada, our project Ton Avenir en Main (Your Future in Hand) will equip girls with the tools they need to become leaders and effect meaningful change that will benefit Canadian society as a whole."
Status of Women Canada is a federal government agency working to promote equality for women and their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
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For more information, please contact:
Sherine Mansour
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Status of Women)
819-956-4000
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Strategic Planning
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839
