Daher Hassan
President
Married, father of three children. French language teacher. Member of the SCAWR association since 2013.
Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region2022 Annual Report
From our Executive Director
Listen to Faduma here
Warm greetings from the Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR)!
As the newly appointed Executive Director, I am thrilled to introduce our very first newsletter of the year 2022. It is an honor to be a part of this remarkable organization, driven by a mission to motivate and empower our community through active participation, meaningful engagement, and collaborative advocacy with mainstream organizations.
At SCAWR, our vision is to foster a strong, united Somali Canadian community that thrives and prospers in the Waterloo Region. We believe in the power of collective efforts and recognize that by coming together, we can achieve great things. As we embark on this journey together, I invite you all to join hands and contribute to the growth and well-being of our community.
We want to keep you informed about the numerous projects, activities, and events that SCAWR has planned for the upcoming year in this newsletter.
As we begin this exciting journey, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our members, volunteers, and sponsors who have supported us throughout the years. Your commitment and dedication are instrumental in driving the success of SCAWR, and we are grateful for your unwavering support.
Please stay tuned for our upcoming events, updates, and opportunities to get involved. Together, let's create a more promising future for the Somali Canadian community in the Waterloo Region.
Faduma Musse
Executive Director, Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR)
Executive Director, Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR)
About SCAWR
Listen to Name Here here
Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR) is a non-profit community association with a mandate to enhance the lives of Somali Canadians and immigrants in Waterloo Region.
In 1993, the Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region was established to raise awareness of the problems of Somali refugees. The need for an association to aid in the settlement of the increasing number of refugees and immigrants from Somalia became obvious as the community grew. SCAWR has continued to develop in response to the shifting dynamics of the community, and we take pride in providing and developing services that meet the requirements of the Community. As an organization, SCAWR offers a range of social, recreational, emotional, and educational support services for people with different needs and ages. In addition to offering programming, SCAWR also plays a vital role in community and individual advocacy, assisting our community and individuals by removing systemic obstacles and advocating for change in the system, as well as by creating a safe environment for the community to heal from its long history of trauma.
SCAWR Board members
SCAWR’S board of directors is elected and supported by the membership of our community. The SCAWR board of directors bring diverse academic and professional perspectives (e.g. professionals from healthcare, education, social work, legal, and research), and are representative of the community they serve.
Guled Mohamud
Member
Guled Mohamud graduated mechanical engineering technology, trained in truck driving course. Currently working as a truck driver. Enjoys working with youth on mentorship, skills development and is passionate about sports.
SCAWR Staff
Faduma Musse
Executive Director
Abdirisak Ali
Housing Navigator
Maymuna Mohamed
Housing Outreach
Abdullahi Adow
Community Support Worker
Financial Overview
2022 Revenue
2022 Expenses
Difference for 2022
$21,490.59
Community Support
Listen to Name Here here
Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (SCAWR) is a non-profit community association with a mandate to enhance the lives of Somali Canadians and immigrants in Waterloo Region.
In 1993, the Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region was established to raise awareness of the problems of Somali refugees. The need for an association to aid in the settlement of the increasing number of refugees and immigrants from Somalia became obvious as the community grew. SCAWR has continued to develop in response to the shifting dynamics of the community, and we take pride in providing and developing services that meet the requirements of the Community. As an organization, SCAWR offers a range of social, recreational, emotional, and educational support services for people with different needs and ages. In addition to offering programming, SCAWR also plays a vital role in community and individual advocacy, assisting our community and individuals by removing systemic obstacles and advocating for change in the system, as well as by creating a safe environment for the community to heal from its long history of trauma.
Unveiling Our Impactful Stats:
From October 31st to December 23rd, we extended our reach further and served a total of 246 unique individuals. Among these, 79 were male and 167 were female.
246
Individuals
79
males
167
females
67%
IMMIG/Gov
63%
Housing
63
Families helped with Housing and Community Legal Services
10%
Health
2%
Employment
Our community is expanding and becoming more diverse, which has inspired us to customize our services to match the particular requirements of each person and make sure that they all feel heard, appreciated, and supported.
A Spectrum of Services:
- IMMIG/Gov (67) Housing (63) Health (10) Employment (2)Referral Services
- Housing and Community Legal Services (Helped 63 families)
- Family Counseling and Support Groups
- Translation and Interpretation Services
- Immigration Services
- Building Better Futures Portable Rent Assistance Program
Together, we have created a solid group of people that stand by one another, appreciate each other's accomplishments, and stick together when things become tough. The achievements we've made thus far have been made possible by your constant support and involvement.
The team were very kind and provided me with the information about the Federal Dental Benefit Plan and I was able to apply and receive the benefit with their amazing assistance.Halimo O - Health
I'm very thankful that the SCAWR team provided me with the step-by-step guidance on what to bring to complete my housing application and process. I was able to complete my application in one appointment due to their efficient and clear support and guidance.Fardowsa A - Housing Support
Working as a volunteer with the Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region has been really fulfilling. I feel honored to be a part of the organization's work because of their contagious dedication to improving their community. The team has established a welcoming and friendly environment where volunteers are respected and our contributions actually have an effect. Being a part of such a fantastic organization makes me proud.Ahmed S - Volunteer
Our Stories
Thank You's
Listen to Name Here here
Emily Jaarsma
Emily Jaarsma, Executive Director of Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre is passionate about community development and supporting the Greenway-Chaplin neighbours through recreation programs, volunteer opportunities and community events. Emily loves to garden and chat with everyone in the front yard at Greenway. Over the past decade, she has supported the Cambridge Neighbourhood Organizations network and a number of grassroots groups supporting residents in Waterloo Region including SCAWR. You are always welcome to come to Greenway for a chat and a garden tour - please drop by this summer.
Emily Davies-Robinson
Emily Davies-Robinson has been Community Coordinator with United for Literacy (formerly Frontier College) since 2018. In her role, she works with SCAWR to coordinate our homework club program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the school year. After studying history in university, Emily attended Conestoga College and received a post-graduate certificate in Community and Social Service Management in 2016. However, Emily first started with United for Literacy as a volunteer tutor in 2014 when she was a volunteer tutor at the SCAWR Homework Club. Emily is currently a part-time Master of Education student at Laurier. She is passionate about education and believes that literacy is a right that everyone should access. She manages a large team of volunteer tutors who support programs throughout Waterloo and Guelph who support elementary and high school students. This includes managing the volunteer tutors who support students at the SCAWR Homework Club program. Emily is also a big basketball fan and likes to cheer on the Raptors in her spare time. She can be reached at waterloo@unitedforliteracy.ca and you can follow United for Literacy Kitchener-Waterloo on Facebook and Instagram.
Rashed Maawiye
Rashed has been a volunteer with SCAWR for over 15 years with our homework support program. He is a father and member of the Somali community that values unity and collective efforts to support the wellbeing of our youth. Rashed has a passion to work with youth and provide them a safe space to gather.
Hirey Abdikarim
Hirey is a father, valued member and volunteer with the SCAWR community in Waterloo Region. Hirey has a passion for working with youth and supporting sports programming that provides youth a positive space to maintain their overall health and wellbeing.
Zeinab Suileman
Zeinab is a youth and an active member of the Somali community in Waterloo Region. Zeinab has a passion to work with young girls and empower them to live a healthy and active lifestyle. She took the initiative to reach out to SCAWR and support the Girls Basketball program. Zeinab, with her love of basketball coached young girls from 8-14 years old and supported their development of basketball skills and gave them a safe space to connect.