International Women’s Day is a big event and is celebrated to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. The UN announced their theme for 2022 as “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Here at the ERA environmental sustainability is one of our biggest goals and empowering women through accessibility to tech is a top priority. So today we are honoring International Women’s Day by donating 10 computers and 5 laptops to the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association. This will assist their clients in furthering their education to advance their employment opportunities, help them learn English, and stay connected with loved ones in other countries.
Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is a non-profit organization established in 1982 as a registered charity. CIWA is a culturally diverse settlement agency that recognizes, responds to, and focuses on the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. CIWA’s uniqueness is based on its gender specific mandate. Over the years, they have continually responded to emerging needs of immigrant women and girls, developed innovative programs, established meaningful partnerships, and have come to be recognized as a provincial and national leader in outcome-based gender-specific settlement services.
CIWA offers programs and services that use a holistic approach to support clients in the areas of settlement and integration, literacy and language training, employment support and bridging programs, family violence, parenting, individual counselling, in-home support, civic engagement, health, housing, and community development. All clients have access to childcare and first language support during group sessions and individual appointments. Visit their website here.
Viewing regular access to a personal computer as a non-essential luxury is a thing of the past. Even basic activities now require the use of a computer; applying for a job, completing school work, staying in touch with family or even something as simple as looking up a bus route is difficult without a computer. The Electronic Recycling Association has developed a charitable computer donation program to address exactly that problem.
We work with charities across the country to provide refurbished electronics for their programs. This gives them access to reliable technology while allowing them to apply their resources to what they’re good at: developing programs to help Canadians struggling with poverty, health concerns or are otherwise experiencing misfortune. Because the Electronic Recycling Association is an advocate of equality, we are not specifically affiliated with a given charity. The ERA helps hundreds of charitable organizations each year through the donation of necessary computer equipment. Organizations qualified for donations through ERA’s donation program include: registered charities, non-profit organizations, care facilities (seniors homes, hospitals, daycares, etc.) and educational institutions.