YWCA Hamilton
Providing programs and services for women and girls.
All posts reflecting a YWCA Hamilton program or service and/or the people impacted within programs and services
Quick Escape“Show up as you are” shared Kia Nurse, a Hamilton legend, basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women’s […]
Quick EscapeThe Road to Hope is never travelled alone, and our community showed up with overwhelming support for survivors of breast […]
Quick EscapeThis month, YWCA Hamilton is calling on our community to raise support for ENCOREPlus – the umbrella program that includes […]
Quick EscapeYWCA Hamilton’s PowerUp Program empowers activist social enterprise As the Executive Directive of GoodOnU.ca, a social enterprise that advocates ending [...]
Quick EscapeAs one of the four founders of MUKA, a Hamilton clothing store and media studio that offers unique, artistic merchandise and media content, Lisa Wang had a clear vision for setting up her business.
She knew that she wanted MUKA to cater to individuals and businesses looking for thoughtful, vibrant, and creative designs. At the same time, she wanted to create more opportunities for Two Spirit LGBTQIA+, racialized, and AAPI communities, in order for members of these communities to see themselves represented in authentic and nuanced ways.
But when it came to taking the business to the next level, Lisa needed support.
That’s when she learned about YWCA Hamilton’s PowerUp Business program offered through the Milli Gould Entrepreneurial Centre. This free, 10-week program focusses on creating a business plan, building resilience, marketing, finance, operations and legal, as well as offering lectures from trained business advisors and industry experts.
Quick EscapeEstablished by the United Nations in 2001 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, World Refugee Day is a day to honour and celebrate the strength and fortitude of people forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
We sat down with Svitlana Bondarenko, the Ukrainian settlement counsellor at YWCA Hamilton and a refugee herself, in a conversation for World Refugee Day about her journey, celebrations and reflections.
Svitlana arrived in Canada last year with her family and two dogs after fleeing the war in Ukraine. “It was a struggle – we did not know where to go after landing in Canada,” she said. Her family did not have any support or community around them. “Finding permanent housing was a big struggle; we did not have any credit score or references that landlords usually require,” she explains.
Quick EscapeMichaela Walker has two things on her mind: sports, and finding new ways to engage adults with disabilities through therapeutic recreation.
Michaela, in addition to being a fan of all things athletic, is a recent graduate of the therapeutic recreation program at Mohawk College. This winter, she was back at YWCA Hamilton for her third and final placement with her program, after completing her first work placement with us as well.
Therapeutic Recreation is used to help promote a sense of belonging, independence, and quality of life for individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional and/or social limitations. It could take the form of sports, games, arts and crafts, music, dance, or games. Therapeutic Recreation can help individuals improve their physical and cognitive abilities, increase confidence and self-esteem, foster greater involvement in the community, strengthen interpersonal skills and relationships, improve their coping and adaptation skills, and enhance their general wellbeing.
Quick EscapeWe are looking for Newcomer women and non-binary folks to come in and learn from Anne Bokma, an award-winning local journalist and author who is the founder of the city’s popular 6-Minute Memoir annual storytelling event on how to write a short memoir, or story, about their settlement journey to Canada and their life thus far.
Along with fellow student Danya Sanderson, Etri and Nam are co-chairs of the Mac Med volunteering group, a student-led initiative to volunteer with housing service providers in the Hamilton area and build connections in the community. As part of our celebration of National Volunteer Week, we sat down with Etri and Nam to hear about their experiences volunteering with YWCA Hamilton at Carole Anne’s Place (CAP).
Quick EscapeSitting down to talk with McMaster medical students Etri Kocaqi and Nam Do will make you want to roll up your sleeves and throw yourself into volunteering. Their enthusiasm for community service is infectious.
Along with fellow student Danya Sanderson, Etri and Nam are co-chairs of the Mac Med volunteering group, a student-led initiative to volunteer with housing service providers in the Hamilton area and build connections in the community. As part of our celebration of National Volunteer Week, we sat down with Etri and Nam to hear about their experiences volunteering with YWCA Hamilton at Carole Anne’s Place (CAP).
Quick EscapeOne year ago, on April 23rd, 2022, YWCA Hamilton in partnership with the Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team and Keeping Six officially opened our Safer Drug Use Space (SUS). Over this past year, we have worked together to create a space where women, trans and non-binary people who use drugs and experience homelessness are respected, cared for, and supported.
