YWCA St. John’s 

Address: 291 Water Street, Suite 302, St. John’s, NL A1C 1B9 

Mandate:

To educate the community about particular issues affecting girls and women; to create opportunities for girls and women to learn, achieve and participate; to ensure our work is grounded in the real life issues affecting girls and women; to advance social change through public engagement and use our voice to call for social justice 

Target Population:

Women, girls, and gender-diverse folks of all ages.

Highlights of Programs/Services Offered:

Employment Programs:  

LAUNCH: 

• Contact details
  • Program Coordinator: Jennifer Rose (they/she)
    Email: jennifer@ywcastjohns.ca Phone: (709) 689-0164
  • Work Transition Coordinator: Bielasan Alshakhshir (she/her)
    Email: bielasan@ywcastjohns.ca Phone: (709) 771-9072
• Click here for the application form
• A 19 week employment program for young women and gender diverse youth experiencing multiple barriers to employment. Eligibility includes:
  • Currently out of school, unemployed, or underemployed (working less than 20 hours/week) 
  • Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or someone who has been granted refugee status in Canada 
  • Able to attend programming for 30 hours a week, online or in-person (St. John’s, NL and surrounding areas).  
• The program includes:
  • PAID employability skills training (7 weeks) 
  • PAID 10 week work experience

ReLaunch

• Contact details
  • Program Coordinator Ana Perez Rico (she/her)
    ana@ywcastjohns.ca Phone: (709) 770-9634
  • Work Transition coordinator Nadia Duman (she/her)
    nadia@ywcastjohns.ca Phone: (709) 691-7112
• A 19 week employment program for women and gender diverse folks 30+ experiencing barriers to employment. Eligibility includes
  • Women and gender diverse people ages 30+
  • Currently out of school, unemployed, or underemployed (working less than 20 hours/week) 
  • A Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Able to attend programming for 30 hours a week
  • Living in St. John’s or surrounding areas
• This program includes:
  • PAID employability skills training (7 weeks) 
  • PAID 12 week work experience
• Click here for application form

Connextions 

• A 19-week employment program for newcomer women and gender-diverse folks (ages 18+) experiencing barriers to employment. Eligibility includes: 
  • An immigrant woman or gender-diverse person (ages 18+)
  • Legally allowed to work in Newfoundland and Labrador 
  • Currently not studying, unemployed, or underemployed (working less than 20 hours/week)
  • Able to attend programming for 25 hours a week 
  • Temporary workers welcomed 
  • Applications currently closed. 

Youth Programs

L.E.A.D program 

• Registration is opening soon. Email us at drishti@ywcastjohns.ca for more information 
• Three day leadership training women and gender diverse youth ages 15-18 have the opportunity to build on their leadership skills, network with others, and gain insight and confidence in their leadership skills 
• As group we build on self-awareness, basic facilitation skills, building group dynamics, conflict resolution skills, and how we can all contribute to creating safe spaces.
• This year, the L.E.A.D Program is being offered as a three-day training. It will take place on July 17, 18, and 19, from 9:00am to 4:30pm, with the location to be determined. Snacks and lunch will be provided. 
• Click here to register for the L.E.A.D Program 

Power of Being You (PBY)

• Typically in partnership with a local school the conference is an empowerment-based, violence prevention conference for youth ages 12-15 to build confidence in their leadership and critical thinking skills through the development of a stronger sense of self-awareness and awareness of other skills 
• Is held typically during World YWCA’s Week Without Violence 
• Interested in bringing Power of Being You to your school? Reach out to our Youth Programs Coordinator, Drishti, at drishti@ywcastjohns.ca.

The Collective 

• supports YWCA’s various social justice oriented goals through events, initiatives focused on peer networking, mentorship and leadership development 
• open to young women and gender diverse youth ages 18-30
• applications are accepted on rolling basis 
• email us at drishti@ywcastjohns.ca for more information 

TechGyrls (STEM programming) 

• Is a STEM based program for cis and trans girls, non-binary, and two-spirit youth ages 9 to 13
• Participants have the opportunity to explore, design, create, and share all things related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!
• Each session is tailored to youths’ interests in STEM 
• No skill or knowledge level needed to participate
• Contact our youth program coordinator at drishti@ywcastjohns.ca for more information  

2SLGBTQIA+ Services: 

• Fostering Collaboration of Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador: Peer support group and mentorship program for LGBTQIA+ newcomers.  
  • Click here to register for peer support group and mentorship program
  • You can also email us at kimberly@ywcastjohns.ca or call 709-769-6649.
• Program eligibility includes:
  • must be a newcomer to Canada regardless of immigration status (this includes, immigrant, permanent residents, temporary residents, refugees, international students, etc.) who also identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
  • must be 18 years and older
  • We are currently piloting these services in the city of St. John’s, but we aim to expand in-person service delivery to more communities across Newfoundland and Labrador in the future.
• Additional opportunities for LGBTQIA+ Newcomers: Project Advisory Committee to inform and guide this project with their lived experience. Email us at kimberly@ywcastjohns.ca or call us at (709) 726-9922 for more information

National Emergency Survivor Support Fund (NESSFund)

• This initiative provides women and gender diverse people and their families with financial support to leave unsafe homes or emergency shelter/ precarious housing situations to begin their healing journey  
• How to apply for support contact Ashley Tiller at december6@ywcastjohns.ca or text/call at (782) 414-5715.
• click here to Donate to the NESSFund 

Circle of Distinction Awards: 

• COD Awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of women and give them a platform to share their stories in a way that empowers, inspires and motivates others to learn, achieve and participate. Nominations may be made by any member of the public. 
• COD categories:
  • Trailblazer award: nominees age 18-24 who already making significant contributions to their community
  • Social Justice and Advocacy Award: speaking on systemic injustice and make change toward equality in community
  • Equity at work award: employers that model and uphold equitable practice’s, making a difference for workers and community
  • Inspired innovation award: nominees whose field of study includes but not exclusive to health, science, arts, or community
  • Lifetime achievement award: aged 60+ who have made significant contributions in their community over the course of their lives.
• Advocacy: YWCA’s creates change through informed advocacy which aims to:
  • End gender-based violence
  • implement national childcare
  • Achieve economic equality
  • End homelessness for women, girls, and gender diverse folks