Today, on International Women’s Day (March 8), DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society is proud to announce it has continued its annual tradition of making a donation to a women’s empowerment organization.
At an International Women’s Day Event on Friday, March 5, 2021, DIVERSEcity Chief Executive Officer Neelam Sahota, announced a $500 donation to Nisa Helpline. This is the fifth annual donation DIVERSEcity has made for International Women’s Day. Past recipients include Surrey Women’s Centre, Jeremy’s Memorial Foundation, West Coast Leaf and Shakti Society.
“We’ve been honouring a women’s empowerment organization at DIVERSEcity for the past five years with an annual donation — a tradition that came from cultivating a culture of abundance and paying it forward. Reaching a point where you can create platforms for others is a critical component of women’s equality and fostering transformative change,” said Neelam Sahota.
“This year, we are very honoured to donate to Nisa Helpline. We stand in solidarity with Nisa Helpline and believe that a healthy community is one that puts women’s mental and spiritual health at the forefront.”
Nisa Helpline is a confidential, anonymous, non-judgmental helpline that provides free peer-to-peer counselling to Muslim women across North America. Their toll-free number, 1-866-315 NISA (1-866-315-6472), is accessible anywhere in North America, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more at nisahelpline.com.
“On behalf of the Nisa Helpline team, we would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the DIVERSEcity organization for the thoughtful and generous donation. It’s because of organizations like yours going the extra mile and supporting the importance of essential services like Nisa Helpline that motivates the team to continue this valuable work,” said Surrey, BC-based Tanweer Ebrahim, Executive Director, Nisa Helpline.
“Nisa Helpline provides peer-to-peer counselling and referral services to vulnerable women in our community. This March, we mark seven years of service, during which we have been able to answer more than 30,000 calls from women needing support and counselling in immediate situations. And during the time of this pandemic, we have been a frontline service in assisting women with and providing referrals to counselling. With this support we will continue to empower women to overcome the barriers they face and bringing a bright light to many lives around us.”
In a surprise and welcome announcement, Debbie Anderson Eng, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Community Resources Society, announced that PCRS will match DIVERSEcity’s donation, for a total of $1,000.
“In recognition of International Women’s Day, Pacific Community Resources Society is pleased to match DIVERSEcity’s donation to Nisa Helpline,” said Debbie Anderson Eng. “We support their wonderful work in helping Muslim women get the support and services they need to thrive in our communities.”
Tanweer added: “We are truly humbled to receive the matching donation from Pacific Community Resources Society and to see the inspiring example that DIVERSEcity is setting.”
In addition to the donation announcement, the event on Friday, attended by 110+ people, also featured a panel presentation on the topic of Women in Leadership. Panellists included MLA Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives; Marlyn Graziano, Vice President, External Affairs, KPU; Shahnaz Rahman, Executive Director, Surrey Women’s Centre; Ritu Khanna, Executive Director, South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce; and DIVERSEcity’s Neelam Sahota.
Pictured above (L to R). Neelam Sahota, Chief Executive Officer, DIVERSEcity; Tanweer Ebrahim, Executive Director, Nisa Helpline; Debbie Anderson Eng, Chief Executive Officer, PCRS.