Finding a job in Toronto is hard for everyone. Now imagine being a newcomer.

University-educated newcomer women were 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed than their Canada-born counterparts, according to 2016 census data. Ten years later, research still shows that immigrant women face significant disadvantages in the labour market.

Working Women Community Centre is one organization trying to help. It specifically seeks to uplift women and families with employment, caregiving and mental health support.

The team offers a variety of programs, including The Caregiver Support Program, which offers resources, workshops and community for caregivers. 

Working Women Community Centre is always looking for volunteers for regular programming. It has three locations:

• 5 Fairview Mall Dr. (unit 478) in North York.
• 1527 Victoria Park Ave. in Scarborough.
• 533A Gladstone Ave. in downtown Toronto.

You can also sign-up to volunteer for the On Your Mark program, through which the centre provides one-on-one and small group tutoring for students in elementary and high school. This program starts in late October/early November and runs until the end of May. 

If you’re interested, you can sign up by filling out this form. For more information, check out the centre’s website, where you can find videos on how to apply and what the program commitment looks like. You can also call 416-534-2824 ext. 232 to ask all your questions. 

According to the organization’s most recent annual report, 286 volunteers contributed 9,160 hours to help children and families. The centre assisted 17,706 people last year, including 12,300 women and 8,317 newcomers.