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“ I have no doubt that the brave and collective work of women globally will birth the peaceful world we all seek. ” Ketty Nivyabandi, The High Price for Fighting for Women’s Rights Today, as Maama Watali continues to celebrate womens strength and their advocacy in support of human rights, including the rights of women to be free of all forms of gender based violence. The article shines a spotlight on  Burundian poet and human rights activist  Ketty Nivyabandi. She was born in

As the world continues to celebrate the international theme of Resistance for Black History Month 2023, the Ottawa Theme is “Our Canadian Story: Legacies Worth Preserving, Celebrating and Creating. Part of our legacy, worth remembering is the resistance of a little-known slave girl named Chloe Cooley, who even though she was never free from her Master’s cruel grip as she was dragged to a waiting boat to be resold across the Niagara River, her cries for help, set the legal pro

Foreword by: Anne C. Clarke, MA. Social Policy Analyst: The forgoing article is based on two recent research reports. One conducted by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, on Child Sexual Abuse and Victimisation in schools across Canada. The other by the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanAct). The research gives a birds eye view of victimisation of children in the school systems and of racialised women in the criminal justice system with a focus on Toronto. They are i

“ A woman can be who she wants to be despite it all or her position next to men. Women can be who they want to be and achieve what they want to achieve. You deserve to sit on the shiny pew, do not remove yourself from the shiny pew. ” – Glenda Simms, “The Myth of the Superwoman” Strong Women Strong Men Series. As we move through the early days of March, in Celebration of International Women’s Month, aptly entitled “Break The Bias”, Maama Watali recognises the late passing of

The durability of abusive relationships remains a central paradox. Though many are, or have been in intimate relationships, very few seem to really grasp the intricacies of intimate relationships. Women had to be pressed to their breaking point, to break the silence. The “Me Too Movement” has given more survivors the confidence to speak up and share their experiences. The movement has empowered young and vulnerable women through empathy and solidarity knowing they are not alo

A couple of months ago I chanced upon the Maama Watali webinars. A close associate advised­, aggressively that I check out the webinars. We all have that person who feels they know us more than we know ourselves. That friend who somehow believes that they know what is good for us! And so, I reluctantly obliged— probably to get him to stop pestering me! Am glad, I did! Like the name suggests, Maama Watali comes as a Mother to the Black Community, to women, sisters, daughters,

The past year has been one of constant uncertainty and 2021 continues to bring more of the same in the lives of many Canadians and our global communities. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on, this time with new strains. Stay at home orders have become more severe in Ontario. People have lost their jobs and others are left with no means to support their families other than government programs. Families have broken up and children are going hungry. According to a recent

It has been over 18 months since the first Covid 19 case was reported in Canada. Many of us have had to greatly adjust and adapt to this major life change of a global pandemic. We have had to adapt to our new surroundings, the new normal. Homes have primarily become our offices, since the idea of commuting to work, socializing with friends or colleagues have now become a dream. With physical socializing restricted, new ways have had to be found in order to maintain a personal