Maama Watali
House
At Maama Watali, we believe healing is a human right. Yet in Ottawa, Black and racialised women are three times more likely to experience intimate-partner violence and least likely to access culturally safe support. The Maama Watali House for Healing & Hope will change this reality.
$25 Million Capital Campaign.
We are leading a $25 million capital campaign to build Ottawa's first purpose-driven, trauma-informed transitional housing and empowerment centre for Black and racialised women survivors.
The Home will provide emergency and transitional accommodation, mental-health and wellness services, entrepreneurship and leadership training, legal advocacy, and art therapy, all in a culturally grounded, nurturing environment.
We are building with survivors, not for them
Every element, from Healing Gardens and Learning Hubs to the Advocacy Hall will reflect the voices, values, and aspirations of survivors. This will be a living campus where dignity lives and hope grows; a home that does more than shelter, it transforms.
WHAT WE'RE BUILDING
The House Features
HEALING GARDENS
Therapeutic outdoor spaces designed for reflection, recovery, and reconnection with nature.
LEARNING HUBS
Dedicated spaces for entrepreneurship and leadership training programs.
ADVOCACY HALL
A gathering space for community events, support groups, and advocacy initiatives.
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Emergency and transitional accommodation for women and families in need.
OUR APPROACH
Together We Can
BUILD AWARENESS
Amplify the voices of African, Black, and Caribbean women, highlighting the realities of gender-based violence and discrimination in Canada and the diaspora.
CREATE SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Develop culturally sensitive spaces where women can heal, share, and rebuild their lives without fear or stigma.
CHANGE THE SYSTEM
​Advocate for policy reform and race-based data collection to ensure institutions recognise and respond to the unique experiences of Black women and children.
10,000
Women and Children Served By 2030
Providing a continuum of care from crisis to independence. Survivors will transition into empowered leaders, shaping a legacy of justice, healing, and hope for generations to come.
Ways to Engage
Every brick laid is an act of hope. Every contribution builds dignity, leadership, and legacy. Join us in building the Maama Watali House — where hope has a home.
Adopt-a-Home/ Build-a-Flat mode
Builders and donors can make their impact tangible by directly funding or constructing specific housing units within the Maama Watali House.
FULL PAID PARTNERSHIP
Sponsor and construct full units (design, labour, materials)
Recognition
Built by [Company Name]" signage and digital profile.
SPONSOR FLAT
Fund a completed flat ($350,000–$650,000).
Recognition
​Flat sponsored by [Company Name]
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
​Donate kitchens, bathrooms, fixtures, or furnishings with labelled recognition (e.g., "Kitchens supported by [Company Name]").
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Invite your teams for a Corporate Build Day, an on-site volunteer experience connecting your workforce to real impact.
When a woman feels safe, she can rebuild her world.
When a community builds for her, we rebuild our humanity.
Tier Donors
PLATINUM LEGACY PARTNER
Builds and furnishes a major communal space (e.g., Healing Garden, Family Lounge, or Playroom) serving hundreds of families each year.
SILVER BUILDER PARTNER
Equips a full unit (e.g., bedroom flat, kitchen, or counselling room) with trauma-informed design and quality finishes.
GOLD BUILDER PARTNER
Funds multiple homes within the facility, creating safe and dignified living spaces for women and children rebuilding stability.
COMMUNITY BUILDER
Provides vital materials, furnishings, or finishes for families transitioning from crisis to stability.
Why Partner With Maama Watali
Build Legacy, Not Just Visibility
A generational project of safety, equity, and social justice
Advance ESG and DEI Goals
Align with Canada's National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
Empower Communities
Your contribution builds homes, creates jobs, and restores dignity, leaving a tangible mark of hope across generations.
Engage Your Workforce
Corporate Build Days, volunteering, and team involvement foster morale, pride, and purpose-driven company culture.
Amplify Your Brand with Purpose
Through media and community engagement.