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Circle of Trust
A Somali newcomers’ support group offers a place of hope for women
By Lauren Kalinowski Illustration by Amanda Goddard
When a series of physical assaults upon Black Muslim women wearing Hijabs happened in Edmonton five years ago, many were fearful and sought to create a self- defence group. The Somali-Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization (SCERDO) stepped up and created a free women’s self-defence class.
This has morphed into the Haweenka Support Circle, for all women, from young girls to older adults, to create community and talk about issues that are important
to their everyday lives. With funding support from Edmonton Community Foundation, it has become an essential safe space for so many on their integration journey in Canada.
The Somali community has created access to all sorts of supports like education, legal, employment and cultural programs through SCERDO. “What we try to do is always focus on our core values, which →
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