Sisters honoured as beacons of hope for their outreach work
The West Island Women’s Centre hosted its 20th annual International Women’s Day brunch last week to celebrate the efforts of its dedicated group of volunteers and to listen to talks by women who have improved the quality of life for girls and women.
Guest speaker Karen Henchey was the centre’s executive director for 17 years. During her tenure, she oversaw a move to larger facilities in 2010 and watched the membership swell to close to 600. And she helped shape workshops and courses designed to enrich women’s lives.
“Women think they have to do it all,” Henchey said. “This is a place to come and make friends, get out of the house, break feelings of isolation.”
The centre offers 150 courses over three sessions and in three categories: creative arts, fitness and self-improvement. The centre also has an outreach program that offers free courses for women who are struggling financially, newly-arrived immigrant women, teens and new mothers. Free daycare is offered to those who attend courses during the day.
Beaconsfield High School students Isabel and Jane Szollosy spoke to the brunch gathering of members, volunteers, elected officials and community representatives about their non-profit Sparkes for Hope, which has raised $80,000 for Collège Amélioration Jeunesse in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The school educates more than 100 students, many of whom are street kids or orphans and would not otherwise have access to an education.
The Szollosy sisters’ efforts were recently recognized with a Canada 150 Community Service Award for Diversity Inclusion and Human Rights. Sparkes for Hope is named for their grandmother Shirley Sparkes.
By spring, 2014, the Szollosys had raised enough money to sponsor the Collège’s lunch program. The next step was to establish the Sparkes of Hope Summer Camp.
“It’s dangerous for these children to be left with nothing to do during the summer,” said Jane Szollosy.
“Within two weeks, we had raised enough money for the first summer camp.”
They visited the Dominican Republic for the first time in 2014 and have returned every summer since. Their current project is to raise funds for scholarships for girls graduating from the Collège who want to attend high school.
Maria Durant and Joan Lee from the West Island Black Community Association got the ball rolling during the Thursday brunch by committing $500 to the scholarship fund.
In a nod to International Women’s Day, the sisters credited strong female role models for helping shape their lives, and said the scholarship fund was being established to do the same thing. “Education empowers girls, and once they are empowered, the younger girls see them. They become strong role models,” said Szollosy.
Registration for the women’s centre spring session is underway. For information call 514695-8529 or visit www.wiwc.ca.