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A social development initiative is expected to step in the lime light as thirty-seven community-based organizations will share close to $350,000 in Giving Voice grants. The grants are designed to fund programs aimed at stopping violence against aboriginal women and girls through changing behaviours and attitudes, and mobilizing communities.
The Giving Voice project is an initiative of the Minister's Advisory Council for Aboriginal Women. The purpose of the Giving Voice Initiative is to provide Aboriginal women, men, youth, and elders with safe opportunities to share their thoughts regarding issues of violence and abuse within their lives, families, and communities.
Grant funds will be distributed in two streams. Initiatives under the first stream must be completed by Nov. 30, 2015. In addition, eligible applicants must support activities that bring participants together in a safe, supportive and meaningful way – including employing traditional activities, guest speakers, and the use of social media.
Initiatives under the second stream must be completed by Nov. 30, 2016, and support the mobilization, implementation, planning and action phase.
Twenty-five programs will receive funding between $3,100 and $7,500 as a part of the first funding stream. A total of just over $170,000 will be distributed under the first stream.
Twelve organizations will receive between $13,000 and $15,000 under the second funding stream, reaching just over $178,000 in distribution.
“Our Giving Voice grant funded workshops and cultural activities to promote health, well-being and a violence-free way of life. Under the umbrella of ‘Stand Up, Our Women and Children’ we participated in talking circles, sweat lodges, medicine gathering trips, and a ‘Standing Up Against Violence’ information booth on Aboriginal Day. The program enabled 120 women and men, aged 26 to 65, to learn healthy lifestyle and decision-making skills, and positive impacts continue today,” said Molly Brewer from the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society.
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