SAWCC is a feminist women’s centre that welcomes women and their families from all over the world, regardless of origin, status, age, religion, ethnicity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
We believe in empowerment and that every woman has the right to take charge of her life. Our goal is to support that through services, accompaniment, advocacy and community-building.
We also believe that real change comes from collective action. That’s why SAWCC is actively involved in community activism. We participate in protests, marches, rallies and campaigns that matter to the women we serve.
Our work is guided by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Canadian and Quebec Charters of Human Rights.
SAWCC’s History
The South Asian Women’s Community Centre (SAWCC) was founded in 1981. A year earlier, a group of nine South Asian women in Montreal had come together to talk about the lack of support for women from their backgrounds.
They wanted to create a space where South Asian women could feel supported and empowered. From the beginning, SAWCC was more than a service centre, it was built on feminism and sisterhood. The work started with addressing violence against women and that commitment remains strong today.
SAWCC was also one of the first spaces to bring together women from all parts of South Asia in Montreal. While the Centre has grown and changed with the times, its core values have stayed the same.
Our Team
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Our Executive Committee is made up of volunteer members of the Centre who give their time, energy and care to support the work and values of SAWCC.
PRESIDENT
Indu Krishnamurthy
VICE PRESIDENT
Samantha Lee Chew
SECRETARY
Mela Sarkar
TREASURER
Sema Burney
PUBLICATIONS SEC
Jennifer Chew
PROGRAM SEC
Dolores Chew
YOUTH REP
Deepti Obusri Viknesh
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vrinda Narain
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
Diane Shea
STAFF
The team at the Centre is made up of full time and part-time community workers, each of whom speak multiple languages and brings the diverse skills and experience to serve our communities in the best possible way.
COMMUNITY WORKER
Anipriya Gopinathan
FRENCH ENGLISH TAMIL
COMMUNITY WORKER
Parisa Karimi Molan
FRENCH ENGLISH FARSI/DARI/TURKISH
CENTRE COORDINATOR
Ghazala Munawar
FRENCH ENGLISH URDU HINDI PUNJABI
CENTRE MANAGER
Juvaria Yasser
FRENCH ENGLISH URDU HINDI PUNJABI
COMMUNITY WORKER
Shipra Barua
FRENCH ENGLISH BANGLA
COMMUNITY WORKER
Sivambikai Sivamoorthy
FRENCH ENGLISH TAMIL SINGHALISE
SAWAI COORDINATOR
Panchi Chakma
FRENCH ENGLISH BANGLA
SAWAI WORKER
Mangaie Saravanabavan
FRENCH ENGLISH URDU HINDI PUNJABI
SAWAI WORKER & BOOKKEEPER
Iram Qadeer
FRENCH ENGLISH URDU HINDI PUNJABI
SAY WORKER
Thanvi Garigipati
FRENCH ENGLISH
Funding
SAWCC’s work is made possible through the generous support of:
