Ladies In The Family Foundation

Project Name: Enhancing LIFF’s Organizational Effectiveness

Calgary, AB

The term “culture shock” loosely describes the sense of confusion that may come when a person quickly submerges into a new environment that is different from their known way of life. Bukola Ojemakinde challenged the definition’s shortsightedness and founded LIFF to address the aspects of culture shock that may extend years into an immigrant’s experience. “We have spent the last five years building partnerships and understanding the biggest issues that immigrant women face: Gender violence, food insecurity, mental health concerns, and a lack of peer-to-peer support.” LIFF aims to create more culturally customized programs to increase the accessibility and relevance of support to a broader gamut of immigrant women.

With better established roots and scans of the terrain they serve, LIFF is positioning itself to measure its growth effectively and quantify its impact in the community. While there is sufficient anecdotal evidence reflecting the extensive work ahead, securing committed volunteers can take time and effort. Ojemakinde admonishes immigrants to consider community building and volunteerism as part of their vision for the Canadian dream. “Alberta belongs to all of us. Our children need to flourish in a place where they feel that their parents have also contributed to the community.” For those who have never faced the complexities of immigration, she suggests that they consider mentorship. “It does not end at teaching someone how to use a stove or dishwasher. Who do they turn to if their child is being bullied or even if an employer is bullying them? It is incumbent upon naturally born Canadians to be armed with resources to support these people when these concerns arise. ”

With a $36,000 grant through SBCCI, Ladies in Family Foundation has recently launched a more robust website. This will facilitate better engagement between volunteers and program participants and streamline services and support systems. Ojemakinde is focused on the next development phase - a significant volunteer recruitment drive followed by training programs to ensure their effectiveness.