Maama Watali, a Black-led non-profit group that helps support people after loss or gender-based violence, is aiming to build a 14-unit transitional home in the Glebe for racialized and immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence.
The project is the dream of Susan Namulindwa, who founded Maama Watali in 2007 after the loss of her own mother. It is planned as an addition to the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church.
Namulindwa’s roots are in Uganda but she was living in Canada with her own family when her mother, back in Uganda, passed away.
Namulindwa returned to Uganda for her mom’s funeral. Feeling the loss, she and her extended family decided to turn the family home into the first Maama Watali house. “Mom is not here, so we have to do this,” she said.
Maama Watali means “in the absence of a mother.”
The house welcomed teenagers aging out of the orphanages in Uganda.
“We figured we’ll make it a home for teenage mothers and teach them some skills to help them build their lives,” said Namulindwa.
After working with the organization, she returned to her husband and children in Ottawa and the Maama Watali organization came with her.
“During the pandemic, the stats are available, domestic violence increased,” said Namulindwa. She started an awareness campaign about domestic violence in racialized and immigrant communities.
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence or IPV has been called a “shadow pandemic” by the Canadian Institute of Health Research during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a StatsCan Report from 2022, “More than half (53 per cent) of shelters reported an increase in demand for victim outreach services (i.e. support or services for victims outside their facilities).”
Also according to StatsCan, “Among specific ethnocultural groups, Arab (44 per cent), Black (42 per cent) and Latin American (47 per cent) women were more likely to have experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15 when compared with the overall population designated as a visible minority (29 per cent).”
“Initially we were not a service-providing organization, but we could tell you where to go and we built a network of resources,” said Namulindwa. The organization partnered with different people and places, including the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church, with Rev. Cheryle Hanna taking a special interest in Maama Watali’s cause.
“Intimate partner violence is a reality in our society, and helping people who are vulnerable is what we believe as people of faith,” said Hanna.
Hanna started out as one of the inspirational speakers for Maama Watali. When Namulindwa started discussing the idea of an Ottawa-based Maama Watali house, “I said why don’t you build the house here? On church land?” said Hanna. “That’s where we began!”
The process included convincing the congregation of the merits of the project. Next a feasibility study was funded by the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
“We already run an emergency shelter for youth two nights a week called “Haven Too” at the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church,” said Hanna. “It wasn’t as big a leap as that sounds because our motto is to help people everywhere.”
Maama Watali has already helped more than 250 people in Uganda, Kenya and Canada. Now the housing project aims to make a difference in Ottawa.
The 14-unit complex will be built on the church grounds on four floors. To kickstart fundraising, different members of the Ottawa community have hopped on board.
Minarwa Shreshtha and Lily Tran are the newest sponsorship coordinators of Maama Watali and co-presidents of UoGlow, a University of Ottawa Club that uses makeup and skincare practices to empower Ottawa Women. The club also helps fundraise for and donates to Ottawa women’s shelters, which are overwhelmed by women and children seeking safety from gender-based violence.
“We had a similar interest in helping women who have faced gender-based violence in Ottawa,” said Shreshtha.
Tran spoke of her experience as the daughter of refugees, seeing her mother struggle, and her own desire to help women.
Shreshtha and Tran help connect with companies and businesses to fundraise.
The estimated budget for the project is $3.5 million. On Dec. 3, the Maama Watali organization is hosting a gala, called “Home for the Holidays“, featuring violinist Alador Bereketab, Ugandan gospel artist Judith Babirye and Baganda dancers from the Kamengo Culture Group. There will also be a silent auction.
For more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/home-for-the-holidaysby-maama-watali-tickets-1034300278977
