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Event Report Date of activity: Saturday, August 30, 2025 Location: Calypso Water Park Organized by: RAFIO 1. Context and Objectives of the Activity As part of its mission to promote integration, well-being, and personal development among youth, RAFIO organized a recreational outing to Calypso Water Park on Saturday, August 30, 2025. The main objectives of this activity were to: Provide young participants with a day of relaxation and entertainment Strengthen social bonds and t

Event Report Date: Friday, May 23, 2026 Location: RAFIO offices – 235 Montréal Road, Ottawa Theme: Understanding and managing anxiety Overview of the Activity On Friday, May 23, 2026, RAFIO organized a youth workshop focused on understanding and managing anxiety. The goal of the session was to help young participants better understand the causes and effects of anxiety while introducing practical tools to manage stress in daily life. The workshop took place in a warm, engaging

Event Report Date: November 2, 2024 Location: Cooperation Integration Canada (CICAN) – 404 McArthur Avenue, Suite 209, Ottawa, ON K1K 1G8 Theme: Awareness on family violence and domestic violence Target audience: Community members, social workers, and health professionals Introduction The event organized by CICAN aimed to raise awareness within the community about issues related to family and domestic violence. It sought to inform participants about warning signs, psychologic

Event Report Date: June 25, 2024 Locations: 310 Olmstead Street & 235 Montréal Road Theme: “Self-care as a single mother” Partner: SFC Ottawa Introduction On June 25, 2024, RAFIO organized a workshop titled “Self-care as a single mother” in partnership with SFC Ottawa. The event aimed to provide a safe space for reflection and sharing on the importance of personal well-being for single mothers. Workshop Overview The workshop brought together a group of single mothers in a war

Event Report Date: June 25, 2023 Location: 303 Kendall Avenue, Ottawa Theme: Understanding the link between mental health and financial health to strengthen well-being Key Concepts Mental health refers to a person’s overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It includes how we think, feel, and behave, as well as our ability to cope with stress, manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and make decisions. Good mental health is reflected in positive self-este

RAFIO presents the interview conducted within the organization ABEPOG (Association of Black Entrepreneurs and Professionals of Ottawa and Gatineau). As part of the “Résilience” project, our Executive Director, Antoinette Irarera, was invited to participate in this meaningful initiative, and we are pleased to share it with you. For the full interview, please click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv44CCKYp1A

Event Report Date: July 16, 2024 Location: 310 Olmstead Street Organizer: RAFIO (Active Resilience of Immigrant Families in Ontario) Target Groups: Single-parent families, youth, seniors Introduction On July 16, 2024, RAFIO organized a consultation and exchange event bringing together members from three key groups: single-parent families, youth, and seniors. The main objective was to identify the emerging needs of these specific groups and develop appropriate response strateg

Event Report: Date: July 26, 2024 Location: 310 Olmstead Street Theme: “Strategic Planning” (Funded by TROPICANA) Partner: SFC Ottawa Introduction On July 26, 2024, RAFIO organized a key strategic planning event aimed at improving its interventions for the groups it serves. The event took place at the offices of SFC Ottawa (our partner) and brought together various participants to discuss and develop a strategic plan focused on service improvement and overall governance withi

Event Report: Date: August 26, 2023 Location: 303 Kendall Avenue, Ottawa Theme: Aging in Canada: How to Manage and Succeed in Your Social Life Introduction This report aims to outline the success of the event titled “Aging in Canada: How to Manage and Succeed in Your Social Life”, which took place on August 26, 2023, with a group of seniors. The main objective of this event was to explore strategies for maintaining a fulfilling social life while highlighting activities that p

Event Date: October 29, 2023 Location: 303 Kendall Avenue, Ottawa Hosting Organizations: CICAN (Cooperation Integration Canada) and RAFIO (Active Resilience of Immigrant Families in Ontario) Introduction The event titled “The Role of Seniors in Managing Their Mental Health” was organized by CICAN in collaboration with local partners. The objective of this event was to raise awareness within the community about the importance of seniors’ mental health and to highlight the acti

Event Report Date of the event: June 15, 2024 Location: 303 Kendall Ave Participants: Twenty immigrant seniors Main facilitators: Apollinaire Yengayenge, staff member at Collège La Cité Prosper Munezero, financial expert Partner: Desjardins Introduction On June 15, 2024, RAFIO organized an event focused on financial health and family conflict management among immigrant seniors. In partnership with Desjardins, the event aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in these essenti

Workshop Report Date and Time: September 11, 2024, 5:00 PM Location: Service Familial et Counseling Ottawa Facilitator: Reginald Alexis Target Audience: Seniors from the Burundian community Introduction This workshop was organized to raise awareness among Burundian community seniors about mental health and to provide them with tools to identify factors that may affect it. The session is part of a broader approach to support and prevention in mental health for older adults. Wo

Workshop Report Date and Time: September 18, 2024, 5:00 PM Location: Service Familial et Counseling Ottawa Facilitator: Reginald Alexis Target Audience: Seniors from the Burundian community Introduction This workshop was the second in a series organized to raise awareness among Burundian community seniors about mental health. The main objective of this session was to develop strategies to improve the mental well-being of immigrant seniors, taking into account the specific cha

Workshop Report Date and Time: October 2, 2024, at 5:00 PM Location: Service Familial et Counseling Ottawa Facilitator: Reginald Alexis Target Audience: Seniors from the Burundian community Introduction This workshop, the third in a series dedicated to the mental health of immigrant seniors, aimed to explore strategies to improve the mental well-being of older immigrants, particularly by reducing isolation and better managing stress. Workshop Overview The session began with a

Event Report Date and Time: August 20, 2024, 1:00 PM Location: Ottawa Inn Hotel Parking Lot Organizer: Vanier Community Centre Event Description The Vanier Community Centre organized a community BBQ in the parking lot of the Ottawa Inn Hotel. The event aimed to bring together community members and encourage meaningful interactions with the various organizations that serve them. Among these organizations, RAFIO was present to share its services and initiatives. Participants Lo

Event Report Date and Time: August 24, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: 689 St. Laurent Boulevard Organizer: Mona Fortier and her team Event Description On August 24, 2024, Mona Fortier and her team organized a community BBQ at 689 St. Laurent Boulevard. The goal of the event was to bring the local community together in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, offering a great opportunity for residents to meet other families, neighbors, and local elected officials. More than a

Conference Report Date and Location: September 12–13, 2024 – Marriott Hotel, Toronto Organizer: Tropicana Community Services Target Audience: Organizations receiving funding for capacity building of Black-led organizations in Canada Introduction The conference “Initiating Change for Transformed Communities” brought together several organizations committed to the development and capacity building of Black-led organizations in Canada. Organized by Tropicana Community Services,

Event Report Date and Time: September 26, 2024 Location: Centre Pauline-Charron Facilitator: Mona Fortier Target Audience: Community members Introduction The “Spaghetti Dinner with Mona Fortier” workshop was organized to bring community members together for a friendly gathering and an exchange on topics of common interest. The event allowed participants to discuss various local issues while sharing a meal. Workshop Overview The event began with a warm welcome to participants,

Event Report Date and Location: September 28, 2024 – Vanier Hub Organizer: ABÉPOG Target Audience: Members of the Afro-Caribbean community and the general public Introduction The Afro-Caribbean Community Market Sales Day, organized by ABÉPOG at the Vanier Hub, was a vibrant event aimed at promoting local products, strengthening community ties, and supporting Afro-Caribbean entrepreneurs. This initiative allowed vendors to showcase their products while offering visitors a wide

Activity Report Date and Time: October 16, 2024 (Full Day) Location: RAFIO Office – 235 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario Facilitator: Nelson Jean‑François Target Audience: RAFIO beneficiaries (youth, single-parent families, and seniors) Introduction This consultation session was organized to gather feedback from RAFIO beneficiaries regarding the services provided by the organization and to identify ways to better meet the needs of Black and Francophone immigrant communities. Th