Counterspin 2: Taking root and building a home

The NAPWC

The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) was formed in 2002 as a mechanism for national coordination for education, research advocacy and capacity building to address the priority areas for the Filipino-Canadian community’s participation and involvement. A non-profit organization, it was borne out of the national consultation of Filipino-Canadian women in 1999 in Vancouver, B.C. It is the national coordinating body that unites and guides the works of the Philippine Women Centre (PWC) in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Among its mandate and general objectives are to:

Advance the struggle of Filipinos in Canada, particularly among women, for equality, peace and genuine development.

Develop national programs to enhance the community’s full participation in the civic, social and political life of Canada.

Conduct community based studies and research on the Filipino community that would help empower and develop capacity building skills in the community.

Help strengthen the member organizations’ capabilities in community organizing, research, education and mobilization.

Since its formation, the NAPWC has met and lobbied with politicians at municipal, provincial and federal levels with the perspective to conduct policy engagement for genuine change for the Filipino-Canadian community. The NAPWC has connected and networked with other organizations within and outside the community establishing it as a recognized national body representing a large segment of the Filipino-Canadian community. It has helped strengthen member organizations in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Ottawa by conducting studies and workshops, among them on community organizing, public policy development and engagements, anti-racism, immigration and other issues affecting the community.

In 2009, the NAPWC completed a comprehensive three-year community-based project “The Filipino Community and Beyond: Towards Full Participation in a Multicultural and Multiethnic Society” that addressed the program of Multiculturalism Canada. The project brought together Filipino-Canadians and progressive Filipino-Canadian organizations, nationally, to develop initiatives to overcome economic barriers experienced by the community; to combat systemic racism as it affects the community; to enhance women’s equality and genuine development; and to increase youth participation in the community’s future.