Fix WI Women's Shelter Playground

For over 36 years, the West Island Women’s Shelter has provided support and housing to victims of conjugal violence and their children in Montréal, Canada. From 2014 to 2015, the shelter welcomed over 300 women and children. Today, it continues to provide short- and longer-term housing, external support such as legal help, a children's summer camp as well as a 24/7 crisis hotline. The shelter has also been a key organiser of many awareness and training sessions in the community at large.

The playground behind the shelter, where the children play, is in dire need of refurbishing. The current activity equipment (slides, swings, etc.) is outdated and in some cases, unsafe. In upgrading, we hope to build proper facilities to accomodate children, from toddlers up to age 16. In addition to a play house, new slides and swings, a sand box, and activity stations, the space could largely benefit from a basketball court for older kids and teens. 

Adjacent to the playground, there is minimal space for women to unwind, which we'd like to expand to include a garden and proper rest area.

Our goal is to raise funds to hire the resources needed to redesign the yard layout and landscaping, to acquire appropriate and safe activity stations, and to provide the women with a peaceful space to relax.

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I created this fund as my personal contribution to the final goal of raising $40 000. My sister has worked passionately for the shelter for four years - caring for the kids, providing emotional support, and answering calls to the crisis hotline. My parents started this project in an effort to facilitate the crucial work my sister and her coworkers do. Those who work for the shelter can attest to the resilience and courage put forth by these women and children every day in what are to many of us unimaginable circumstances, but to them, a daily reality. As primary care accounts for the better part of the shelter's budget, little funding is left over for things like this - a swing set, a basketball court - which to childhood, should be as fundamental as anything.

I hope I'll have your support. Let's get it.



Mea O'Farrell