Resilience in Action is an initiative to help newcomer organizations in Canada respond to gender-based violence with more confidence and capacity, and make it easier for newcomer women to report incidents and get help.
Solutions that work. Collaboration
with impact.
Solutions
that work. Collaboration
with impact.
Community organizations are often the first place newcomer women turn to when they experience gender-based violence.
But many are overworked, under-resourced, and left to fill gaps in systems that weren’t built with newcomers in mind.
Resilience in Action helps close those gaps through survivor-led technology and practical training. We work alongside partners to share resources and strengthen the systems that sustain this work.
How We’re Taking Action
PLATFORM EXPANSION
Enhancing culturally relevant features of VESTA Community.
NAVIGATOR PROGRAM
Training community guides to offer one-on-one support.
CAPACITY
BUILDING
Helping organizations hone survivor-focused practices.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Bringing survivor voices into every stage of design and delivery.
PUBLIC
AWARENESS
Reducing stigma and connecting newcomers to available services.
Our Partners
Resilience in Action is powered by collaboration between frontline organizations, researchers, and tech partners who share our vision of building a world free from gender-based violence.
Community Partner
Community Partner
Research and Design Partner
Research Partner
Research Partner
Funding Partner
Resilience in Action is made possible through funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
Their support helps us expand our trauma-informed tools and training to reach more immigrant, refugee, and non-status women across Canada.
Explore our Resources
Browse articles, videos, and downloads created to support organizations responding to gender-based violence in newcomer communities.
Start the
Conversation
If your organization supports Canadian newcomers or survivors of gender-based violence, we’d love to connect. Reach out to learn more about the Resilience in Action project or explore ways to collaborate.
Start the Conversation
If your organization supports Canadian newcomers or survivors of gender-based violence, we’d love to connect. Reach out to learn more about the Resilience in Action project or explore ways to collaborate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Resilience in Action for?
Resilience in Action is for organizations, advocates, and community members who support immigrant, refugee, and non-status women experiencing gender-based violence. We’re partnering with groups across Canada to develop more effective survivor-centered, trauma-informed approaches.
Do organizations need to have technical expertise to get involved?
Not at all. Our team handles the setup and provides training and ongoing support for your staff. Through Resilience in Action, you’ll have access to the technology and guidance you need to make it work for your organization.
Will this add more work for our team?
No. The VESTA platform is here to lighten the load. It gives teams a safe, consistent way to stay connected with survivors outside of appointments. The platform’s multilingual, survivor-controlled design makes coordination easier and more secure for everyone involved.
What kinds of resources are available?
We share practical tools, articles, videos, and research through our Resources page, all focused on survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant approaches.
Why do you use the term “gender-based violence”?
We know not everyone uses that term. Some people talk about:
- Domestic violence
- Intimate partner violence
- Family violence
- Sexual assault
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual misconduct
- Sexual abuse
We use “gender-based violence” because it includes all the ways people, especially women, girls, and gender-diverse people, experience harm based on gender. It’s a broad term, but our work always starts with the words communities use to describe their own experiences.
What if our community uses different language or approaches?
That’s okay, and expected. Our goal with Resilience in Action is to learn from how different communities understand and respond to violence. We’re here to listen and adapt our language, technology, and training to reflect your reality. That’s why we’re working with newcomer organizations across Canada. Their insights and lived experience shape every part of this project.