If staff with YMCA Sudbury's Newcomer Services suspect one of their clients is the victim of sexual harassment or violence, they now have a new tool they can use to help.
It comes in the form of a graphic novel available in 11 languages, including not only English and French, but Urdu, Punjabi, Dari, Arabic, Tamil, Armenian, Somali, Chinese and Spanish.
“Telling Our Stories: Immigrant Women's Resilience” features stories about immigrant women facing sexual harassment and violence.
“We're excited about the resource,” said Karen Makela, general manager of employment and immigrant services with the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario.
Even if her staff just slip the graphic novel to clients experiencing abuse along with other resources, she said she hopes it facilitates conversations that could ultimately lead to getting them help.
The graphic novel's Sudbury launch was held Aug. 21, with service providers gathering to hear about the new resource.
It was created thanks to a project by Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
Several groups of immigrant women in southern Ontario sat down with illustrator Coco Guzman, and from their collective experiences, they created the four stories in the book.
A graphic novel was the chosen medium because it's easier to read.
“Even the pictures, they tell a lot,” said Siham Chakrouni, bilingual co-ordinator on the graphic novel project.
“Coco did an amazing job drawing these stories, and even looking at the images, you feel very emotional. It's really well done.”
Chakrouni said she hopes the resource helps women. “I hope they will see that they can find help and they can find a way out of their situation,” she said.
If you're interested in reading the graphic novel, it's available on OCASI's website. Physical copies are also available free of charge at YMCA Sudbury's Newcomer Services, located in the Rainbow Centre Mall.
