Somali-Canadian changemaker honoured for management
By Neil Armstrong
The eagerness and advocacy that Somali-Canadian Deqa Nur has for group improvement, social justice, financial inclusion and native, group pushed decision-making are fairly palpable if you take heed to her discuss her work.
She is the 2025 YWCA Toronto Ladies of Distinction Awards recipient for group management.
“We by no means stroll away from any want as a result of all wants are essential,” says Nur who based Hooyo Innovation Hub (“Hooyo” which means “mom” and “residence” in Somali), a company devoted to serving to Somali-Canadian moms construct sturdy financial futures for themselves and their households by way of capability constructing programming.
Nur says the identify was chosen as a result of in Somali and different African cultures, the mom is the centrepiece and the house. “When you’ve got a query, you return to the centre, to the core, to mother, and normally mothers are very resourceful.”
The rationale she created the hub was to construct a bridge for girls who’re caregivers for his or her youngsters, dad and mom or family members and in consequence couldn’t work exterior the house. This led some to depend on the earnings of their partner or help from the social system. However what they advised her they actually wished to do was to earn their very own cash.
“What I put collectively was a approach for girls to nonetheless do what they wish to do caring and loving their family members and group but in addition make an earnings and be a part of the financial system.”
Since 2017, underneath her management as its government director and challenge supervisor, Somali-Canadian moms dwelling in Toronto have been in a position to develop their abilities and procure very important instruments for his or her financial stability, equivalent to meals handler certificates and First Support/CPR coaching. Members had been additionally in a position to get hold of residence daycare {qualifications} without spending a dime, enabling them to ascertain their very own sustainable companies.
Throughout the pandemic, her dedication helped most of the members who had been struggling to entry digital providers for his or her households.
With the help of funders and thru authorities grants equivalent to an Ontario Trillium Basis two-year pilot grant, she offered ladies with tablets and expertise literacy training to help their entry to providers and their youngsters’s digital education wants.
“It’s very tough to help ladies in coaching and certification with out instruments and entry to units, and Trillium actually supported that, offering a whole lot of girls with units they usually had been in a position to log in on-line.” This allowed them to finish their licence and certification processes and begin their companies as quickly as they had been licensed.
Many have advised her that they felt good working and contributing to their households. She has heard, “I’ve sufficient earnings to help my youngsters, my family members; I’m not asking for somebody to maintain me.”
Past her work with Hooyo iHub, Nur has given again to the Toronto group in a wide range of significant methods; she acted as an envoy on Toronto’s Vaccine Engagement Workforce throughout COVID-19, launched a free tutoring program for youth in Etobicoke and presently serves on the Toronto Police Providers Group Advisory Panel and the Central Etobicoke Group Hub initiative (CECHi).
“If you work with folks and you’re a service supplier, many occasions you see the wants, and supporting youth got here by way of us working with ladies who even have youngsters,” mentioned Nur, emphasizing that the moms expressed the wants of their highschool youngsters for work, tutoring or volunteer alternatives.
She continues to advocate for help and sources within the training system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic created a niche in college students’ studying, one thing she has witnessed as a instructing assistant with the Toronto District College Board.
“Training to me is a necessity and if we wish our subsequent era to be supported, we have to say there’s a want right here, particularly with marginalized communities, and advocate for training,” mentioned Nur.
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