Indian Community in Canada > Ontario > Scarborough

Founded in 2007 by women in the Oakridge-Crescent Town neighbourhood of Scarborough, ON, South Asian Women and Immigrants' Services (SAWIS) represents a grassroots movement toward community empowerment and economic stability. Originally established as the South Asian Women's Rights Organization (SAWRO), SAWIS has evolved into a community-based association dedicated to the empowerment and integration of immigrant women while working to reduce poverty within the community. What sets SAWIS apart is its commitment to solutions designed by and for the women it serves. Rather than imposing external programs, SAWIS builds capacity within the community, enabling local women to take leading roles in addressing the challenges they face. This philosophy has guided the organization's work for nearly two decades, supported by partnerships with respected institutions including the United Way, Metcalf Foundation, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. In response to the critical need for economic opportunity in Scarborough's most vulnerable neighbourhoods, SAWIS has concentrated recent efforts on employment and employability programs. The organization recognizes that despite high levels of education, motivation, and skills from their home countries, many immigrant women lack Canadian work experience and marketable credentials. SAWIS stands as a trusted community partner, helping women gain the confidence, training, and connections needed to restart their careers and build secure futures for themselves and their families in Ontario.

Founded by leading members of Canada's Indian Community, Hindu Cultural Society in Scarborough, ON emerged from a shared vision to create a meaningful space where Indo-Canadians could gather, celebrate, and preserve their heritage. What began as small group meetings among community members evolved into a comprehensive cultural institution serving as a source of pride and identity for all Indo-Canadians—from those with generational roots in Canada to newly arrived immigrants. The organization's core mission centers on inspiring pro-social friendships, developing strong interpersonal skills, and fostering hope among seniors, adults, and youth within the Scarborough community. Hindu Cultural Society is built on four foundational principles: commitment to inspire caring relationships, responsibility to educate youth in goal-setting and accountability, possibility to expand perspectives on life's opportunities, and support to create inclusive learning environments. The organization recognizes that individuals are profoundly shaped by their support systems, and works intentionally to surround community members with compassionate, welcoming spaces. By engaging seniors in meaningful activities alongside youth and families, Hindu Cultural Society addresses social isolation while strengthening intergenerational bonds. The organization promotes welfare irrespective of origin and actively supports the study, practice, and development of religion, culture, and civilization values. In Scarborough, ON, Hindu Cultural Society continues its founders' dream of providing a harmonious environment where community members can offer prayers, celebrate culture, and transmit heritage to future generations.