The story of the Azerbaijani Women’s Support Centre (AWSC) begins in 2005 when a group of dedicated women from across the country decided to support women and families in Canada and globally.
After years of hard work, AWSC is Canada's only charity organization for Azerbaijani women. We are dedicated to equity, equality and empowerment for all women. We also work with women of other communities to achieve significant milestones for women.
AWSC is committed to improving the status of women. We provide women and children with support, information, and options.
We offer programs and services designed to empower women and children. We coordinate projects and work closely with our community members, partners and service providers, to ensure that women and families are organized, informed, and support each other.
AWSC is a registered charity organization dedicated to the well-being of all women through community engagement, information, resources, and social, educational, and cultural activities in order to produce positive change.
AWSC supports empowering all women locally and globally by building their capacities.
Mission
AWSC is a registered charity dedicated to the well-being of all women through community engagement, information, resources, and social, educational, and cultural activities in order to produce positive change.
Values
Our core values are:
Empowerment
Education
Collaboration
Advocacy
Respect
Research
Accountability
Dignity
Minira Babayeva graduated from the University of Russian Language and Literature named after M.F. Akhundov in Azerbaijan. She is a certified nurse and piano teacher. She worked more than 17 years as a teacher in middle and high school. Minira is also a certified dental assistant in Ontario since 2005. Currently, she is a director and shareholder of medical businesses in Toronto.
Minira has committed her life to helping turn goodwill into action. Therefore, she is working hard to change the world for good. She inspires young Azerbaijanis in Canada - both male and female - to aim high and work hard.
Nazila Isgandarova has a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral counselling, marriage and family studies from Wilfred Laurier University, and Master of Social Work from the University of Windsor. She is a Registered Psychotherapist at the College for Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and Registered Social Worker at the Ontario Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Nazila is the recipient of the prestigious Forum for Theological Exploration research award for her study on domestic violence against Muslim women, Canadian Association for Spiritual Care Senior Research Award and Society for Pastoral Counselling Research Award. Currently, Nazila teaches at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Her book, titled Muslim Women, Domestic Violence, and Psychotherapy: Theological and Clinical Issues, was published by Routledge in 2018.
Yegana is one of the outstanding leaders of the Azerbaijani community since her immigration to Canada. She is a Registered Early Childcare Educator, a College Professor at Canadore@Stanford College and instructor and program coordinator at Parma-Medical Science College of Canada.
Yegana delivers lectures and couches students all the courses of Early Childhood Educator and Early Childcare Assistant Diploma Programs, also Home Childcare Provider Certificate Program.
Yegana is an Azerbaijani Language Instructor at International Languages of Toronto District School Board..
Elmira Mammadova is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with OCSWSSW and she is a member of the Social Worker’s Association.
She majored in English language and literature at the University of Foreign Languages in Baku. Upon graduation, she started her career as an Interpreter at the Azerbaijan National Academy where she worked for 15 years. During that time Elmira also taught at the Oil and Gas University.
She also worked in the bank sector in Russia.
Currently, Elmira works in various settlement organizations helping immigrants and refugees achieve their immigration goals.
Konul Gurbanova is an Employment Counsellor and Head of Health and Safety in Workplace. She graduated from the University of Foreign Languages in Baku, Azerbaijan majoring in English Linguistics. In 2008, she graduated from George Brown College and has a Diploma in Career and Work Counselling. Konul is working in Unionized workplace and taking all the unionized training by quarterly.