The Canadian Red Cross, the Employment and Social Development Canada through the Emergency Community Support Fund awarded the PCC with grants to implement two projects to provide support in direct service delivery to those who are most vulnerable to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19.

To be delivered in Ottawa and surrounding areas, the project intends to benefit Filipino-Canadian senior citizens, healthcare frontliners, and youth aged 19-29.

The first project aims to assist 200 Filipino-Canadian seniors, 100 caregivers and 200 essential workers in Ottawa who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 economically, socially, and mentally by providing them with care and food packages, and other support activities through a cadre of trained volunteers.

The second one aims to enable 50 Filipino-Canadian youth to thrive despite stress and uncertainties brought about by COVID-19, through webinars on self-awareness, positive thinking and resilience, virtual life skills trainings, and mentorship on livelihood and entrepreneurship.

“The PCC recognizes the risks of Filipino frontliners in the healthcare industry and we hope that through this project, we could express our gratitude for their sacrifices to keep the community healthy. We also recognize the negative effects caused by the restrictions to our seniors. We believe that the care packages and the online social and recreational activities may help them overcome the adverse psychological and emotional impacts of COVID-19. Even our youth faces stress and uncertainties. The youth resilience project aims to lessen their anxieties through webinars and entrepreneurial training aimed at building a positive outlook for the future. We thank the Canadian Red Cross and the Government of Canada for these two projects. Their support would definitely go a long way in contributing to the PCC’s mission to build a strong Filipino community in Canada,” said Marion Villanueva, former Chairperson of the PCC.

The projects are expected to be completed by February 2021.