As we look back on 2025, we at Women of Dignity International (WODI) can hardly help but feel proud — not out of self-importance, but because we’ve seen real change take place in the lives of women, families, and newcomers in our communities across Canada.

This year wasn’t just about programs and events. It was about people — people who came with hopes, fears, dreams, and sometimes weariness — and left stronger, better, more confident.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we achieved together in 2025.

Sharing Skills That Build Confidence

One of the most powerful parts of our year was the Summer Cookcraft & Kitchen Skills Training. This wasn’t just about teaching recipes — it was about giving community and families practical skills they could use to support themselves and their families. Through hands-on cooking sessions, participants learned new techniques, shared stories, and built friendships that go beyond the kitchen.

Likewise, our Afro Hair Making Training sessions brought more than skill-building. They fostered pride in identity and culture. Women gathered not just to learn styling techniques, but to connect, laugh, and affirm the beauty in their heritage, which matters so much in a world that often overlooks it. 

Meeting Real Needs Through Service

When it came to meeting basic needs, our WODI Food Bank was a cornerstone of our community support work this year. In a time when many families faced rising costs and uncertainty, we were able to provide essential food supplies, giving dignity and relief to those who needed help. As people walked away with bags of groceries, we also saw something deeper happen — encouragement, connection, and hope. 

Celebrating Women Worth Honouring

2025 was also a year of celebration. At our Outstanding Dignified Personalities Award, we honoured women who have stood tall in service, leadership, and compassion. These were not awards given lightly, but recognitions of real grit — women who have shown up for others, held steady through difficulties, and led with courage.

These recognitions reminded us that dignity isn’t just a word we use — it’s reflected in lives lived with integrity and generosity.

Bringing Joy with Community Celebration

At the end of the year, our Jollof Rice Carnival & End of Year Appreciation scheduled to every last Saturday in December 2025 (December 27 2025) often brings laughter, colour, and togetherness. There’s something magical about gathering around food, music, and smiles — it shifts moods, creates memories, and reminds us that community is part of what heals and strengthens us.

When children dance, elders share their stories, or families enjoy their smoky Jollof Rice dish, the carnival is a reminder that joy can be simple and yet deeply meaningful. 

Recognition Beyond Our Walls

Our impact in 2025 also reached beyond the events we hosted. Our founder, Mercy Itohan Osayi, received notable recognition this year for her leadership and dedication — including being acknowledged at the Canada-Africa Economic and Cultural Summit and being named among the Top 100 Black Women To Watch. These honours speak not just to Mercy’s personal commitment, but to the heart of WODI’s mission and the community we serve. 

Honest Reflection: What Didn’t Go Perfectly

We want to be honest with ourselves and with you. Not every plan went exactly as we imagined. Some initiatives reached fewer people than we hoped. Some meetings were postponed, and some resources fell short of demand. But what we learned in those moments was just as important as the successes: flexibility, humility, and the courage to try again.

In every challenge, we found room to grow — and that is a success too.

In Conclusion

Looking back at 2025, what stands out most is not the number of programs we ran, but the people we walked alongside. The women who found confidence through skills training. The families who found relief at the food bank. The leaders who stood up with dignity. The joy we shared in community moments.

Together, we have built something stronger than a list of achievements — we have helped nurture hope, connection, and resilience. As we move into 2026, we carry those stories with us, knowing that every step forward — even a small one — matters.