Take part in First Class Conferencing Facilitation’s device donation drive © Pexels/mododeolhar
First Class Conferencing Facilitation (FCCF), a Toronto-based Tech startup, is launching their Empowered by Devices campaign for 2023. The campaign launches on April 1st and will run for three months. Recently, the team at FCCF was acting as tech support for an inquest hosted by the Office of the Chief Coroner where they had an opportunity to meet Victim Services of Renfrew County. Hearing the testimonies during the inquest inspired them to do their part to help. A key observation was that survivors of intimate partner violence often need to leave everything behind—including their phone, computer, or tablet.
"For someone, it can be a lifeline—without having a cell phone in some areas, it puts them at greater risk with no way to reach out for help" — Faye Cassista, Program Manager, Victim Services of Renfrew County
FCCF is looking for donations of home security devices, phone and internet plans, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers. All donated devices will then be cleared, cleaned, and refurbished for use by Renfrew County Victim Services.
"After last year's successful drive, we wanted to grow the initiative. We could not believe the rising rates of IPV we have seen in Ontario. Seeing how access to devices can make such a big difference in survivors lives we knew we had to do our part. Once the inquest concluded we knew we had found our partner for 2023." — Maddy Hearne CEO, First Class Conferencing Facilitation Inc.
Victim Services of Renfrew County Inc. is a non-profit volunteer-based organization that assists police and other emergency services in providing emotional and practical assistance to people who have experienced a crime, tragic life event or community disaster including: domestic violence/partner assault, sexual violence, human trafficking.
The 2022 Empowered by Devices campaign collected over 50 devices that went to help Afghan refugees needing to access services upon arrival to Canada.
If you are interested in donating devices please contact: givingback@firstclassfacilitation.ca For more information on this years campaign please visit firstclassfaciliation.ca


Shohreh Bayat: A Chess Referee’s Fight for Women’s Rights in Iran and Abroad
Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat © REUTERS/Yuri Maltsev Iranian chess referee Shohreh Bayat says a gesture of solidarity with female compatriots at a tournament in

Pushing Forward: Preventing Violence Against Women in Online Spaces
Marwa Azelmat © Courtesy of Marwa Azelmat By Kirsten Gronlund, UN Women Marwa Azelmat is a digital rights expert and an activist involved with women’s

No More Stolen Sisters: The Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto Calls for Action
4000 Cover Stories initiative by Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto © Courtesy of NWRCT Strong women build strong communities The Native Women’s Resource Centre

A Safe Space to Speak: Life-Saving Support for Survivors
Photo © Courtesy of Assaulted Women’s Helpline On November 4th, 1985, the Assaulted Women’s Helpline answered its first call. In that first year, 5,000 calls

Leveraging the Power of Women’s Solidarity
© Courtesy of Cause Canada Bring women together to be the change “The Mothers’ Club was aware of my situation, so when CAUSE Canada wanted

Ernestine’s Fight Against the Shadow Pandemic
Photo © Courtesy of Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter There’s no place like home, but for some, Ernestine’s Women Shelter is better. Amid a global pandemic, women