Welcome to the Mehari Centre
The Mehari Centre is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides essential services to the Eritrean community in Ottawa. It offers culturally and linguistically anchored programs and services to help Eritreans integrate into Canadian society.
Land Acknowledgment
We respectfully acknowledge that our work takes place on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, whose presence here dates back to time immemorial. We recognize and honour all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples for their past and present contributions to this land.
At the Mehari Centre, we believe that true community-building includes reconciliation with the First Peoples of this land. Our commitment to solidarity means working in relation with Indigenous communities and acknowledging the shared history of displacement, resilience, and systemic barriers faced by both Indigenous and newcomer communities.
We stand in allyship, recognizing that the path forward must be grounded in truth, respect, and collective action.
Our Mission
The Mehari Centre’s mission is to offer culturally and linguistically-anchored programs and services—grounded in evidence and community—that promote and improve the wellbeing of Eritreans living in Ottawa. The Mehari Centre provides a safe and welcoming environment to affirm the Eritrean identity and equip Eritrean newcomers with needed information and resources, giving them a space to heal and to connect with each other and the greater community.
Our Vision
The Mehari Centre’s vision is to foster a holistic, healthy, flourishing, and harmonious Eritrean community in Ottawa.
Our Values
The Mehari Centre’s foundational values are rooted in Eritrean traditions that embody a spirit of harmony, resilience and compassion.
Derived from the Eritrean tradition, these values are intertwined with the overarching principle of Mehari, symbolizing mercy and kindness. At the Mehari Centre, we aspire to model Mehari in every aspect of our work, emphasizing kindness, compassion, community spirit, impartiality, and the empowerment of individuals to carve out their own paths.
Wefera (ወፈራ)
Wefera is a Tigrinya word that roughly translates to English as “working together towards a common good.” It is a system of mutual aid through which a communal effort is mobilized to assist members of the community in crisis, such as farmers behind in their work in urgent need of extra pairs of hands to complete their planting or harvesting on time, individuals who require assistance building new or repairing damaged homes, individuals that require funds raised for emergency expenses, etc.
Justice (ፍትሒ)
As a community, we have always mobilized to fight for just outcomes in the face of adversity. As an organization, our programs and services focus on addressing issues related to social justice, inequities, and disparities. Eritreans in Ottawa have the right to timely and culturally appropriate programs, services, and a successful integration into the Canadian Society.
Gender Equality (ማዕርነት)
Mehari Centre recognizes the pivotal role of women as the backbone of our community’s survival and success. Acknowledging the unique challenges faced and the existing power imbalances, we are steadfast in our commitment to empowering and promoting the leadership of women. By directly addressing these challenges, the aim is to create a more equitable and supportive community environment that uplifts and amplifies the contributions of women. Through targeted initiatives and programs, Mehari Centre is dedicated to fostering an atmosphere where women can thrive, lead, and contribute to the overall well-being and success of our community.
Healing (ፈውሲ)
Eritreans have gone through several challenges and life-threatening conditions before their flight, during their dangerous and treacherous travel journeys and post migration experiences in Canada. Our generation is responsible for preparing the foundation for a better tomorrow for our children and youth. Mehari Centre uses a strength-based approach to create an environment for healing, restoration and reconciliation.
Harmony (ስኒት)
We are proud of the diversity within our community. We celebrate the differences in our culture, language, beliefs, and political views. Our diversity is our strength and the beauty of who we are as Eritreans. We serve for one united goal – the strength and well-being of Eritreans in Ottawa.
Eldership (ሽማግለ / ሸምግልና)
As a community, we are accountable to each other. Traditionally, we resolve our differences and promote our wellness by engaging the “Elders” in our community. Eldership is not defined by age. Rather, “Elders” are recognized because they have earned the respect of their community through wisdom, harmony, and balance of their actions and teachings.
Solidarity (ምትሕብባር)
The barriers that Mehari Centre is aiming to address are systemic and generational. Our efforts alone cannot remedy these social ills. We work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across sectors and in solidarity with other marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, to achieve collective impact.
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Email: themeharicentre@gmail.com
Phone: 613-882-4274