MIssion
MSSWR is a charitable organization that provides culturally- and spiritually sensitive humanitarian and social services to the Muslim and non-Muslim communities of the Waterloo Region. Our mission is to build community capacity through education, empowerment, advocacy, and collaboration, along with providing mental health supports and services that are grounded in spirituality and values of the Islamic faith
Vision
A healthy, thriving and inclusive region where all people can live with dignity and respect.
Values
At MSSWR we believe in… Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Supporting the diversity within our community so that all people are given equal opportunities and treatment, are included and supported, and are engaged in a fair and equitable manner. Respect and Compassion - Accepting each person as they are, being non-judgmental in our work with them, and acting with sincerity and generosity, kindness and compassion in meeting the needs of all people we support. Social Justice - Creating a society that encourages and celebrates the value of each person as an integral and equal member of our community. Confidentiality - Holding the highest regard for the trust and privacy of each client and ensuring the application of the highest professional and ethical standards in all our Collaboration - Cultivating outstanding relationships with the people of the community, our clients, partners, and others, that are reciprocal in nature and are rooted in equity, compassion, and respect. Celebrate - Always celebrating the importance of building capacity within our families, partners, donors, and the entire community. Accountability - Being accountable for the decisions we make, how we use the resources provided to us, and acting with integrity in all that we do
About Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region
Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region is a charitable organization that provides culturally- and spiritually-sensitive humanitarian and social services to the Muslim and non-Muslim communities of the Waterloo Region. MSS aims to foster a healthy and inclusive region where people can live with dignity and respect. We aim to create a deep sense of belonging in community members from collectivist contexts through programs aimed at leveraging the resilience of children and youth, creating safer families, through community outreach initiatives, counselling, bridge-building, and capacity-building.
Our approaches to service are integrated and reflective of unique community contexts. We are a small organization that has been able to offer a wide range of programs and service and build our reputation through strong community partnerships.
MSS is a charitable organization that has been accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. We are proud of this accreditation, and the registration number of our charity is 848686309RR0001
Our Story
Muslim Social Services was founded in January 2007 in response to the need for a culturally- and spiritually-sensitive community agency. MSS has aimed to follow the Islamic commandment of working to foster a just, equitable, and peaceful community.
The model MSS has adopted from its inception has been one of cooperation and partnership with other mainstream agencies, faith groups, and counselling centres that have well-established social service infrastructure. It is with the help of these partnerships and a great deal of hard work that MSS evolved form a group of loosely knit volunteers dedicated to making a difference to a full fledged not-for-profit organization in 2011.
In Feb 2013, MSS was recognized by the Government of Canada as a charitable organization as well. We are committed to treating everyone who approaches MSS with dignity, respect, and compassion. We hope to validate the place of faith and culture in people’s lives and foster safe spaces for all members of our community.