Stories

Over the last 4 years, Reception House has been quietly providing employment support to refugees who came to Canada from around the world. Guiding newcomers through pre-employment processes like job seeking techniques, resume and interview preparation, WHMIS, health and safety training, Canadian workplace culture orientation, and orientation in the workplace. Health and Safety and WHMIS training is delivered by partner organization K-W Multicultural Centre. 

As we begin to work with employers, we recognize the need to provide employment support at the workplace. Yes, there may be cultural differences and language barriers. Our Working Together Project anticipates the challenges refugees and employers face in the workplace. We build in English language support for refugees, providing virtually at this time by Conestoga College. We work with employers to provide HR orientation, workplace tours and support workplace integration.  

After placing resourceful refugees with workplaces, our Working Together Project team works directly with employers and refugees to provide wrap-around support. We want refugees to rebuild their lives. We are rooting for newcomers. By providing employment support, we provide tools and opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives here, in Canada.  

Newcomers arrive in Canada after years of isolation, trauma and fleeing their homes. As we welcome our newcomer friends, we know re-building lives is incredibly challenging. Securing employment is a step towards becoming fully integrated and fully re-settled into Waterloo Region. Employment is a pillar to a successful resettlement experience.  

While refugees experience life-altering experiences, they are resilient and resourceful. Never underestimate a refugee. Newcomers have incredible adaptability and flexibility skills. While Working Together staff provide structured support, refugees are capable of adapting to nearly every situation and integrate fully into their workplace. Many soft skills like flexibility, resourcefulness and adaptability are acquired by refugees and transferable into the workplace.  

Majed Alhlal is proud to share his and his family’s story. After arriving in Canada, he was sad and depressed. He and his family were isolated and challenged as they tried to make Waterloo Region their home.  Majed began a job at the Tigercat Industries Inc. As he began working for this employer, his supervisor began to report back to the Working Together Project team that they were seeing a more positive and engaged employee.  

Majed shared that before starting his employment, he used to feel very depressed, helpless, and disappointed. He thought that he wouldn’t fit into the new community, wanted to go back home and his entire family was suffering.  Both his supervisor and fellow employees report seeing Majed more engaged and happier. As the head of a household with a stable income, Majed and his family are proud of the life they have begun to build in Waterloo Region. 

Majed says that thanks to employment, his and his family’s life has been profoundly changed. He feels happy, healthy, positive about the future and has made many friends. The family is also very happy, and they are thinking to buy a house in the near future. He adds that although his English is not so good, but he uses different means of communication while talking to his coworkers and has been able to make a lot of connections.  

We hear from many of our clients about worrying that there is no place for them in Canada. Many worry about whether they will be employable in Canadian business. Will there be a place for a refugee with a variety of skills? Canadian businesses and organizations are richer for hiring newcomers who provide a world of experience. Employers who work with our Working Together Project know that hiring newcomers is key to thriving in our integrated world.

Meet Nada P. An incredibly resilient and entrepreneurial single mom of four, and new member of our community! Nada is one of twenty participants in the #digitalengagementproject, and has received a Chromebook to support her digital literacy training.

“There are so many things to learn…I don’t know where to start” she confessed when we met up at Café Pyrus in the Fall. With guidance from our Life Skills – Digital Engagement Lead, Fareed, as well as her new tech buddy volunteer, Omar, she will gain the knowledge and skills needed to explore all that Virtual Waterloo Region has to offer.

When we met, Nada seemed optimistic and ready to realize her potential…but things have not always been so hopeful for this resourceful mother of four.

The war broke out in Nada’s home in South Sudan when she was just a little girl, since then, she has been on the run or in transit, seeking a safe place to live and work.

“I didn’t have a home for 21 years. But somehow Canada showed up for me. I thank God for that. Somewhere to finally call home”

Nada P.

Digital Literacy Training Pilot participant

In May of this year, Nada and her family found a permanent home in Kitchener through Reception House.

Since then, Nada has been busy making connections, adapting to a new culture and exploring opportunities in KW. Currently studying English, Nada hopes to open a small online business where she can sell hair and skincare, specifically for black and African women.

“I am interested in learning more about e-commerce, how to use Shopify, how to set up a small business around beauty and hair for the everyday and special occasions”.

– Nada P., Digital Literacy Training Pilot participant

“For women from the African community, like myself, it is important for us to find people we can trust with our hair and skin” And Nada has the skills and experience to be that trusted person for others. Throughout her refugee journey, Nada did braids and other hair styles for fun, self-care and for her livelihood.

After all Nada and her children have been through, she holds so much hope, strength, and light in her eyes.  

“Here in Canada, we are given a free education, we are given help from our case managers, settlement worker, housing workers…I want to give back someday. Thank you is not enough” she told us.

And give back she surely will. Nada is already exploring opportunities to volunteer. Her passion to help other women in difficult situations comes from her own life experience. Somehow, she was able to find hope and purpose amidst despair.

“Life  is difficult. But you need to find little ways to make it not so difficult” she chuckles. Thank you, Nada  for speaking with us and giving us perspective. Welcome to #kwawesome.

Our community is a better place with you in it!

Nada is participating in the Digital Engagement Project’s Digital Literacy Training pilot offered by Reception House. This project was made possible by a generous grant from the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation. She received a Chromebook for her and her family in November and was matched with a tech buddy volunteer to support her learning journey.  She will be completing self-paced modules in Arabic to improve her digital literacy skills.

#digitalequity #bridgingthedigitaldivide #digitalinclusion

This story was written by Laura, a former Reception House client. She and her family came to Canada when she just 7-years-old. 

Reception House was the very first place my family and I arrived to when we came to Canada. At such a young age, I did not comprehend the sacrifice and courage it took my mom and dad, who were dentists and doctors, to leave everything behind and relocate to a completely new country. At the time, it just seemed like a fun place to stay with other people from around the world.

Reception House was also the very first support system that we received. They connected us to other services and resources, while providing us a place to stay.

As a result of this initial support, we were able to spread our wings. Eventually, my parents were able to go back to college and university. We were able to become Canadian citizens. My sister and I were able to attend university, and step by step, our wings were strong enough to fly. We were able to become positive contributors to the Canadian society.

Now, at 24 years old, I have the privilege of working with the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, helping other refugees integrate into Canada. Reception House is much more than a shelter, as it opens the door for refugees to access a gateway of opportunities. I have learned the importance of providing refugees that initial support to spread their wings, because without it, it becomes difficult for them to integrate and be part of a society.

Reception House is the first service that helps government-assisted refugees as they arrive in Waterloo Region. It allows them to become positive agents of change and contributors of the overall well being of the Canadian society – a society that thrives on diversity.

Our team of Case Managers play a very important role in the journey our newcomer clients make in starting a new life here in Waterloo Region. 

And during this pandemic, that responsibility and their workload has only increased. 

That’s why we want to give you a peek behind the screen from a few of our Case Managers. We asked them how things have changed after COVID-19, the challenges newcomers are facing during this crisis, and what keeps them motivated to do this important work, amongst other topics. Here are some questions we asked them, as well as their responses. 

—

1. How long have you been at Reception House? 

James Swaka: l have been with Reception House since 2006, first as a volunteer for a couple of years, and then I transitioned into a casual interpreter role. In 2008, I started part-time as a Night attendant/Life skill worker at our temporary accommodation at 101 David St. Then, in 2011, l joined Reception House as a Case Worker full-time.

Wilma Laku: I have been working with Reception house for over 13 years.   

Nadra Tamourt: I have been with Reception House since 2011.

2. How has your role changed because of COVID-19? 

James: This has been an unprecedented time. Our traditional roles and duties changed so dramatically. Our role in advocating for our clients became intense as most systems lost most of their capacity or modified their traditional duties. This in turn meant we had to bridge the gap, especially for clients’ medical or schooling needs. We are now operating remotely and communicating with them through all the available apps such as WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet and Skype. This virtual communication also comes with its own challenges. The most significant is that most of our clients are not tech savvy or literate in their own languages.

Wilma: Our main focus has been client-centered and we are still doing the same during the lockdown and to the best of our ability. What has changed for us is the method of service delivery in terms of locations and meetings with clients physically.    

Nadra: My role has slightly changed now that we are practicing social distance, But I still do my regular case management duties virtually and over the phone. That means I don’t get to see my clients and touch base on regular home visits (which are very crucial to get the right assessment of situations that arise while working with clients. ) But that only motivates me to work harder to help and try to understand to serve them better. 

3. How are our clients reacting to this current crisis? What are their biggest challenges/struggles right now?

James: They have been mentally and physically affected as a result of the lockdown. Some signs of isolation are starting to show, which we have been handling with our partners. For the most part, our clients have shown their built-in resilience. They just need some support to navigate the new environment that they still do not understand. They have been appreciative of Reception House following up with them and addressing the questions they may have in a comforting approach. We also conduct weekly surveys on issues that may arise in this current environment.

Wilma: They were scared like all of us. Coming to Canada was a dream, and in a blink of an eye they have to face a deadly virus after reaching a safe home and have enrolled their children in school. The current crisis has taught gratitude and patience, and they are more appreciative of the services they have and are still receiving. I’ve gotten questions like, “When will things go back the way they used to be?” and “How can we give back to the community?” One positive thing that has come from this situation is that some people have enhanced their relationship with their children and are spending more time together. Some are also feeling lonely, specifically the singles and seniors who came to Canada without their families. Language has been a challenge. The clients have to depend mostly on their case managers to assist most of the time. Of course, not having reliable means of transportation is the biggest issue/challenge for new Canadians (individuals and families) to be able to navigate around safely.

Nadra: Clients have learned to be more patient than ever, They are more engaged to learn about every aspect of their new life in Canada and very eager to know how to protect themselves and their families.They ask questions like, “When are we going back to see you again?” and “When things will return to normal?” Most of them have family and loved ones overseas, so they have been asking questions about if the Government will bring more refugees and when. I think the biggest challenge they are facing right now is access to services without having to go through a long and difficult process. Language has also become more challenging to them now that access to interpreters is limited and they cannot use body language as easily. The other thing is technology, as most of our clients are not very tech-savvy. 

4. How do our newcomer clients inspire you?

James: It has been really amazing to see our clients doing their best to embrace tools they are not very familiar with. For example, we have seen families use google classroom despite no formal education/tech skills to assist their kids.

Wilma: Clients are resilient and have tried their best to handle the situation like any other community that has been here for years. Our clients have taught us to be humble, grateful, and have hope that tomorrow things will go back to normality. They have experienced wars where it was not safe, and at least during this crisis, basic needs are covered and the family is safe in terms of personal security.  

Nadra: Our clients are inspiring me by their care for their families and loved ones. When you hear them saying ‘I am staying home and not going outside unless I need to because I cannot put my mother’s/ father’s health in jeopardy’, you really get a sense of how much love they have for those close to them. They are also doing a great job practicing social distancing, even though they love visits with each other and their networks. We sure learn a lot from refugees and their journeys to be strong and patient during difficult times like this. 

5. Is it easy or difficult for our clients to navigate systems and services right now?

James: This is a million-dollar question! The system is challenging for Canadians who were born here. For someone who arrived recently from another country, it’s a tall order. As such, most of my job is advocating for our clients and addressing those system gaps on a daily basis. It is challenging, but it’s one brick at a time. We have come a long way and have made some progress for our clients in the past few years. There is hope at the end of the tunnel.

Wilma: Language is the main challenge because they cannot advocate for themselves or access services online. That is why they rely on the case managers most of the time. I try to have as much empathy and humility and do my best to serve our newcomers. I work hand-in-hand with clients to empower them. This crisis has planted the spirit of gratitude all around the country. Hopefully, we continue to live our life day by day in harmony and continue to build on existing services.

Nadra: It is very difficult for our clients to navigate systems and services right now because of how so many things are in transition. The lack of technology skills only adds to this challenge. I feel that Reception House plays an important role in this respect. 

From refugee to Canadian citizen, Andreea’s role as a Life Skills Support Worker at Reception House has allowed her to pursue her passion of welcoming others to Canada.  Andreea has been voted team captain in this year’s Ride for Refuge and is motivated to reach her goal of $5,000. We spoke to Andreea about her journey, her life in Canada, and her role at Reception House.

For Andreea, life started in communist Romania. “My dad was doing military service. The only way to ensure his safety was to flee” she recalls. Andreea was just two years old when her family ended up in a refugee camp in Hungary. “My parents didn’t know where to go, but when my dad saw a picture of the Rocky Mountains, he felt Canada was the answer” 

Sponsored by a Group of five at a Kitchener based Baptist Church, Andreea and her family were welcomed to Canada and offered a place to stay by a family of eight in their small apartment.  The Istrofor family (Andreea’s maiden name) remains in contact with their sponsors all these years later, sending a turkey every Christmas to show their appreciation and thanks.

When coming to Canada, Andreea’s parents were keen on pursuing opportunities, particularly education for their children.  Andreea was the first person in her family to complete a post-secondary education. Like so many newcomer families, it was her parents dream that they weren’t able to realize for themselves.

“My mom did end up going back to school though” she shares proudly  “And now has two college diploma certificates!”.

Fast forward to today and Kitchener is the only home Andreea remembers. In her role as a Life Skills Support Worker at Reception House, Andreea is helping those that come from a background of displacement everyday, and taking her commitment to our mission one step further by leading a team in the upcoming Ride for Refuge.

In her role she assists with children’s programs and outings, as well as orienting families to the temporary residence at 101 David St, practicing English, encouraging safe play and managing starter kit donations.  

“I feel so much love from the kids at the house… I want my work here to help the next generation flourish” 

Recently the Salvation Army donated 12 children’s bikes and helmets to families moving from our 101 David St. temporary residence to permanent housing. This donation has helped children get to and from school in half the time it takes to walk; however, there were not enough bikes to share with everyone.  This is one reason why Andreea will be partaking as Team Captain in Ride for Refuge 2019. To raise funds to supplement donations so that each child can be equipped equitably. She is highly motivated to reach her personal goal of raising $5,000 – WOW!

Please support Andreea’s team,‘The Stragglers,’ and help her reach her goal. Ride for Refuge is on October 5th. Visit Reception House’s Ride for Refuge page (rideforrefuge.org/charity/receptionhouse) to donate or sign up!

Visit the Ride for Refuge website to learn more about the fundraiser.

Andreea plays with newcomer children at our temporary Residence.