Helping an Immigrant Find Her Way

A young mother I recently mentored was a new immigrant, a teacher from Cameroon, Africa. She’d upgraded her teaching degree to meet Canadian requirements but could not find work. I became involved when she reached out, through immigrant services, for help.

I’m an occasional volunteer settlement mentor and aide with an ESL conversation circle. I began meeting with the young woman – mostly via Zoom – to practise conversation and to correct mispronounced words and improve her English abilities. But I quickly realized that one of the best ways to help her settle in Canada was to help with her job search: specifically, the application and interview process.

Life-changing results

After weeks of working with my student to practice answering questions and focusing on how to present her skills in the best light for each opportunity, my student aced three interviews and was offered two jobs.

The work my student and I did together made a memorable difference in my student’s integration into her family’s new life in Canada – and it was also deeply rewarding for me.