By Youdon Tenzin
If Janet were to describe her journey since moving to Canada in one word, it would be “resilience”. As a single parent, Janet has faced various challenges since uprooting her life in Uganda in 2021.
Janet’s move was not a choice, rather, an urgency to flee her country. In Uganda, she was a program officer, creating gender inclusive bills and legislations to be presented in the Parliament. She got in unsafe situations with the Government and had to flee for safety.
For Janet, moving to Canada meant new opportunities in all aspects. When she heard about the Bridge to Employment in Services for Immigrant Populations (BESIP) program at Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto (MNLCT), from her Ontario Works case worker, Janet decided to apply for BESIP’s first cohort, but had to take childbirth leave, putting her plans on hold.
When registration for the second cohort began, the MNLCT reached out to Janet.
I looked at my own experience of working with communities,” says Janet, talking about why she decided to pursue the BESIP program.
The three words “immigrants serving immigrants” stuck with her as she made her way through the program.
From her personal experience, Janet paid a lawyer expensively to apply for permanent residence. At that time, she had no idea that settlement agencies offer the same service for free. Therefore, one of the most enriching aspects of the program for Janet was how deep it went into the intricacies of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“They took us through almost every single document,” says Janet “and then rigorously, the documentation of the IRCC which I really think is very important to a settlement worker.” Janet adds.
Janet also appreciates that instructors allowed her to make presentations, boosting her confidence in becoming more tech-savvy. The program provided an opportunity to meet and interact with people with unique experiences.
Janet recently graduated alongside several others from the BESIP program. In the future, she hopes for the program to have a mentorship arm where current students can connect with graduates, learn from them, and support each other through their professional journeys.
