DOCTOR APPRECIATES HELP OF IMMIGRANT SUPPORT SERVICE

CANADA OPENS PATH TO HUMAN RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND OPPORTUNITIES, WRITES AFGHAN REFUGEE SHEKIBA AHMADZAI

In July of 2021, as the situation began to deteriorate in Afghanistan, I knew my family and I had to leave our home and everything we knew behind. When I arrived in Canada 18 months ago, I did not anticipate that I would become part of such an empowering, supportive community of women.

Although I was a doctor back home, I did not have the fundamental human rights, freedoms, and opportunities as I do in Canada. Starting a new life with my family in a foreign country was tough. I had to learn a new language, establish a new career path, and find joy again in a new home.

Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services and their Afghan Women's Initiative provided the support and opportunities I needed to get where I am today.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the charitable, non-profit, community-based agency assists refugees, immigrants and newcomers integrate into life in Canada.

Since April 2022, the Afghan Women's Initiative Program has provided support, guidance, education, and activities for Afghan refugee women in the Scarborough area. Funded by United Way Greater Toronto through the Afghan Resettlement Fund, the program recruited six women leaders from the community who volunteered their time to organize events and programs with the support of Polycultural settlement counsellors.

Every Wednesday we gather for educational courses that cover topics such as mental health and well-being, domestic violence, education, emergency services, Canadian culture and social etiquette, and social media. Some days we do crafts or celebrate special holidays. We also had the opportunity to visit Centre Island and the CN Tower.

In total, over 140 women participated in over 33 programs throughout the year. The initiative is part of Polycultural's Afghan Initiative Program that has assisted over 7,000 Afghan refugees since the summer of 2021 in partnership with the Government of Canada.

Although the Afghan Women's Initiative is ending, there are still many programs and events available at Polycultural's seven locations across the Greater Toronto Area, including Etobicoke, Toronto, Mississauga and Orangeville besides Scarborough.

Each location offers a variety of programs including language classes, settlement services, employment assistance, and youth and senior programs. Monthly events range from My Pathways to Employment, Women in Food and Customer Service, the Sewing and Knitting

Club, and Multicultural Women's Program.

Other services such as one-on-one counselling, and child care, makes Polycultural's services personalized and impactful for newcomers like me. Most importantly they help newcomers successfully integrate so they can contribute to Canadian life and the communities we settle in.

As we celebrate Women's History Month in March, we need to be reminded of the importance of community, how we can empower women and the mark we want to make on this world. For me, it's about creating a better life for me and my children and for being a part of an organization that has changed the course of my life and my history forever.