Testimonials
Name: Frank O'HaraOrganization / Agency: Centre francophone de Toronto
Host Program participants come together to learn in friendship and to create something greater than the sum of the parts. Such is the mentoring partnership between Leki Ymele and Frank O’Hara, matched by the Professional Host Program at the Centre francophone de Toronto.
Leki Ymele, an electrical engineer, came to Canada with his family from his native Cameroon in March 2007. Frank O’Hara is an experienced entrepreneur and a Canadian Executive Service Organization volunteer. He is also a long-time Host Program volunteer, who did professional mentoring with his Host matches even before our Centre’s Professional Host program was officially in place.
As someone who had himself done mentoring and consulting in his country of origin, Leki understood the value of this type of support. “When I first got to Canada, an unfamiliar environment, I needed someone’s help to find my bearings more quickly. Counting on someone else’s experience has helped me to avoid wasting precious time and to learn more quickly.”
Frank’s commitment to the program is based on his desire to support newcomers and to share his experience. “I’m retired and I still want to be useful and make use of some of the things I’ve learned over the years. I recognize that it’s a real problem for people coming to Canada to get settled here. This is a way I can be involved and do something that’s important. Even though in the grand scheme of things it’s very small, it’s what I can do.” Frank may be too modest, as his “small” contribution represents years of experience, vast professional contacts, and an extensive knowledge of the national and international business worlds.
Leki and Frank were matched in August 2007 and got down to business right away. They have written and reviewed résumés, explored job-search Web sites and resources, practiced English expressions, discussed handshakes, job interviews, cultural differences in the workplace, and countless other things.
Leki now feels much more prepared for job interviews. “What I was missing was not work experience in my field, but rather the ability to express how I could contribute to the company. I discovered that in Canada it’s important to know how to sell yourself. My discussions with Frank have been very helpful. I’ve learned how to present myself and how to be comfortable with someone I don’t know. Now in interviews, I don’t hesitate, I speak up.
Leki speaks confidently about his most recent job interview. He completed an assigned task with skill and inventiveness, explained clearly how he could contribute, and spoke English freely for a full 90 minutes.
Frank is quick to credit Leki for his own success. “Leki doesn’t wait for other people to do everything. He knows that to make things happen, you have to be out there making things happen. I just give him a little indication, and he picks up the ball and runs with it.”
Leki says, “I trust Frank, our match works very naturally, and we never wonder what to do next”.
Both look forward to the day when Leki will have found a good job in his field. Leki hopes it will be soon so that, he too, can help newcomers find their strengths and bearings in their new community.
Name: Keke Hu and Karen KawawadaOrganization / Agency: YMCA of Kitchener-Waterloo
Keke: I have many friends in China and Toronto, but I’m a stranger in Kitchener. When I stepped into the YMCA, a lady told me the Host Program could help me to have a Canadian friend. It was exciting to hear this good news.
Karen: When I decided to volunteer for the Host Program, I had an ulterior motive. As a former ESL teacher and born-and-raised Canadian, I felt I could be a good resource to a newcomer. But in a way, I was also a newcomer – at least, to Waterloo Region. After a year and a bit in Kitchener, I was starting to know my way around, but I still didn’t know many people outside of work.
Keke: Karen is my first friend in Kitchener. She is a reporter at the local newspaper. I’m so lucky to have a friend who has the same career as me.
Karen: Almost as soon as Christina introduced us, I knew Keke and I could be friends. We’re both journalists by training and we’re only a few years apart in age. But it was more than that – we clicked. I was immediately struck by Keke’s openness, her enthusiasm and her sense of humour.
Keke: Now we talk about everything, cook together, and go shopping. So I’m happy these days.
Karen: We get together about once a week. Sometimes we just hang out and talk. Other times we plan an activity or go somewhere together, like the library or the mall.
Keke: My English is not good, but Karen has taught me lots of idioms, some little words and food names.
Karen: Keke’s English is actually very good, but most weeks we spend a few minutes going over a short ESL lesson. Plus, new words and expressions always come up in conversation.
Keke: I’ve learned more than English from Karen. Before, I thought Canadians all had the same lifestyle. Now I know everybody has a different life. You can do what you choose. I want to pursue my own dreams in this new country.
Karen: I’ve learned a lot from Keke too, for example, about contemporary life in China. I also have a better understanding of the challenges new Canadians face, and of the bravery and optimism with which they tackle those challenges.
Name: Kengo MuhammadOrganization / Agency: YMCA of Kitchener-Waterloo
[Kengo has experienced the Host Program as a newcomer originally, and now as a volunteer.]
The YMCA has been a great place for me and other newcomers to be. Before I knew about the YMCA, I was just sitting at home watching TV and movies. I didn’t know the areas near me or have friends who I can walk with. When I started to go to the YMCA Newcomer Youth Program, I met new people and some of them spoke the language that I speak. Most of the friends I have now, I know from the Host program.
The Newcomer Youth Program is good to meet friends and get involved in activities. The Program helps newcomers like me learn Canadian games and other sports that Canadians love, such as: snow shoeing, tobogganing and skating. Most of the newcomers I know play on a school team because they gained experience from the Y Newcomers Host program. Also the Newcomer Youth Host Program taught me about camping, which I hadn’t heard about before.
I also learned how to be on time from the Newcomer Youth Host program. Everybody told me that, here in Canada, to be on time is important. From that day, I have tried to be on time.
I have learned how to be patient. When some people talk angry and you feel angry too and you feel you can't stand it, then you fight. But now I know how to calm them down and they become happy.
When I met three newcomers who speak the same language as I do and who didn’t know any English, I helped them learn about the Y and the Host Program. They asked me if I they would visit their home. When I got there, the mother and four children were watching a movie. They told me about how they have a problem speaking the language and that they can't make an appointment to go to see the doctor and to get immunization. I started thinking how maybe I could help. So, I started making an appointment for them and taking them to the places, so they know how it looks like and so maybe they can take themselves to the place sometimes in the future.
The Host Program has made me feel I belong in Canada. I also volunteer in Kitchener City Hall to help organize events. I like to see everyone having fun!
Name: Melanie MilanichOrganization / Agency: CultureLink, Toronto
A Golden VolunteerAfter almost 20 years with CultureLink’s Host Program, Melanie Milanich is still enthusiastic about the rewards of volunteering as a Host match. Melanie says, “I find it fulfilling. It feels good to be of help to my match”.
Most of Melanie’s friendships that started as Host matches have lasted for years, long after her commitment as a volunteer has been fulfilled.
Since last summer, Melanie has been matched with her ninth Host newcomer. Nadezhda Samsonkina is an accountant from Belarus, and Melanie is helping her look for work.
Melanie came to Canada as an immigrant from the United States 40 years ago. “It was a time when the draft dodgers were coming. I loved hearing people talk about the whole world in Canada.” Melanie worked during the day while attaining a degree in Sociology, and later a Masters in Library Science.
Melanie became aware of the Host Program through her work as a librarian. As a member of the World Federalists, a group that supports the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, Melanie was attracted to the Host Program as an opportunity to meet people and learn about the world.
Melanie says that she used to spend so much money and vacation time traveling to different countries to learn about diverse cultures and customs. Now she can do this without leaving Canada. “I wish it were possible to have the Host Program and CultureLink everywhere, for newcomers and volunteers to get involved.”
As a librarian, Melanie has a passion to share information. She is a regular volunteer at the Host English Conversation Circle, which takes place in the library, and she always brings a big stack of resources to share with the ECC participants.
Melanie particularly enjoys sharing her knowledge about the wealth of educational, cultural, and leisure activities in our wonderful city. Recently she led a group on a Heritage Toronto walk. She encourages newcomers to dig beneath the media hype and connect with groups, clubs and people to get a positive perspective on the city and its residents. She advocates joining groups as a wonderful way to help build a new life. She has introduced most of her matches to groups and clubs, and has found that they truly enjoyed the experience. CultureLink plans to invite Melanie to lead an evening of discussion on this very subject for volunteers and newcomers. I know I’ll be there!
Name: Yolanda VandeweerdOrganization / Agency: Settlement and Integration Services Organization
My involvement with SISO as the English Conversation Circle (ECC) facilitator for the past two years has been a wonderful journey. I have always been extremely interested in other cultures and involved in amnesty issues for most of my life. But what I didn’t expect as the ECC facilitator is this: all I give, in terms of time and energy, as a SISO volunteer is returned to me in benefits I didn’t expect.
The pleasure of helping newcomers to Canada is inexhaustible. New friendships are built, my experience of the world is broadened, my gratefulness to be a Canadian is raised. In fact I find most immigrants and refugees much more interesting than many ‘born and raised’ Canadians. Newcomers, for the most part, are so grateful to be in Canada despite the extreme obstacles they face. I’ve discovered that they come with much more faith and hopefulness than many long-term Canadians display in their daily lives. I highly recommend volunteering in the Host Program.