Victoria-Fraserview: Community group connects with South Vancouver residents Egyptian immigrant keen to help newcomers settle into Canadian life
Sherifa Azzab faced a mountain of challenges when she immigrated to Vancouver from Egypt in July 2011 with her two sons. She didn’t know where to turn for help.
“I didn’t know where is government buildings that I have to go to do my things, how to use the transit. And my child in the school, he couldn’t make friends, he was feeling lonely, we didn’t know where to spend our time, we were very bored,” she said.
“So when I found [out] about the [South Vancouver] Neighbourhood House, really, I started enjoying life here in Canada because they helped me so I wanted to make this to newcomers, also.”
Azzab got involved with the Community Action Network, which was born out of the neighbourhood house, at the end of September to help other immigrants experience fewer hardships than she did as they work to build a new life in Vancouver.
The group that formed last January to lessen feelings of isolation among residents of the Victoria-Fraserview and Killarney area and to boost a sense of safety and trust is holding its second newcomer welcoming event at the neighbourhood house Nov. 16.
The free event includes presentations about programs at the neighbourhood house, information about community resources, a safety talk from the police department, music, dance and refreshments.
Source: Vancouver Courier. November 7, 2013 by Cheryl Rossi. Read full article.
Tags: canada, newcomer, Public Engagement, Vancouver
Loading ...