By Aria Ahmadzai, Adult Outreach Case Manager, Moving Ahead Program (A Story of an Afghan Refugee Woman)
Today, we share the success story of an Afghan refugee woman who fled her home country just before the pandemic and sought refuge in Canada. For security reasons, we will call her Zareen.
Zareen sought asylum in Canada in January 2020. However, due to COVID-19, it took a long time for her to become a permanent resident. In February 2022, after receiving notice of the decision, she became our MAP client. Zareen faced multiple barriers and had a long list of needs and goals, like many other refugees, with the hope of settling well in a new place.
Her limited English was the biggest obstacle between her and her goals. After a month of assessment, wraparound plans, and discussions, the MAP services started.
Zareen, 61 years old, lives in the Tri-Cities. She is widowed, and her children live in a European country except for one daughter who is currently a refugee in Pakistan. Zareen was a women’s advocate and school principal back in Afghanistan. Since arriving in Canada, she has worked tirelessly to bring her daughter to safety. Meanwhile, she aims to contribute back to the society she now calls home.
Through the MAP program of MOSAIC, we helped her achieve her goals. We secured her BC housing, enrolled her in the LINC program, got her a recreation pass, registered her for the food bank, connected her with the Afghan community, and invited her to MAP workshops where she learned more about Canadian work culture, rights, and responsibilities. This process took a year, but regular follow-ups from both MAP and Zareen helped her achieve 90% of her goals.
“It’s not easy to start a life from scratch, but sitting at home and thinking about the past won’t help us, and it’s not healthy. It’s better to reach out for help from places like MOSAIC,” Zareen said.
Moving Ahead Program (MAP) offers consistent, months-long support for refugees and immigrants with multiple barriers to settlement.
Zareen chose not to sit at home and wait for a miracle. Instead, she worked hard to make connections, attended gatherings and events, and seized every opportunity. “This journey is not easy, especially for women like me, alone, with language barriers and less technological knowledge. But I appreciate organizations that provide services in our native language.”
In 2024, Zareen got her PR, and, with the help of MOSAIC, she secured a job with a production company as a production assistant. She credits herself first and then MAP. “I reached my final goal of getting a job because I aimed for it and was determined that one day I would stand on my feet again. Of course, it wouldn’t have been possible without MAP.”
Refugees, like everyone else, have talent, skills, experience, and ideas. Sometimes language can be a short-term barrier, but their hard work and contributions to communities are commendable. “I am 61 years old. I work, attend school, financially support my daughter in Pakistan, and take care of my home because I have peace of mind. I know life is hard here, but with the peaceful environment I have, I can handle all other stress.”
Zareen wants to share a message of working hard, being hopeful, and being thankful for what the new country offers. “Don’t be hopeless. Things take time, but they will come to you. Just be thankful that we live in a peaceful country where people respect each other.”
MAP exited this client after she achieved all her goals. When we reached out in June 2024 with a request to write an article about her journey in Canada, Zareen agreed to share her story with us.
