Strong, Resilient, and Canadian: Khadija’s Journey to Citizenship
Originally from Syria, Khadija arrived in Canada in 2015 as a refugee alongside her mother. Like many newcomers, her biggest challenge first stepping into Canada was learning a new language, a barrier made greater by her visual impairment, which left her facing both a literacy challenge and a physical one. Khadija spent the first few years of her life in Saskatoon very isolated while living in an unfamiliar city that felt largely inaccessible, dependent on her elderly mother and disconnected from her community.
GGP Client Joins Our Group of Volunteers to Assist Other Newcomers
Mahlet came to Canada in 2023 from Ethiopia in search of a better life and further opportunities for her and her children. She initially arrived in Saskatoon on a closed work permit, working as a child caregiver in private homes.
Volunteer’s First Step to What She Hopes is a Lifelong Involvement with Service
Alice DeCoteau first started volunteering at GGP in 2017 in Homework Help, she now takes on a mentorship role with three women who have recently transitioned from English Literacy Classes to CLB 3-4 Classes.
English Class Volunteer Discusses the Connection With Students In and Out of the Classroom
From the very first day as a volunteer, Imbisat felt welcomed and appreciated by teachers, staff, and students. Because her volunteering schedule was able to be catered to her personal schedule and comfort level, she was motivated to make the most of her time helping students improve their English skills and offering general guidance on life in Canada. What she enjoys most about volunteering at GGP is the meaningful connections she builds. “These connections go beyond the classroom—when I see anyone in public, I interact with them as naturally and warmly as I do in class.”
English Language Class Volunteer Discusses the Valuable Connections Made in the Classroom
Nadia began volunteering with GGP in January of 2022 while our English classes were still offered remotely. She continues to volunteer in the very same English Class all these years later, supporting our CLB 6-7 students every Saturday, now in-person, with our English teacher, Charlene.
GGP Volunteer Found Us by Chance
Dennis first began volunteering with GGP by chance. Our Main Office was on the route of his regular walking path, and he says that as he passed GGP, “I would think to myself, I should walk in and volunteer here. After a while, on one of my morning walks, I had that same thought, and I turned and walked into the office and asked about volunteering. It all started from there.”
Volunteer Discusses Reciprocity in the Classroom: I’m Learning as Much as I’m Hopefully Giving, if Not More
Don is a long-time volunteer currently placed at our English Language Centre and supports our clients in improving their English. In his CLB 3-4 class, Don says that he is “learning as much as [he is] hopefully giving, if not more.”