Global Gathering Place Scholarship Recipients of 2026
At our AGM in June, we were honoured to present our third round of Global Gathering Place Scholarships. This scholarship continues the legacy of New Community Credit Union with the support of Synergy Credit Union. Synergy Credit Union donated $50,000 to GGP as part of their commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomers to Canada. In the years to come, GGP will disburse $5,000 in scholarships annually to help advance the careers of deserving refugees and immigrants.
We were deeply inspired by the settlement journeys of our scholarship applicants and are pleased to share the stories of our five recipients here, in their own words.
Alena Matiash – Bachelor of Music at the University of Saskatchewan
My name is Alena, a traditional Russian name often found in folk tales, meaning “sunny.” I am the eldest of seven children, and I grew up in a lively, busy home in Perm, a city in the Ural region of Russia. While I identify as Russian, my father is Ukrainian. When the war in Ukraine began, it created serious challenges for our family, and we realized we could no longer stay in Russia.
We initially planned to move to the United States, where we had relatives, and found someone who promised to help us obtain documents within a few weeks. While waiting, we stayed in Turkey with my uncle. However, weeks turned into months, and we eventually discovered that we had been deceived. What was meant to be a short interim stage became a year and a half of uncertainty.
That time in Turkey was one of the most difficult periods of my life. It was marked by waiting, lack of direction, and constant stress. At the same time, it became a period of deep spiritual growth. My family continued applying for visas, both to the United States and to Canada, although by that point our hope was fading. When the United States denied us again, but Canada unexpectedly granted us visas, we saw it as God’s guidance.
Arriving in Canada felt like stepping into a completely new world. I remember the contrast vividly—snow after months of heat, quiet residential neighbourhoods instead of crowded apartment blocks, and people from all over the world. Even simple tasks, like speaking English at the hotel, were new and challenging. Our first weeks were unstable: we stayed in a hotel, then with friends from a local church.
That church quickly became a central part of my life. It provided not only support, but also a sense of belonging, purpose, and community. I became actively involved in music and youth ministry, playing and singing in several groups and eventually starting a small ensemble of my own. I also took on leadership responsibilities, helping organize youth meetings, leading discussions, and serving in practical ways. Through this, I began developing leadership skills, responsibility, and confidence.
At the same time, I had to adjust to a completely new education system. Before coming to Canada, I had been homeschooled and completed one year of music college in Russia. However, I could not directly transfer my education, so I had to complete high school again. Determined to succeed, I set a goal to graduate in two years by taking additional online and summer classes. Today, I am finishing my final semester with an average of 95%.
Looking back, my settlement journey has been shaped by uncertainty, faith, and perseverance. It has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community. What once felt like a series of obstacles has become a path of growth that continues to shape who I am today.
Maliha Kazimi – Master of Public Administration at the University of Saskatchewan
Arriving in Canada in August 2022 was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. After everything that happened in Afghanistan, reaching a safe country gave me hope, but settlement was not simply about arriving somewhere safe. It meant rebuilding my life from the beginning while carrying the emotional weight of everything and everyone I left behind.
From the outside, my life may seem normal. I am studying, working, volunteering, and trying to build a future in Canada. In many ways, that is true. But what people do not always see is the invisible part of my journey, the constant emotional and financial responsibility I carry for my family, who continue to live with uncertainty and hardship.
As someone who made it to safety, I often feel both grateful and deeply responsible. Alongside managing my own living expenses and graduate school tuition in Canada, I also help support family members with their living expenses.
I am currently pursuing graduate studies in Public Administration, which is both exciting and challenging. Studying at the graduate level in my second language has required tremendous effort, especially when academic reading, writing, and analytical work can already be demanding. There have been times when the pressure of school, finances, family responsibilities, and uncertainty about the future felt overwhelming. Still, I continue because education represents hope, stability, and a way for me to create meaningful change.
One thing that has helped me during my settlement journey is community involvement. Volunteering has given me a sense of belonging, confidence, and purpose. My role as Social Coordinator at Nutana Community Association has been especially meaningful because it allows me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, contribute to community building, and grow professionally outside of my own cultural community. As a newcomer, opportunities like this help me feel that I am not only rebuilding my life, but also becoming part of something bigger.
Financially, this journey has not been easy. Graduate students have limited grant opportunities, and student loans often come with long-term financial stress. For me, this pressure feels even heavier because my responsibilities extend beyond my own education and living expenses.
This scholarship will help me focus more fully on my education, reduce my reliance on debt, and give me some peace of mind during a very demanding chapter of my life.
My settlement journey has taught me resilience, adaptability, responsibility, and compassion. While this path has not been easy, it has strengthened my commitment to building a future where I can give back to the communities that have supported me and help others facing similar challenges.
Piyushkumar Purohit – Postgraduate Diploma in Food and Bioproduct Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan
My journey in Canada started on July 31, 2024, with more than just my bags. I carried my family’s aspirations, anxieties, and future.
Everything seemed strange at the airport. Even basic tasks like reading signs or navigating areas needed effort, the environment felt far away, and the language around me moved swiftly in English, which I was still getting used to. After a lengthy journey, my family of four stood together, silently conscious that we were starting over in our new home, Canada.
I was employed as a pharmaceutical quality control microbiologist in India. To guarantee that medications were safe for patients, my job needed accuracy and accountability. This work was really important to me because it was a part of something bigger than myself.
After coming to Canada, the process of rebuilding my career became even more complicated than I had anticipated. I applied for positions in my specialty, but the response was often given that I needed experience in Canada and references from local contacts, of which a newcomer had none. Each rejection was discouraging, not due to a lack of ability but due to the need to start afresh in an alien system. At the same time, my family and I were getting used to a new culture, dealing with financial stress, and relying on each other in times of uncertainty. Each of my family members was coping differently, and we were all finding our balance in rebuilding stability from scratch.
I focused on growth despite these challenges. Volunteering became a meaningful part of my settlement journey. At Global Gathering Place I assisted newcomers with computer skills and digital tools. Volunteering reminded me that support is not only about skills or knowledge, but also about restoring confidence and human connection. I also enjoyed volunteering not only at SODS with immigrantss for front desk operation and event management, but also at Nutrien Wonderhub with lovely children for visitor services. These experiences gave not only an understanding of Canadian work culture but also community engagement and assimilation of myself in Canadian society.
I later secured my first job in Canada as an Environmental Service Worker in a casual capacity at Central Haven Special Care Home. Working in a care home ignited me to create nutritious and healthy food recipes for elders and seniors for their well-being.
As I explored future opportunities, I developed a strong interest in food and bioproduct sciences because of its connection to health, sustainability, and community well-being. I have been accepted into the Post Graduate Diploma program at the University of Saskatchewan. However, beginning full-time studies at USask will also mean losing my current source of income. At present, my spouse’s and my combined income is not enough to comfortably manage household expenses, educational costs, and future responsibilities. In addition, our son will be attending the University of Waterloo, and we will need to support his tuition, housing, and living expenses. These financial pressures have made continuing my education very challenging. This GGP scholarship would greatly support my educational goals, settlement journey and help me continue contributing positively to my community while creating a more secure future for my family. The support of GGP would not only invest in my education but also empower me to contribute positively to my community and give back by helping others as I establish my career in Canada.
Sabera Amini – Nursing Prep Pathway at the University of Saskatchewan
I arrived in Canada at the end of 2023 carrying not only my belongings, but also my hopes, dreams, and determination to build a meaningful future. Like many newcomers, I entered a new chapter of my life filled with both opportunities and challenges. Adapting to a new country, culture, and environment required courage, patience, and a willingness to keep moving forward.
After a few months, I found employment and began taking steps toward becoming more independent and establishing my life in Canada. At the same time, I remained committed to my greatest goal: continuing my education. I enrolled in an academic English program at the University of Saskatchewan, where I worked to strengthen my language skills and prepare myself for university studies.
Balancing work, education, and the experience of building a new life in a different country was not always easy. However, each challenge became an opportunity to grow, learn, and become more confident in my abilities. Through dedication and perseverance, I successfully completed my English program and earned my certificate, which became an important milestone on my academic journey.
This achievement opened the door for me to pursue my dream of higher education. Today, I am a Nursing Student at the University of Saskatchewan, working toward a career dedicated to caring for others and making a positive difference in people’s lives.
My journey has taught me that success is not defined only by achievements, but also by the strength to continue moving forward despite obstacles. I believe that every experience, whether challenging or rewarding, shapes who we become. As I continue my education and prepare for my future career in healthcare, I carry with me gratitude, determination, and the hope of contributing to my community.
My story is a reminder that with resilience, perseverance, and belief in oneself, it is possible to transform challenges into opportunities and dreams into reality.
Jahanbig Haidari – Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan
I arrived in Canada in September 2022 from Afghanistan. My settlement journey has been one of the most challenging and transformative periods of my life. Moving to a completely new country required me to adapt to a new culture, language, education system, and lifestyle while rebuilding my life from the beginning.
The first few months were the most difficult. I faced challenges in almost every aspect of daily life, including communication, understanding social norms, and adjusting to a completely different environment. Being far from my home country and familiar support system made the transition even more difficult. I had to learn how to navigate everything independently, from basic daily tasks to more complex systems such as education and work.
One of the main challenges I faced was language and communication. Although I had some English background, real-life conversations and academic expectations in Canada were much more demanding. I worked hard to improve my English by practising daily, observing how people communicate, and participating in real conversations whenever possible. Over time, this helped me become more confident and independent.
In my first year in Canada, I also worked with the GGP (Global Gathering Place) as a Persian interpreter. This role allowed me to support newcomers by helping them communicate and understand settlement services. It was a meaningful experience because I was able to assist people who were going through challenges similar to what I was experiencing. At the same time, it helped me improve my communication skills and gave me a deeper understanding of community support systems in Canada.
Currently, I am studying Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan. As a first-year student, I am continuing to adjust to the Canadian education system, which requires strong independent learning, critical thinking, and technical understanding. My academic journey is not always easy, but I remain committed to my studies because I see education as the foundation of my future career.
Alongside my studies, I work at Canadian Tire as a warehouse associate. This job has helped me gain valuable experience in the Canadian workplace. I have learned teamwork, responsibility, time management, and workplace safety. Balancing work and studies has been challenging, but it has strengthened my discipline and resilience.
Overall, my settlement journey has helped me grow both personally and professionally. I have learned to adapt to new environments, overcome challenges, and stay focused on my long-term goals. While the journey has not been easy, it has shaped me into a more independent, hardworking, and motivated individual who is determined to succeed in Canada.
