Four years ago, Nour Ramzi immigrated to Canada from UAE because her parents had a dream. \u201cThey wanted me and my sister to study in Canada and have opportunities they never had back home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the age of 19, Nour and her sister started their new life in a new country. \u201cI came from a very close-knit family and community who were very supportive. It\u2019s difficult to come to a new country and feel completely alone,\u201d she says. \u201cYou are afraid to ask questions in fear of being judged because no one knows your story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This feeling is what inspired her four years later to volunteer at COSTI as a mentor for other newcomers. \u201cI remembered what it was like to be a newcomer and I wanted to help others feel comfortable in those early days,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are so many questions newcomers have that feel silly but are really not, like how to read a map to use the transit system, where to go to buy a winter jacket or the process to apply for a job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a member of COSTI\u2019s Volunteer program, Nour became a mentor to a family and some individuals who were new to Canada. \u201cIt was a very meaningful experience to help them. I really enjoyed our phone calls and messages to help them however I could,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was also very emotional for me as well, reflecting on how hard it is to leave your home and family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Nour, COSTI has helped her find that sense of community she missed when she first came to Canada. It\u2019s amazing to connect with others and share our collective experiences, celebrate our backgrounds and move forward stronger because of what we have accomplished.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Four years ago, Nour Ramzi immigrated to Canada from UAE because her parents had a dream. \u201cThey wanted me and my sister to study in Canada and have opportunities they never had back home.\u201d At the age of 19, Nour and her sister started their new life in a new country. \u201cI came from a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":572,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-snapshot.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n