{"id":567,"date":"2021-11-10T04:59:56","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T09:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/costi.org\/annual-reports-archive\/20202021?post_type=service&p=567"},"modified":"2021-11-16T18:21:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T23:21:36","slug":"client-profile-2","status":"publish","type":"service","link":"https:\/\/costi.org\/annual-reports-archive\/20202021\/services\/employment-services\/client-profile-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Client Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Martina Ambiri<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n Three years ago, Martina Ambiri would have never considered leaving her home in Nigeria. But that December, she arrived in Canada with her husband and three children. \u201cThe challenges we faced and the threats to our lives left us with no choice but to leave.\u201d <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Photograph of Martina Ambiri<\/p>\n

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The family spent three months living in a shelter as they tried to secure affordable housing somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area. Despite having more than 15 years\u2019 experience in marketing research and an MBA from Business School in the Netherlands, she was concerned about finding employment with no Canadian experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew I couldn\u2019t waste any time to take the steps I needed to become successful,\u201d she says. \u201cWhile I waited for my work permit to be processed, my husband and I started volunteering with the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto; I knew this was the best way to gain the experience I needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, Martina\u2019s caseworker referred her to COSTI where she enrolled in its Newcomer Employment program for skilled newcomers and worked with COSTI\u2019s service partner  Refugee JumpStart for ongoing mentoring. \u201cI participated in r\u00e9sum\u00e9 writing, job search workshops and mock interviews, health and safety training, and workplace communication and language terminology workshops,\u201d she says. \u201cThe workplace communication and language terminology workshops gave me an understanding of the Canadian workplace and how the workplace functions \u2013 a very different approach from what I had experienced in Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2019, Martina received her work permit and secured employment at the Church as an analyst in annual giving just two months later. Martina credits COSTI, and specifically staff Mojgan Haghi and Rala Bekdach, for encouraging and ensuring newcomer professionals. \u201cFrom the moment I enrolled in the program, Mojgan and Rala were there \u2013 helping me as well as others to find the courage and confidence to not settle for a survival job, to reach for my dream and secure employment in my professional field of expertise. Their positivity motivated me to go for what I deserve. Today, thanks to them, I feel confident that I can achieve anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Martina secured a job as the Executive Director of Impakt Foundation. \u201cWhen staff at Refugee JumpStart approached me about the position, I was skeptical and didn\u2019t think I would even get an interview, and if I did, be able to effectively articulate my work experience to the interview panel\u2014Impakt\u2019s Board of Directors,\u201d she says. \u201cBut Refugee JumpStart effectively prepared me for the interview and I was so excited to hear the news that I got the position. I was so happy I wanted to dance\u2026 and I did!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martina says this position is what she aspired to accomplish for her career in Canada. \u201cIt is the foundation of my success in Canada and has allowed me to actively engage in the economy and contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now looking back, Martina says there was a lot of doubt and fear of the unknown in coming to Canada, but the settlement process surpassed her expectations. \u201cI know that many newcomers settle for less, but COSTI believes they should never settle. Their staff live and breathe this philosophy and make sure to give you the tools to build your confidence to be successful. It\u2019s why I am where I am today.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sponsored by the RBC Foundation in 2019\/20, COSTI\u2019s Newcomer Employment program provides employment support services to highly-skilled newcomer professionals through a comprehensive and integrated workshop approach that allows participants to learn effective work search and interview techniques; understand the Canadian business culture in order to gain and retain employment; and access resources to additional educational training needs.<\/p>\n <\/strong>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Martina Ambiri The family spent three months living in a shelter as they tried to secure affordable housing somewhere in the Greater Toronto Area. 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