By YSM volunteer Paniz
When I first immigrated to Canada, I was struggling. My English wasn’t strong, I was unfamiliar with the job market, and after many unsuccessful attempts I came across your volunteer posting [to provide office support]. I applied without much expectation, but to my surprise, YSM’s team kindly reached out to me, conducted a respectful interview, and two weeks later, I was welcomed as a volunteer.
From the very first day, being part of YSM gave me something I had lost — hope. During the cold winter days, knowing I could come to such a warm, peaceful, and friendly environment gave me a renewed sense of purpose and motivation.
I learned so much in my six months with YSM — not just about the work itself, but about teamwork and the power of kindness. The team made me feel seen, supported, and part of something meaningful.
One of the greatest gifts I received was a sense of belonging to a community. When I first arrived in Canada, I felt a great deal of loneliness and distance from familiar surroundings. However, working with YSM taught me that even in difficult times, we can help others, and through this help, we connect to a larger community.
In addition to the sense of belonging, I gained valuable skills. I became more familiar with the Canadian job market, learned how to work with various software programs, and acquired new skills. This boosted my confidence. Then, one day, when representatives from a retailer came to YSM to conduct job interviews [through YSM’s Workforce Development program], I also showed up for an interview. That’s when I was hired to begin working as a sales assistant.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for opening your doors to me.
This story was first shared in YSM’s Winter 2025 Urban Lights.