Not speaking English can be so frustrating, and we don't take into consideration how difficult it is for someone to learn when they are under such stress levels. They've been separated from their family, they don't know if their family back home is in danger or not. So these are some major issues that are often overlooked.
My name is Josi, and this is my story.
So I joined Compass as a volunteer language interpreter, and because of my own lived experience as a refugee, this was something that really holds a place in my heart that made me want to give back in this area.
For me, my story in Canada began in 1989, when my mother and my siblings arrived to meet my dad, who had already been here for a year. The reason he was here was because he was granted asylum as a political refugee. He was protesting against what the government was doing to the people during the civil war in Nicaragua. And for that reason, he was targeted.
I was three years old when I came to Canada. On first arrival, we were in a 2-bedroom apartment - that would have been 9 people.
We had to leave everything behind. We came to Canada just with a few suitcases. One of the things that we had packed was blankets, because we didn't know what we were coming to.
My parents couldn't help me with my homework. So if I had challenges at school, I couldn't ask them for help. And during that time, there wasn't such a big Latino population as there is now, and social supports were limited.
My parents had to find work. Because of not knowing the language, because not having their credentials accepted, they ended up both doing factory work for a long time.
I do consider Canada my home because I've been here my whole life, but I often am in a place where I feel that lack of connection to my roots. It helps having cultural groups and community groups you can connect with. But as I mentioned, back in 1989, there was very little of that.
For me, it's not wanting to see other people experience the same barriers that I did. If there's anything that I can do to help them...
We really want to come around people and let them know that we are creating a welcoming community, and that we do want them here.
We hear clients come back and tell us, “You were our first family. You were our first friends.” And that really warms my heart.