Dhikra Alshawi

I can’t express in words- the struggle, confusion and hurdles we faced after arriving as refugees in this country. It was 2018, and my husband and I had moved here from Iraq with two school-aged children. We didn’t know how to communicate in English or enrol the boys into school. CCSYR’s Eman Hasan guided us step by step in exploring the Canadian way of life, whether it be understanding the school education system, tax requirements or law enforcement. For my family, Ms.Hasan’s kindness and empathy became the face of Canada. Also, what pleasantly surprised us was the readiness with which she offered help. Anytime we contacted her, she promptly responded. With our language barrier and cultural background, it was hard enough to connect with others and share our problems. But considering she is from Iraq, my home country and speaks Arabic, she figured out how dire our situation was and what we needed. Even during COVID, she stayed in touch to ensure we were okay and supported me as a sister during my personal crisis. Our association with CCSYR is deep-rooted. And even now, I continue attending the English Conversation Circle to improve my verbal communication skills. Thanks to CCSYR for being a constant source of support in our journey as a family.