Carolyn and Rahaf at Sculpture Walk in Castlegar Rahaf Zwayne’s fresh start began when she moved to Canada in May of 2016. Rahaf is a young Syrian woman. She was working in Turkey when she met Ian and Melva Scott from Fruitvale. The Scotts were in Turkey on vacation. They felt a strong connection with Rahaf. They stayed in touch with her after they want home and offered to sponsor her to come to Canada.
Soon after she arrived in Canada, Rahaf began thinking about her future. She says, “I love learning.” She is always looking for ways to improve herself. Rahaf wanted to start a career in fashion, but knew that Trail was too small for that kind of work.
Last summer, Rahaf met with advisors at Selkirk College in Castlegar. She has experience doing humanitarian work, so her first idea was to take the Peace and Justice Studies diploma. Rahaf realized that finding work in that field might be hard, so she decided to apply to the Resort and Hotel Management Diploma Program instead. She was very excited to be accepted and was lucky to receive the Selkirk College Humanitarian Award. This award paid for Rahaf’s first year of tuition!
Before her classes began, Rahaf met with CBAL’s Trail settlement worker, Carolyn Amantea. She joined Carolyn and some other new Canadians on a hike in Rossland. They also went to Castlegar to look at the sculptures. She says, “It was nice to make connections with other young immigrant women in the community.”
Rahaf’s classes are in Nelson, which is far from her home in Fruitvale. A staff member at the college helped her find a family she can stay with in Nelson during the week. On the weekends, Rahaf returns to Fruitvale to relax, study and visit with the Scott family.
Rahaf says that college in Canada is quite different from college in Syria. She says, “Here there is more time for students to interact with their instructors. Staff members are friendly. It easy to be open and honest with them.”
Even though life these days can be hectic, Rahaf finds time to volunteer with the Catholic Church in Nelson helping with Arabic translation for Syrian families. Her first presentation at college was called, “How Volunteering Has Affected My Life.”
Rahaf is looking forward to her first Canadian work experience this spring. She will have a five-month work term with one of the big hotel chains – Fairmont, Delta, Marriot or Sun Peaks.
Rahaf is not in Trail very often, but she knows she can contact Carolyn for support if she needs it. Even though answering questions about her life in Syria is sometimes hard, she is enjoying college and feels thankful for the opportunity for a fresh start.
Carolyn Amantea
Settlement Worker
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Trail and Area
Soon after she arrived in Canada, Rahaf began thinking about her future. She says, “I love learning.” She is always looking for ways to improve herself. Rahaf wanted to start a career in fashion, but knew that Trail was too small for that kind of work.
Last summer, Rahaf met with advisors at Selkirk College in Castlegar. She has experience doing humanitarian work, so her first idea was to take the Peace and Justice Studies diploma. Rahaf realized that finding work in that field might be hard, so she decided to apply to the Resort and Hotel Management Diploma Program instead. She was very excited to be accepted and was lucky to receive the Selkirk College Humanitarian Award. This award paid for Rahaf’s first year of tuition!
Before her classes began, Rahaf met with CBAL’s Trail settlement worker, Carolyn Amantea. She joined Carolyn and some other new Canadians on a hike in Rossland. They also went to Castlegar to look at the sculptures. She says, “It was nice to make connections with other young immigrant women in the community.”
Rahaf’s classes are in Nelson, which is far from her home in Fruitvale. A staff member at the college helped her find a family she can stay with in Nelson during the week. On the weekends, Rahaf returns to Fruitvale to relax, study and visit with the Scott family.
Rahaf says that college in Canada is quite different from college in Syria. She says, “Here there is more time for students to interact with their instructors. Staff members are friendly. It easy to be open and honest with them.”
Even though life these days can be hectic, Rahaf finds time to volunteer with the Catholic Church in Nelson helping with Arabic translation for Syrian families. Her first presentation at college was called, “How Volunteering Has Affected My Life.”
Rahaf is looking forward to her first Canadian work experience this spring. She will have a five-month work term with one of the big hotel chains – Fairmont, Delta, Marriot or Sun Peaks.
Rahaf is not in Trail very often, but she knows she can contact Carolyn for support if she needs it. Even though answering questions about her life in Syria is sometimes hard, she is enjoying college and feels thankful for the opportunity for a fresh start.
Carolyn Amantea
Settlement Worker
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Trail and Area
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