The post below was written by Isabela H. Chamon Sasaki, our newest Volunteer Blogger. Isabela is Brazilian, a future journalist, a cinefile and a dreamer- and you can check out her blog here.
Since 2008, Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society has been helping me navigate all the difficulties that I have faced as an immigrant youth going through tremendous changes in life. Known throughout the Victoria community and Vancouver Island as simply “VIRCS”, the organization provides support to every immigrant within the community who seeks it, from children to seniors. VIRCS’ diverse team of staff is understanding and reliable, offering a comfortable and safe environment for their clients.
VIRCS is a non-profit organization with a long history and refugee roots. Founded in 1989 by three former refugees from Chile, Vietnam and Eritrea, VIRCS has been growing ever since, helping over 3,000 people from all over the world each year. Volunteers are also welcomed there, with over 130 volunteer opportunities for people who have the desire to discover new cultures and appreciate each other’s differences.
VIRCS offers several essential services to newcomers, ranging from one-on-one support services to group activities. VIRCS’ most established programs include the Employment Transitions Program that assists newcomers in the job search process. The Skills Connect Program assists skilled newcomers to get their foreign credentials recognized through training, upgrading and mentoring support. VIRCS Youth Services provide education, employment, social and settlement support to newcomer youth, proving invaluable during some of the most formative years of one’s life. Last but not least, VIRCS was the first organization in Canada to offer “MEEP”, a multicultural environmental education program for new immigrants.
Paulina Jarmula, youth program coordinator at VIRCS, concedes that VIRCS plays a role in many newcomers’ lives that extends beyond the surface level services. “VIRCS truly offers an all-encompassing range of services relevant to newcomers, but more importantly, VIRCS is a home away from home for many of our clients. We have clients who come here on their second day in the country and tell us that they googled us and here they are. We have clients who come here and spend the entire day with us. They use the computers, work on their job search, meet with their case managers, have a cup of coffee, chat with others… and just relax. It has a very warm atmosphere. Clients feel safe here.”
As an immigrant, I can only be grateful for all the helping hands and the shoulders that I could cry on. Change may be the only constant in life, but it is by no means an easy task; immigrant or not, we all have our own problems and doubts. Having someone who can empathize with what you are going through and who is able to guide you throughout the bumpy road is comforting in the most incredibly gratifying way. Knowing that you have support that is just an email, Facebook message or phone call away can make all the difference in the life of a new immigrant.
Now, speaking as a teenager, I can confidently say that VIRCS gave me the support I needed to continue growing and maturing in the healthiest possible manner, both physically and emotionally. Adolescence can be a tumultuous period filled with doubts, questions, fears and often, insecurity. VIRCS’ presence in my life made this path smoother; they were the voice in the back of my head saying that everything was going to be fine.
From the staff to the clients to the volunteers, VIRCS benefits its clients in numerous capacities. The mix of cultures, languages and backgrounds at VIRCS makes the ambience warm and familiar. The team of staff is one hundred percent committed to their clients to give them the best possible experience as newcomers during a time filled with uncertainty and question marks. Last but not least, VIRCS emphasizes incorporating social activities and workshops into their services that introduce newcomers to a new country, new lifestyle, new social milieu, and most importantly of all, people that share the same experiences as you. During a time that can be painfully lonely, VIRCS provides a backbone and a safe haven to all of Victoria’s newest residents from far and wide.