Central Alberta’s immigrant community has eight new leaders.
Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association held a graduation ceremony on Wednesday for eight men and women who completed leadership training this year to assist the local immigrant community.
The eight-month leadership program, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Multiculturalism Program, is being run by Red Deer Leadership Centre to facilitate economic, social and cultural immigration into mainstream society.
This is the association’s first group of graduates from the program that will be funded for three years. Graduates will be putting their knowledge to use as volunteers at the immigrant association.
Halima Ali, the association’s executive director, said four issues immigrants need help with are parental participation in the school system, understanding the justice system, finding employment and awareness of health programs.
“When I came to Canada, there were many things I needed to know and it took me a long time to understand,” said Ali, who emmigrated from Somalia.
About 300 people annually use services offered by the immigrant association.
When Ali took the same class at the leadership centre in 2008 it cost her about $2,000. Most immigrants have low-paying jobs and providing the program for free will enable them to speak on behalf of the immigrant community and better assist members, she said.
Newcomers who took civic participation workshops, to learn about their civic rights and obligations, were also recognized at Wednesday’s ceremony at the Scott Block.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com