Dreaming Big and Empowering Others: Sarah's Story

Sarah first came to Vancouver in September last year, leaving her home and children behind in Uganda. It wasn’t easy for her when she first arrived, as she lived in shelters and struggled to find adequate resources like food and a job.  She has also found the process to obtain refugee status long and stressful, but felt determined to stay in Canada. Reaching out to various organizations in an attempt to get situated in a new country, Sarah focused on building community and networking, which is how she initially heard of Mission Possible.

Hearing about MP from two friends that had started the Employment Readiness Program Sarah decided to join the Women's Track, a safe space for women and non-binary people to engage with the Employment Readiness Program. She didn't come alone either, and encouraged a whole group of women from her community to enroll with her. Thanks in part to her leadership, the Women's Track saw a record 17 women join that month!      

Sarah's job on the Clean Team gave her a sense of accomplishment, especially when community members would acknowledge her efforts. During MP's Community Clean Up Day, she led a team of volunteers around the Strathcona neighbourhood and was met with appreciation from people passing by.  "Each day I come to MP, I am at home," she expressed. In addition, she gained valuable experience working with other marginalized people in Canada, giving her the confidence to apply for permanent work in her desired field. 

During her time with the Clean Team, Sarah appreciated the wraparound supports offered at MP. Determined to get the most out of the program, she attended every workshop, including our new health initiatives. The Nourish at Home workshop and Healthy Homes Fund provided her with items to stock her kitchen and tips on how to cook on a budget in Vancouver. Sarah shared, "We didn't have anything [before the workshops]. We had like two pans." MP's community pantry and lunch program also helped her save money, easing the burden of grocery bills. 

In addition, Sarah met with our Housing Coordinator to look for more suitable accommodations. Ideally, she would like her own apartment to bring her children into. Until she can achieve this goal, she continues to support her children while they're in Uganda. "Mission Possible has done immense good for my life, not only my life, but my family, because when I get like $100, I share it with my kids. I send it back home, because they have to eat," she explained.

Coaching has been another helpful tool for Sarah, one that she continues to access even after graduation. She shares, "Due to the coaching I am being pushed ahead." While on the Clean Team, Sarah maintained a steadfast goal: securing permanent, full-time work. With the support of her coaches, she was able to update her resume and cover letter to reflect her time with MP and apply for positions with outreach organizations. After several interviews, she was successfully hired as a full-time front desk attendant with a local organization. In addition, she was hired onto Mission Possible's Project Bridge, an outreach program designed to help community members understand government benefits and file taxes. Sarah is confident that the work experience and networking in her new roles will continue to prepare her for a career in support work.

Now that Sarah has graduated from the Employment Readiness Program, and has two jobs under her belt, she continues to work hard in hopes for a better future for her whole family. While she is still working through the process to obtain refugee status, Sarah is determined to take what she has learned at Mission Possible and apply it moving forward. Sarah shared, "I'm doing good, because I can see where I'm going, and I'm still thinking and dreaming big."