When Jauhar first arrived in Canada from Africa, he was utterly alone.

“I didn’t know where to start, who to trust, or even how to adjust to life in a new culture,” he recalls. “I didn’t know a single person apart from the one in the mirror.”

That first walk into the YMCA was fraught with nerves and uncertainty, but it quickly became a turning point. The kindness of the staff, their calm and caring voices, and their genuine encouragement made the YMCA feel like a home away from home.

Back home, Jauhar had never written a resume or cover letter. He tried everything on his own — downloading templates, applying for jobs online — but every effort led to rejection.

“It was discouraging,” he says. “And it pushed me toward depression.”

Then he remembered a piece of paper given to him by an immigration officer at the airport — one that simply said YMCA Employment Services. He searched online and, to his surprise, found a YMCA just a few blocks away.

That small discovery became the start of something much bigger.

At the YMCA, Jauhar met Employment Specialists Kate Wang and later Fynan Hamadah. They took the time to understand his background in welding and helped him see how his skills could fit within Canada’s labour market. “Fynan changed everything for me,” he says. “She didn’t just send me job leads — she cared. She built my resume, coached me, and helped me believe in myself again.”

With her guidance, Jauhar landed his first job at Starbucks. It wasn’t his dream career, but it was the first step toward stability — and toward rediscovering his confidence.

Through continued encouragement from YMCA staff, Jauhar realized his true passion lay in electrical work. He went back to school, completed the Electrical Techniques program at Niagara College, and pushed through challenges that would have stopped many — long bus rides, night classes, and endless winter studying.

When he graduated, anxiety returned as he began applying for jobs again. But he knew exactly where to turn.

“The YMCA welcomed me back, rebuilt my resume, and reminded me of my worth,” he says. Not long after, he achieved his goal — securing an electrical apprenticeship and launching the career he had been working toward since the day he arrived in Canada.

“Like coming into a place where you just connect — from the manager to the receptionist — not underestimating any position. That’s really amazing. It’s a very big emotional support to us, and we really, really appreciate it.”

The YMCA also helped Jauhar access essential tools for his trade through additional program support. “It meant so much,” he says. “That kind of help goes beyond employment — it’s emotional and financial support combined.”

“This story of mine — the one you are calling the success story — it is our success story. It is not mine. This is the YMCA’s effort, besides my own. YMCA is not going to knock on your door, but they have a very, very big door for everybody. Just come in. They are willing to help.”

“YMCA has been my compass in a forest of uncertainty. They didn’t just help me find a job — they gave me direction, hope, and a future.”

Today, Jauhar is proud to share his story with others who are starting over. He often encourages newcomers to take that first step — even when it feels uncertain — because, as he’s learned, support and opportunity usually begin with a single conversation.

“All newcomers — it’s not easy, but it’s worth it. You have to lock into the situation and work hard to improve yourself. It all pays off with the support of the YMCA.”

Looking back, Jauhar says the YMCA has been more than a service — it’s been a community that helped him rebuild his confidence and see a future full of possibilities.

“I think YMCA is something all newcomers really need. I would really want others to be helped the way I was helped.”