Every Journey Starts Somewhere
When Mehad arrived in Niagara, she was excited for a new beginning, but unsure where to start.
She had built a career in business, supply chain management, and marketing, but in a new country, everything felt unfamiliar. She was navigating a new culture, a new language, and wondering where to begin. As someone who describes herself as outgoing, she wanted to make friends and connect with her new community, but wasn’t sure where to start.
“When I came here, I was really lost. I really didn’t know what to do here in Canada,” she says.
Like so many newcomers, the hardest part wasn’t knowing what came next. It was knowing where to take that very first step.
Opening the Door
For Mehad, that first step was walking through the doors of the YMCA of Niagara. She started with English classes before connecting with her Employment Coach, Diana through the Newcomer Youth Employment Program, where she got the confidence boost she needed to navigate life and work in Canada. She found a welcoming community and friendships that made Niagara begin to feel like home. At first, even introducing herself in an interview felt overwhelming. But with every conversation, every new skill, and every bit of encouragement, the next step became a little easier. Looking back, she sums up her experience simply:
“I just took the first step, and then all the steps came with it.”
Discovering a New Path
With growing confidence came the freedom to pursue something she had only dreamed about. Although her education and career had been in business, photography had always been a personal passion. Mehad enrolled in Niagara College’s Photography program, determined to turn that passion into a profession. She smiles when she remembers her first day.
“I didn’t even know how to turn on the camera. All my photography was with my phone.”
Today, she’s putting those skills to work as a Photographer and Media Assistant at Niagara College, creating photo and video content for businesses throughout Niagara.
Looking Ahead
Today, Mehad is excited about the future, with dreams of growing her photography career and one day starting her own business. When she meets newcomers who feel the same uncertainty she once did, her advice is always the same. Start somewhere.
“Your first step should be here at the YMCA, either in employment coaching or English courses,” she says. “Some people come here for the first time and feel lost and don’t know what to do… they just have to take the first step.”
For many newcomers, that first visit to the YMCA isn’t the end goal. It’s the place where confidence begins to grow, connections are made, and the path forward starts to come into focus. Because once that first step is behind you, the next one doesn’t feel quite so far away.
Through Newcomer Youth Employment, YMCA staff help newcomer youth gain confidence, build connections, and prepare for meaningful employment.