Settlement agency recognizes inspiring clients, champions and volunteers

Credit to Author: Ramya Ramanathan| Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:46:40 +0000

Settlement services agency in Surrey, British Columbia, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, has announced its Awards of Impact to celebrate inspiring immigrants in the community. These awardees have benefited from the services offered by the agency and some of them are now even making an effort to give back.

Take 77-years-young Jaswant Lohat, winner of the Inspiring Seniors Award. Lohat, who has been in Canada since 2009, benefits from the emotional and informational support she receives fromDIVERSEcity’s Newcomer Family & Friends Caregiver Support Program. In turn, she is always ready to volunteer and support other seniors in need.

“This award is very important to me. Thank you for appreciating for my work as a community supporter and being a caregiver for my husband, who had a stroke the last seven years,” says Lohat “Although I’m very busy, I make sure I volunteer for the community. I love to participate in different community events and helping seniors whenever they need. It just makes me feel good and brings fulfillment to my life.”

Mojisola Allen receives the Strengthening Safety Award.

Mojisola Allen is the winner of the Strengthening Safety Award given to individuals who have overcome violence or trauma and contributed to creating safe spaces for others. Originally from Nigeria, Allen fled to Canada with her two children, escaping domestic violence. She accessed the agency’s counselling services and later became a member of the Survivor Advisory Panel for the Roots of Safety Program.

“This is huge to me and especially my kids seeing this [award] happen,” says Allen.

Having a safe space to grieve and heal has enabled Allen to give back to the community and provide them with advice based on her experiences.

Mainu Ahmed, winner of the Food Justice Advocate Award is the co-founder and volunteer director at the Muslim Food Bank and Community Services in Surrey, B.C. A longstanding partner of DIVERSEcity’s food security programs, his advocacy around culturally appropriate food security is inspiring and impactful.

Tammy Huston

“We make sure that newcomers, refugees or others have religiously and culturally appropriate food, be it kosher, halal or vegan,” says Ahmed. “We provide welcome food boxes for all refugees coming into the city [of Surrey], as well as emergency food boxes. We are also now doing prepared meals, which isn’t something that food banks generally get into, but we’re handing out meals on the downtown eastside on a daily basis.”

Community Champion Award winner Tammy Huston has been volunteering with the organization since the start of the pandemic. She has spent countless hours grocery shopping and delivering food for diverse clients.

“I am delighted to support the seniors program in making our community a more liveable one,” says Huston.

Youth Leadership Award recipient Jyoti Sheokand, who came to Canada on her own as a permanent resident in 2022, is a past client of the organization’s Future Troopers Youth Employment Program. She is now preparing to challenge the physiotherapy competency exam in B.C. so she can return to her original profession. Her determination to not give up despite the barriers of the foreign credential recognition process, serves as an inspiration to any newcomer who is daunted by the challenges of resuming their career in Canada.

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