From Being Helped to Helping Others
- Dragana Malic
I came to Canada from a war-torn country in the former Yugoslavia in 1997. Because of the war, there was not much reason to be here.
Someone referred me to CCIS, and I had a volunteer coming to my place once a week to practice English with me. It was an older, retired Canadian gentleman, and I was just amazed that somebody would give their time like that to a complete stranger to help them practice English. Where I came from, we didn’t have this concept of volunteering.
A few years later, once I was more settled, I thought lots of refugees were coming in, and they always need volunteers, so why not volunteer? More so because, having been in those shoes, I’d know exactly what they’re going through.
I can’t forget Asha, the first person I was matched with. It was amazing because there was very little English. But when you start with a smile and an open heart, you can communicate so much with body language, and it’s actually even more fun. And lots of laughing.
I learned from Asha that her next-door neighbour, also named Asha, was a single mom, also from Eritrea, with two little kids. Her husband had abandoned her and moved to Vancouver.
I called CCIS and told them, “I can still work with Asha, but I would also like to take her friend. I can easily work with both because they’re in the neighbourhood and are friends.”
The second Asha was pregnant and continued working at a meatpacking plant until the day of her delivery. And they took her straight from the assembly line to the hospital.
I always think about how I would feel if I were in that situation. And that’s how I act. So, I quickly found a stroller and a car seat on Kijiji, as I couldn’t even go to the hospital to take her home with the baby.
And then, since I helped out, they want to show their appreciation. So, she makes this feast that she probably spent one-third of her monthly budget on. She cooks all day, and she invites us to thank for all the help. They want to show appreciation. That’s their dignity and giving back, in a way.
I think everything in life is a two-way street. Right?
I was always curious about the world, about different cultures.
Through the families I’ve helped, I learn a lot about other countries. Helping and interacting with the newcomers is like travelling to different countries, maybe even better.