Our Heroes for November, Issam Rahmat and his family, are landed immigrants from
Morocco. They arrived in Ottawa on July 17 this year through the express entry provisions
of our immigration system. Issam found himself at HEFC on July 24, needing support.
Issam said that he did not know what to expect, but was so kindly treated by Louisa
Simms, HEFC’s executive coordinator, that he decided he wanted to help and to return
the kindness he and his family had found at the HEFC program. He has now been a volunteer at HEFC, four days a week, for the past three months.
Issam agreed to meet with Lynn Sherwood (HEFC Board Chair) to talk about his family’s experiences and the reason why he is volunteering at HEFC. He feels that it is important for newcomers to reach out of their comfort zone when they immigrate to Canada, and to make efforts to integrate into Canadian society. He is trying to achieve this through volunteering at HEFC, where he gives out food and talks with many newcomers much like himself.
A major reason he was welcomed as a volunteer so quickly is the fact that he speaks three languages, English, French and Arabic, and can communicate easily with other newcomers. He also has great experience in working with the public through his past job in Morocco as head of operations at a call centre. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in project management, both acquired in France.
In addition to volunteering at HEFC, Issam is teaching French courses at the Elmvale Library on weekends. His family joined in the HEFC Walkathon in September. His two children are similarly getting involved in Ottawa life, with both sons attending Pleasant Park School. Their mother, Fatima Zahra Bouaddi, also volunteers at HEFC. Issam has already found a job and is now working as a customer advisor for an accounting firm here in Ottawa.
Welcome to the Rahmut family, and we give thanks for the help you have given HEFC.
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