When she arrived in 2009 along with her husband and two children, Sandra Zarate knew London would be the right home for her family. A small community with good schools, hospitals, and opportunities for employment, the biggest barrier Sandra faced as a new immigrant from Colombia was being only fluent in Spanish. Sandra immediately set out to fix that, enrolling in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Eager to get involved with her new community and despite her language barrier, she approached her children’s YMCA child care centre and asked if she could be a parent volunteer.
Sandra says stepping out of her comfort zone was a difficult step that led her on a path to good employment today. While she helped care for the children, her English-language education continued. “I would sit with all the children while the teachers were reading some children’s books,” Sandra says.
Although she already had a post-graduate university degree and years of professional experience, she felt like a “kid in the classroom.” The experience was invaluable and led to other volunteer opportunities with Children’s Aid Society, which then led to employment in Canada.
While contributing to the community and networking as a volunteer, Sandra continued her studies at Fanshawe College, then both she and her husband connected with London’s WIL Employment Connections. Through her willingness to try new things and get involved with the community, one thing led to another and she is now happily employed in her field.
Though it wasn’t easy for Sandra to come out of her shell, she has learned that stepping out of her comfort zone is the only way to build strong relationships and get connected. “It’s amazing what overcoming your fears and reluctance to reach out and ask for help can accomplish,” she says.
Sandra encourages newcomers to get involved. If you are good at something, find a field that complements that, as there are many opportunities in London.
“We have all come to Canada from somewhere – we are working hard every day to improve our own lives and the lives of our families, while positively contributing to society,” says Sandra.
Sandra knows the process can be frustrating at first. Her advice: Take your time to settle, but keep moving forward and accept help along the way.
“Being a Canadian is being supportive and compassionate. When you come to London, you are offered so much to help you settle, and the community makes you feel so welcomed,” comments Sandra

Like many newcomers, Hanadi chose to settle in London because of the opportunities her family would have here. “When we came here, the children were very young. London offered a safe, peaceful place,” she says, recalling her arrival from Syria in 2002.
Hanadi has also taken steps to be a contributing member of her new home, volunteering with many organizations, including her children’s school, the Middle Eastern Women’s Association, Syrian Canadian Council, London Intercommunity Health Centre and the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre.
She is a social being who loves being involved in her surrounding community and helping others, so it seemed natural that she would enter a career that involves working with people.
Hanadi obtained her real estate licence after taking courses through Orea College in Toronto and now works as a real estate agent. She is the first London real estate agent with a head scarf and hopes to inspire other Muslim women in hijab to enter the field.
Hanadi also works as a teacher at the Islamic school and volunteers with recent refugees who have arrived from Syria. Her volunteer experience has come in handy many times in real estate, she says, when she has been able to connect clients with services throughout the city.
It was not easy to leave Syria, a country she loves and recalls as being peaceful, rich and “amazing,” before the present crisis took hold. But she says she is grateful to Canada for the life it has given her family.
Here she feels “protected” and “strong,” she says. Her advice to other newcomers: “Be positive, be active and love your community. It gets back to your family. Here there are many opportunities to be a Canadian and feel like part of the community.”