Amelia
Born and raised in Albania, Amelia immigrated to Calgary in February of 2021 along with her family in search of opportunities in Canada. They faced many challenges in settling down in Calgary, primarily in finding employment.
Amelia told us that the kindness and help of a few acquaintances helped her get her bearings in a new country. She reached out to the CCIS program for newcomers and Bow Valley College to learn how to develop her resume and write a cover letter. Like many women in similar circumstances, Amelia couldn’t afford the professional wardrobe that she needed to go to networking events and interviews. She was referred by the agency to Dress for Success Calgary. On her first visit, she was incredibly touched by the kindness and patience shown by the stylist.
For many immigrants, professional degrees and experience require them to get a local certification. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from her home country, Amelia started studying to get local credentials and is on her way to becoming a therapist.
Inspired by what Dress for Success Calgary was able to do for her, Amelia wanted to pay it forward and help the community that supported her through a difficult time. She began volunteering as a stylist with Making Changes to help other women like her in their journey to find meaningful employment and economic independence. She says “Because I got the help I felt I could help others as well.”
““Don’t be scared to express what you truly want. The stylists will help you find clothes to make you feel your best and your sense of style and opinions are valued.”
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Through her volunteering experience, Amelia realized how much programs and services offered by Making Changes cater to so many immigrant women with experiences very similar to her own. She shared that volunteering has also provided her with new connections and friendships, as well as actively taught her about Canadian business culture, something that is hard to learn without hands-on experience and can create a lot of setbacks in job search for newcomers.
Amelia says to those just walking through our doors, “Don’t be scared to express what you truly want. The stylists will help you find clothes to make you feel your best and your sense of style and opinions are valued.” She also wants women to know that it’s ok to ask for help and encourages her clients to share their plans with others who could support them in some way. “People are willing to help you succeed, but first you have to believe that you can!”
Check out our website to know more about Dress for Success Calgary program: https://www.makingchangesassociation.ca/dressforsuccesscalgary
