Humans of Skills for Change: Namreen Syed

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Humans of Skills for Change: Namreen Syed

29 October 2020Humans of Skills for ChangeBy Perry Jackson

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a 30-something international development professional who moved to Canada in 2020 on her own through the Express Entry Skilled Worker Immigration. Prior to making Canada home, I spent 2 years obtaining a masters degree through the merit-based Penn-UNESCO Fellowship Award at the University of Pennsylvania in the US and finishing a mandatory Educational Policy Training at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, France. Having grown up in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, I truly value the agency I have as an educated female professional in Toronto, Canada

How did you first learn about Skills for Change?

I was connected via LinkedIn to several nonprofit profit professionals and had been following the work Skills for Change does in helping young people and female women of colour in finding economic empowerment through employment opportunities. A LinkedIn conversation with a like-minded person led to this short term job placement at Skills for Change.

What do you do at Skills for Change?

I work as an Employment Service Specialist. I really enjoy this role as it puts into practice my facilitation, virtual teaching, adult education and coaching skills to use. I love reaching out to and having conversations with other skilled immigrants who are figuring out their pathways to settlement in Canada- this is something that goes beyond work hours and what gave birth to the Newcomer Speaker Series. The Newcomer Speaker Series is an initiative I started at Skills for Change where I speak with those immigrants who have successfully found placements within their field of work in Canada. I am also working on the Jane-Finch Fellowship with Skills for Change to mentor youth in the Jane-Finch area.