Career path found in translation
Daughter of refugees finds her calling by assisting Canadian newcomers
At the age of 23 Wellander Sima Nahli is on a mission to help newcomers settle into their new life in Canada without any hiccups.
Nahli’s journey began before she was even born, when her parent’s left Lebanon due to war. They moved to Switzerland and finally to Canada where Nahli was born.
Nahli says because her parents left Lebanon as refugees she felt a desire to help others. Initially she wanted to be a doctor, but life pulled her in a different direction.
Nahli started working at Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Council while she was attending university in Ottawa. Although Nahli works as a settlement councillor, she didn’t set out to work in that field. She studied biomedical sciences at university always with the goal of becoming a doctor.
“So a completely different field, I know. But after working here a couple summers and I graduated last April, I decided to work here as a settlement councillor and that started in November of last year.”
Nahli says taking a position with the council was in good timing with the refugee resettlement movement. She provides services in Arabic for newcomers who can’t speak English. The council doesn’t offer translation services, but because Nahli can speak three languages she volunteers her time to help any way she can. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French.
At home Nahli spoke Arabic with her family, making Arabic her first language. When she was ready to start school her parents enrolled her in French immersion. She continued her studies in French at university. She learned English by being around her peers at school.
“French is actually the second language in Lebanon where my parents are from. So they wanted to keep that in the family … It’s good to have a third language. I’m lucky to use that every day in a job like this,” Nahli says.
As much as her work is important to her, Nahli’s family is just as important. Nahli credits her late grandmother as being a big influence in her life. Her grandmother always encouraged her to accept everyone no matter their colour, race, religious beliefs or country of origin.
“She was the kindest woman I’ve ever known … I miss her every day, but she was so proud of me for helping all these wonderful newcomers and she kept me going through times where I felt overwhelmed,” Nahli says.
As a translator and settlement councillor Nahli has learned the stories of many of the people she works with. She says the stories of the Syrian refugees have touched her deeply because they are so grateful to be in Canada.
Nahli has provided assistance to families who’ve settled in Port Colborne. One of the men expressed gratitude.
“He said this to me word for word, he said, ‘You’ve given me more than anyone has ever given me in my life.’ And when they say things like that it’s touching. We haven’t done anything, it feels like we haven’t done anything, we’re just doing what we can to help. But to them that is what we are as Canadians.”
The journey of a Palestinian woman who came to Canada pregnant and with her daughter has also left an impression of Nahli. What was difficult for Nahli to learn was that the woman left behind her husband, mother and one of her children. The woman was at the gate in Gaza passing through when the gate was closed behind her.
“So her youngest son, who is four years old was left there with her mom. They were separated for five months. So she came here and had her youngest boy. So she was here with her two kids and her youngest boy was sick. She had to go back and forth to Hamilton with no transportation and no money for transportation.”
The Palestinian woman is still waiting for her husband to join her in Canada.
Nahli says every single one of her clients is strong, but the Palestinian woman stands out because of the struggles she had to face alone.
“Her story was quite touching … I’ve seen her in my office and she’s cried about missing her son. And what do I do? I’m not married, I don’t have kids, I can relate, but not in the way she feels. So I just sat there and started crying myself, but there was nothing I could do. That is the worst part of my job when I’m stuck and I can’t do anything,” Nahli says.
In partnership with Welland Public Library, Nahli will be running conversation circles to encourage newcomers to speak English. The program is set to start in September.
“I tell them this is an ‘Englishonly zone,’ so try your best not to ask me anything in Arabic. Because if they know there is someone there that speaks Arabic they are just going to depend on that forever,” Nahli says.
One of the fulfilling parts of working with newcomers is seeing their progress over time. Nahli says she has watched as one of the Syrian refugees in Port Colborne progresses with English. When her family first moved to Canada they didn’t speak any English and Nahli had to translate for doctors appointments, but now Nahli isn’t needed.
“She is able to do it now on her own and that is something that brings me joy. Just the fact that they are able to do it by themselves.”
Nahli says although she loves her current job, she can’t rule out going back to school to become a doctor. Maybe she will further her studies in immigrant and refugee settlements.