Arabic interpreter empowers refugee Windsor women and their families
WEST is thrilled to recognize Maisam Kishawi, an outstanding volunteer who supported its Settlement department this past year as an Arabic Language Interpreter.
Through her time as a volunteer with WEST, Maisam not only demonstrated her skills by providing language interpretation services to support the work of Settlement counsellors, she also showcased her passion for empowering women in the community by forming many connections with WEST’s key client base demographic.
With her assistance, WEST was able to address the immediate needs of many refugee women and their families in Windsor and provide assistance to develop longterm Settlement goals.
Maisam feels that it is important to work in her community and give back through volunteering. She also has a passion for empowering women.
“I just feel like helping,” she says. “It makes me happy, especially women, I feel very attached to other women and children. It feels like we are sisters and we need each other. It doesn’t matter where we come from, just that we help each other.”
Her time as a volunteer with WEST allowed her to see how Canadian non-profit agencies provide services to their communities and how she can fit into that system.
Maisam supported WEST in meeting its goal of assisting marginalized women and their families move towards independence and self-sufficiency.
Through her volunteer efforts, she was not only able to fulfill her passion for empowering women, she was also able to positively impact the lives of many newcomers in Windsor.
‘I feel very attached to other women and children. It feels like we are sisters and we need each other. It doesn’t matter where we come from, just that we help each other.’