Ghazal Shaloodegi got here to Canada a couple of years in the past to check at UBC-Okanagan.
The Kelowna, B.C., lady and single mother mentioned beginning a brand new life in another country may be robust.
“It’s not solely a language barrier nevertheless it’s additionally a tradition barrier,” Shaloodegi mentioned. “Additionally, it’s in regards to the self worth since you’re fully new.”
Nonetheless, the 37-year-old is overcoming these challenges due to a non-profit group known as Costume for Success.
“They’re very welcoming,” Shaloodegi mentioned. “They gave me that self esteem, that vanity.”
Costume for Success has been working worldwide for nearly three a long time however solely six years in Kelowna.
“We’re pretty younger within the Kelowna panorama,” mentioned Lori Stevenson, Costume for Success Kelowna government director.
The group helps ladies, comparable to single mothers or newcomers, cut back obstacles to employment.
“We serve ladies from slightly below 18 years outdated to over 60,” Stevenson mentioned. “All walks of life, all academic ranges and all phases of their profession as a result of we by no means know when life circumstances are going to throw a curveball at us or issues are going to vary.”
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Costume for Success gives a wide range of companies to assist ladies with their employment objectives together with entry to enterprise apparel, private {and professional} growth applications in addition to mentorship workshops and profession companies comparable to assist with resumes and job interviews.
In response to the group, demand for its companies has grown considerably in recent times.
Actually, within the final three years alone, the variety of shoppers on the lookout for help has tripled.
“I feel the price of dwelling. We’re unprecedented housing prices and prices of dwelling,” Stevenson mentioned. “Now we have loads of new arrivals to the nation, we had the struggle with Ukraine that introduced lots of people in, we have now the Center East.”
The group is at present gearing up for certainly one of its most important fundraising campaigns of the yr.
Referred to as ‘Your Hour, Her Energy, the marketing campaign runs all of March and coincides with Worldwide Ladies’s Day.
“We name on most people to donate one hour of their wage or any quantity they’re snug with to assist a lady in our neighborhood attain her employment and monetary objectives,” Stevenson mentioned.
Cash donated will assist help ladies like Shaloodegi, certainly one of about 300 anticipated to hunt out companies in 2025.
“They provide you that chance to listen to you, to see you and to provide you that self worth that OK, you are able to do it,” Shaloodegi mentioned.
To get extra data or to donate, you possibly can go to the Dress for Success Website.
The group additionally accepts gently-used enterprise apparel at its workplace at 1272 St. Paul St.
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