Mohieldin, what were your priorities when you started your Welcome Group match?
Mohieldin: I needed help with service navigation. Because I am new to Canada and I have children, I had to figure out which services were important for my family and how to access them. I could not do this work alone because I am just learning to speak English. Also, I needed support with language learning.
How did the Welcome Group volunteers help you achieve your goals?
M: I was receiving frequent calls and emails from the government that I did not understand. I would also receive fliers about programs but I could not read them. The volunteers were so supportive in helping me navigate decisions about these services. I also started my match hoping to find employment in my field. The volunteers were helping me with this goal but then my health became unstable. I went to see my doctor and was able to access disability support. I also needed to change my accommodation because my apartment was not right for my family. With support from the volunteers, I found a new apartment. I am also on a list for subsidized government housing but I am still waiting to access it.
Claudia, why did you decide to volunteer for the Welcome Group Program?
Claudia: Moving to a new country takes a lot more than just checking off administrative boxes: it takes a community. Vancouver is a beautiful city, but it can be really overwhelming and complex to navigate at first. I wanted to be a reliable, friendly face for Mohieldin so he wouldn’t have to face that transition alone.
Is there any aspect of your experience or personal background that shapes how you support newcomers?
C: My background is rooted in multicultural settings and a trauma-informed approach, which means I’m always mindful of creating a space that feels safe, predictable, and completely non-judgmental. On a personal note, I’m actually on my own journey of learning Arabic right now. Being able to bring a few phrases into our conversations was a small but incredibly special way to spark a quick smile and build an immediate, comfortable connection. My goal was to honor Mohieldin’s independence and let him set the pace.
Mohieldin, what were the highlights of your match?
M: Claudia, the Welcome Group lead and all of the volunteers were very caring. I could reach out to them day or night and they would help me with my challenges. As a newcomer, I felt very isolated. But meeting with the volunteers for coffee and talking with them helped me feel better. We did not always have to discuss my match priorities. Sometimes, just being together was what I really needed.
Was there a particular challenge in the match?
M: One time, I fell ill and an ambulance was called to pick me up and take me to the hospital. Afterwards, I was charged an $80 fee for the ambulance. I kept getting emails and calls about this charge. It took a long time for the volunteers and me to explain that I could not pay this fee due to my limited resources. I hope processes like these can be more streamlined in the future as this incident was very stressful.
Claudia, what have you learned about the challenges and opportunities newcomers face when rebuilding their lives in Vancouver?
C: The practical hurdles in a city like Vancouver are massive, just looking at the housing market or trying to break through language barriers is tough. Despite that, the resilience Mohieldin brings is amazing. When we stop looking at this as just a service and start offering real, human connection, it stops being about just surviving and turns into a really enriching experience for everyone.
What were the highlights of volunteering in the program?
C: Honestly, the absolute highlights were the real, everyday moments. Walking alongside Mohieldin through the stressful process of searching for a new house and staying close with him and his family meant the world to me. I loved the simple moments: just sitting down over a cup of coffee, chatting about life, and helping him practice his English in a relaxed way. On top of that, connecting with the other volunteers was wonderful.
Mohieldin, do you have any advice for newcomers who are nervous about joining the Welcome Group Program?
M: Do not hesitate to reach out to your volunteers regularly on WhatsApp or with a phone call. I felt so much better every time I connected with them. I was actually pretty nervous when I started my match but it only took one coffee outing with my group for me to feel safe and like I wanted to continue; I knew this program was right for me.
Finally, do either of you have advice for potential Welcome Group volunteers?
M: When the volunteers reached out to me on a regular basis, my match worked really well. We did not always need to talk about the match priorities. Talking about day-to-day life was really important too.
C: Just go into it with an open heart, plenty of patience, and a willingness to listen. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers; you just need to be a steady, supportive presence. With so much instability and heavy news in the world right now, seeing everyday people step up just to be there for someone else is absolute gold. We want to thank Claudia and Mohieldin for sharing their experiences with us and our broader audience, and we hope it inspires you to join us in building community.