How Soe Found New Hope and a Career in Canada
Soe’s first Canada Day
In the buzzing halls of the Village of Arbour Trails and Riverside Glen, two of Schlegel Villages’ age-friendly community living villages in Ontario, you might find Soe, a dedicated personal support worker and Burmese refugee. Her journey to Canada is a story of unwavering determination, and a testament to her resilience.
Helping others has always come naturally to Soe. In 2008, she left her homeland of Myanmar when the medical assistance she provided to injured protesters of the Saffron Revolution drew the ire of the government.
“In medicine, we don’t concentrate on religion or skin colour; we’re just saving human lives,” Soe said. “Some of the Rohingya people, they don’t have a passport and they’re suffering a lot.”
Soe fled Myanmar after the government seized all of her property and put a warrant out against her, forcing her to cross the Naf River with her two sons and seek refuge in Bangladesh.
Soe and her two sons when they first arrived in Bangladesh
Soe would put on many different hats to provide for her family: In Bangladesh, she worked as a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company, an interpreter for the UN, and a volunteer assisting Rohingya refugees. In 2010, she made the move to India for better opportunities for her family. In India, she worked in various roles, including as an auditor, a computer programmer, and a hospital-level medical coordinator. Throughout all of these changes, Soe persevered and continued to seek opportunities where she could build a better life, help others in need, and provide a safer environment for her children.
Discovering Talent Beyond Boundaries
Soe first heard about Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) from a local social work organization in India. While skeptical at first, she did her research on TBB, its partners, and the Talent Catalog, and decided to put her resume forward despite the doubts of others around her.
“Everyone thought it was a scam at first,” Soe shared. “We have 200,000 refugees in India, and not one person at the time had moved.”
Soe felt that if she could be the first person in India to successfully find a job through the Talent Catalog, she could prove that this idea was not a scam. In her 50s and with over 4,000 other refugees vying for the same role, it felt like a long shot. But with her wealth of experience and her steadfast spirit, she knew she’d be a strong candidate.
A Life-Changing Opportunity
Soe and her sons leave for Canada
Soe’s perseverance paid off when she was selected for an interview with Schlegel Villages in Canada. The moment she received a job offer, she couldn’t contain her excitement. A life in Canada meant that her children could start building towards their own futures. Her sons, now in Guelph with her, plan to go to university in the next year.
Before Soe moved, TBB helped her obtain the documentation needed to apply for Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot. Her employer ensured that she and her family had temporary housing when she first arrived. She landed in Canada on June 13, 2024, and started working the next day. Once in Canada, a local civic organization helped Soe get settled and ensured that her new home was fully furnished.
“[Schlegel Villages] trusts me a lot and they treat me well. I’m in my 50s and a small person,” Soe said. “But Schlegel has paid for my training and allowed me to show my abilities. Older woman can do anything!”
Soe’s journey demonstrates that with determination and the right support, it’s possible to overcome even the most daunting of obstacles. She encourages other refugees to trust in TBB and its partners, and to sign up for the Talent Catalog.
“I don’t know how to say thank you to TBB because of what they’ve given me,” Soe shared. “I knew I had the ability, but I never had the opportunity.”
For more information on opportunities for displaced talent in India, please reach out to TBB’s managing partner for India, Migration and Asylum Project, at +91 97111 28603.
