The Respect Network is a group of community organizations in the Thompson Okanagan region that seek to have all community members welcomed, valued and respected. Over the next two months, the Capital News and KCR Community Resources will feature success stories from the community.
By Dorothee Birker
Jinky French is an immigrant who has worked hard to succeed and to create a secure life for herself as well as for her Canadian family, and her family in her homeland of the Philippines.
香蕉视频直播淚 am the breadwinner of the family,香蕉视频直播� she explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 belong to a poor family香蕉视频直播攎y parents had me when they were only 16. My father is a motorcycle repairman and my mother looked after the family. I ended up putting my siblings through school.香蕉视频直播�
In her early twenties, she had a successful career as a loan officer for a car company. When the Filipino economy took a turn for the worse, she needed to find new options.
香蕉视频直播淎 friend told me about being a nanny in Canada,香蕉视频直播� remembers Jinky. Fearing stories of difficult living situations for many Filipinos working abroad, Jinky knew she wanted to try to move to North America.
Although her initial work placement didn香蕉视频直播檛 suit, Jinky persevered and found a wonderful family to care for. She met the requirement of working for 24 consecutive months in Canada so she could apply for her permanent resident status.
While waiting for her permanent resident application to be processed, Jinky was dealt a difficult blow. Back home in the Philippines, her sister was ill from tuberculosis and malnutrition. Jinky was unable to go home as it would have jeopardized her status in Canada.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a big sacrifice,香蕉视频直播� she says tearfully. It is easy to see how fresh the pain still is 14 years later. 香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 go home. My sister passed away and I could just pray to her spirit and see my family online. I just sent money. This is our life now, that I have to stay here to support our family.香蕉视频直播�
While continuing to look after her Filipino family, Jinky also started her own family in Kelowna. She and her Canadian husband Curtis have two young girls that they dote on.
香蕉视频直播淢y dream is to bring my family here. They are the main reason that I came here. We come here not just for ourselves, but for the family we left behind,香蕉视频直播� Jinky explains. 香蕉视频直播淔rom the time we are here, we send money every month. If we don香蕉视频直播檛, our family will be devastated.香蕉视频直播�
Jinky香蕉视频直播檚 hard work is paying off and she thrives on her achievements. 香蕉视频直播淚 love my jobs香蕉视频直播攆rom nanny, to a nursing assistant, to my work now as a financial advisor.香蕉视频直播�
In 2011, while still working as a nursing aide, Jinky dedicated herself to learning a new career and is now a marketing director with the World Financial Group. The awards that line her office indicate her success.
香蕉视频直播淵ou have to be passionate in helping people, and passionate in educating them about saving money. I am proud of myself,香蕉视频直播� she continues. 香蕉视频直播淓ven though I don香蕉视频直播檛 have a degree, I believed in myself and I knew I could be successful here. Here as long as you believe in yourself, and focus, you can do what you want, no matter what your background is.香蕉视频直播�
Jinky will be sharing her success story at 香蕉视频直播淚gnite Okanagan,香蕉视频直播� an employment summit hosted by KCR - Community Resources and COLIP (the Central Okanagan Local Immigrant Partnership) at the downtown Library from 12 to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 23. Everyone is welcome and Mayor Basran is also a keynote speaker.
The event brings together employers and service providers to highlight opportunities and programmes that encourages people to rethink their hiring process and make it more equitable for everyone.
香蕉视频直播淲e know there are issues for immigrants with professional backgrounds香蕉视频直播攂oth in office and skilled trades香蕉视频直播攆inding work,香蕉视频直播� says Rawle James, COLIP coordinator. 香蕉视频直播淭here are many service providers that support both the employer and the participants, helping them to be job ready and functional for Canadian work places. The summit will show that diversifying the work force benefits business directly and the community overall.香蕉视频直播�
Between 2011 and 2016, the Central Okanagan welcomed 175,555 newcomers, six out of 10 of them entering through the Economic Class, where applicants are selected on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
