Linda's Story

Linda and her family arrived in Canada from Cambodia in 1982. The goal of their Canadian destination was to provide a better life for her family, which includes her husband and four lovely daughters.  Once arriving in Canada it took some time to get settled and get over the fear and loneliness of being in a new country where they didn’t know the language or the culture.  

Linda was grateful to be in Canada and thankful that her family was all together, but there were still challenges and hardships along the way.  English was a problem as well as not having completed high school; there were not a lot of options for her.  “I need to be better in English and to learn computers.” says Linda with a determined look on her face.  Linda was introduced to Immigrant Women Services of Ottawa where she learned of iSisters.  “I was so excited to learn that I could take this program when I came to IWSO for a completely different reason…..I was so stressed and so disappointed with my life and then I came here [IWSO] and saw iSisters and I was so so so happy!” she said.

Linda has been taking iSisters courses for almost a year now and has successfully completed level one, two and is half way through taking level three.  “I feel alive again.  It’s outstanding for me!   All I knew how to do before I took this course was to turn a computer on and off,  now I know how to do so many things…I can use word, excel and internet.  I even know how to use a web cam!  I can talk to my family all over the world and look at them when I talk…..it makes me have water in my eyes and down my cheeks.  I love iSisters.  I am now taking level 3 course because I finished level 1 and 2.” She said.

“I feel so much more confident now that I know how to use computers.  My English isn’t very good…but my computers are!  I don’t know what I would do without it now – I love it so much! Because of iSisters I can now be good at computers and get a job.  I will work on my English and be better at that too…then I will have both computers and English and will be so good.  All because of iSisters!”

Linda’s self confidence has soared and she is excited to be able to move forward and apply for jobs for which she would be qualified for.  Linda is leaving behind her stress and disappointment and taking on life, learning and opportunity to a new level.  “Now I don’t cry anymore.  I love iSisters” said Linda.

Linda’s story is just one example of the enormous benefit to women who receive the gift of education.