Celebrating an important milestone in their new country

Fourteen high school graduates gathered at Zaytoon on Wednesday to celebrate a milestone that represented years of hard work and adjustment.

The recent grads, all newcomers or refugees, arrived at the Osborne Village restaurant to find it decked out with balloons and flags from various countries for a special graduation dinner to honour their achievements.

The event was hosted by the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, which supports newcomer youth through programs including an after school program and homework and education for youth program.

“This is one of the biggest milestones in their life,” said Arshdeep Virk, IRCOM after-school program educator. “For some of them, coming from countries of war and different situations, them being able to come here and then graduate from high school is a big thing.”

When Miriam Wancha moved to Winnipeg from Ethiopia at the end of Grade 6, she left her friends, familiar surroundings and the life she knew.

“When I first came here it was overwhelming,” Wancha said. “I was so scared.”

Wancha, who graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute a few weeks ago, said IRCOM helped her adjust to her new home, especially through its soccer program.

“I tried it because I didn’t really have any other things to do; I didn’t know English at that time,” Wancha said.

“I think that was what actually broke me out of my shell. Now I have a lot of friends, and I’m so grateful.”

Wancha eventually became captain of the team and said the friendships she built helped her through the challenges of adjusting to a new school system and language.

“I’m very happy with everything that I have,” Wancha said. “I have my friends, I have a lot of connections that I made. This is like my second home.”

Wancha will begin a bachelor of science degree at the University of Manitoba this fall, and hopes to eventually attend medical school and work in pediatrics.

Like Wancha, Nur Othman credits IRCOM with helping her find her footing after moving to Winnipeg.

Othman, who also graduated from Daniel McIntyre, moved to Canada from Turkey with her mother and brother in 2015. Her family initially lived in IRCOM housing, and she participated in its children’s and soccer programs.

“I basically grew up there,” she said. “…I feel like I’m more social after I attended IRCOM. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I’d be this far with soccer.”

Years after joining IRCOM’s soccer program, Othman is preparing to continue the sport at the university level.

The 17-year-old is committed to play at Canadian Mennonite University this fall. She eventually hopes to become a police officer.

“Experiencing a couple of things happening downtown and stuff, I want to make a positive impact in the city,” she said. “I don’t like just sitting down, like on computers. Being in action is basically my thing.”

Virk said IRCOM’s programs play an important role in helping newcomer youth adjust to life in Canada.

“When you’re coming to a new country, you don’t know the language, but a lot of them have commonalities like soccer,” she said. “It gives them a platform to make friends, to come out of their shell, where language is not a barrier.”

It was the first year IRCOM partnered with Zaytoon to host the dinner, in which graduates enjoyed a meal featuring cultural food and flavours represented by their diverse backgrounds.

“It feels really nice, like it feels surreal,” Wancha said of the celebratory dinner. “Like, people are actually celebrating us. That feels very good.”

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca