Summer Stories & Reflections
Jumpstart Refugee Talent
Empowering refugee talent and supporting employers with their effort to inclusive refugee hiring practices in Canada.
Ah, the end of summer! As the season winds down, we hope you’ve all enjoyed the past few months and found time to relax and recharge. Here at Jumpstart, we’ve also taken our breaks, but we know that career-building, networking, mentoring, and hiring are ongoing efforts that don’t pause with the seasons. It’s great to step away, but even better to return refreshed, renewed, and ready for what the fall will bring!
In this edition, we’re excited to introduce our new 5-part series, "Unlocking Potential: The Business Case for Hiring Refugee Talent," designed to showcase how integrating refugee talent can be a strategic advantage for Canadian employers. We also have our second Creator Series profile on a multi-talented Congolese refugee; a Spotlight on Success story of courage and perseverance from Afghanistan; a look at the tech trends to come; and much more!
We hope you enjoy exploring these updates and stories, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting news in the coming weeks. Thank you for being part of our community, and for supporting Jumpstart’s mission to create opportunities for refugee talent.
NEWS & EVENTS
Throughout July and August, we continued our popular "Ask Me Anything" series—a monthly event that connects refugees, refugee claimants, and displaced persons with industry experts for valuable insights and open Q&A sessions. We’re proud to offer these free events, available to both Jumpstart clients and non-clients, on the first Wednesday of each month.
In addition to these sessions, our Career Pathing workshops provide a deeper dive into the hiring practices and talent development strategies of our partner companies. These workshops often highlight specific job opportunities and offer targeted advice for those exploring careers in industries like insurance, banking, and transit. We highly encourage clients focused on these fields to attend these insightful sessions facilitated by Jumpstart.
Stay informed about our latest events and workshops by visiting Jumpstart Refugee Events and Workshops.
Introduction to a New Series: Unlocking Potential: The Business Case for Hiring Refugee Talent
As Canadian employers navigate an evolving labor market, the search for skilled talent has never been more critical. In our new 5-part series, "Unlocking Potential: The Business Case for Hiring Refugee Talent," we explore why integrating refugee talent can be a game-changer for businesses and companies across Canada.
Refugees contribute significantly to the Canadian workforce, bringing unique skills and perspectives, enhancing workplace diversity, and addressing labor shortages. Through this interview series with Darrell Pinto, Director of Employment, Jumpstart Refugee Talent, we’ll showcase the multifaceted benefits of hiring refugees, backed by real-world success stories, industry insights, and data-driven analysis.
Join us as we look into how hiring refugee talent can transform your organization, drive innovation, and fulfill your corporate social responsibility goals—all while tapping into a valuable pool of skilled and resilient individuals ready to contribute to Canada’s economic success.
Stay tuned for each part of the series, starting with a broad look at the benefits of hiring refugees, followed by in-depth explorations of resilience, industry success stories, economic impacts, and the support systems that make integration seamless. Let’s discover how hiring refugee talent isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a strategic advantage for your organization.
Read our first interview, "Building a Stronger Workforce: The Immediate Benefits of Hiring Refugee Talent".
Creator Series: Njamba Koffi's Journey of Art and Resilience
Our second profiled creator in our 2024 Creator Series is an incredibly talented writer, speaker, and musician originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Njamba Koffi’s art is a powerful reflection of his journey as a refugee and his dedication to youth empowerment. All of his work is deeply influenced by his lived experiences.
"Art has been my lifeline. As a refugee, it's easy to feel lost and disconnected in a new country. But through my work, I've been able to stay grounded and communicate my experiences in a way that words alone could never do." - Njamba Koffi
Having traveled and lived in multiple countries, Koffi’s path has taken him from refugee camps to prestigious educational institutions like United World Colleges and Yale. Now in Canada, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at UBC and serves as the Grants and Community Initiatives Manager at the Vancouver Foundation.
Koffi’s artistic practice, rooted in his refugee experience, uses writing and music to process emotions and tell his story. His efforts have earned him several awards, including the University of British Columbia (UBC) International Community Achievement Award.
Koffi’s book, which delves into themes of resilience and hope, is available on Amazon, offering readers a glimpse into his inspiring journey.
Read more about Koffi in our interview.
If you, or someone you know, is a refugee artist and interested in being profiled in our Creator Series, please get in touch: omer.malikyar@jumpstartrefugee.ca
STORIES
Meet our Team: Board Member Omar Salaymeh
In our latest Team Spotlight, we are excited to feature Omar Salaymeh, a valued Jumpstart board member and one of the organization's co-founders. He is also co-founder of Civia, an AI solutions firm.
Omar’s journey from a Palestinian-Syrian immigrant to a leading figure in Canada’s business world is inspiring. With a background in engineering, green energy, and entrepreneurship, he has dedicated his career to empowering refugees and creating opportunities for their meaningful integration in Canada.
Read Omar's full interview here.
Spotlight on Success: Unleashing Potential Within Refugee Talent
Resilience, determination, and unique perspectives – these are the qualities that refugees bring to the workplace, enriching teams and driving innovation. At the heart of Jumpstart Refugee Talent's mission is creating opportunities that allow these qualities to shine.
Through the dedicated support of Jumpstart and organizations like Journalists for Human Rights, refugees like Sooma from Afghanistan can build new lives in Canada while making a meaningful impact.
Sooma’s journey, from leaving a thriving job with the United Nations' Office of the Chief of Staff in Kabul, to arriving in Canada, to finding meaningful employment as a Senior Project Manager with a dynamic international NGO, showcases the incredible potential that is unlocked when refugees are given the chance to thrive.
Read Sooma's story here.
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RESOURCES
Tech Trends 2024: Navigating the Future of IT
By now we are all aware of the transformative powers that emerging AI and technology trends will (and are) having on our everyday lives.
But what if you work in the IT industry? What do these latest trends foreshadow for the future in 2024 and beyond?
Inspired by our August Ask Me Anything session, we are excited to share the first in a series on emerging technology trends.
In this interview with Omer Salaymeh, Jumpstart board member, co-founder, and tech entrepreneur, we explore questions such as how AI will continue to transform workflows; the future of cloud architecture; the risks with cybersecurity; edge computing and how (and why) pursuing diverse and experienced talent can bring the fresh perspectives we need to succeed.
Read Omar's full interview here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Partnership with Carleton University to Enhance Educational Pathways for Refugees
Jumpstart Refugee Talent is excited to announce a new partnership with Carleton University, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on June 24, 2024!
This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to providing practical solutions in the face of global displacement challenges to create innovative educational and employment opportunities for refugees in Canada.
By combining forces, we will enhance refugee support, including employment integration and the development of new pathways to permanent residence through Carleton’s Graduate Diploma programs.
Learn more about this new partnership here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jumpstart-led
In September and October, we are offering the following events:
Partner-led
In partnership with the Refugee Jobs Agenda Roundtable and as part of the 2024 #WelcomingEconomy Campaign:
For information on upcoming events and workshops that are not yet listed, please check our Events & Workshops page regularly.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Senior Recruitment Partner
We are looking for a dynamic and professional business leader to join our Refugee Talent Hub (RTH) team as a Senior Recruitment Partner!
This is an exciting opportunity to help build and grow our RTH team into a robust, results-driven, and outcome-based recruitment engine. This is a remote position with the flexibility to work from one of our offices (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or Montreal).
Learn more about the position: Senior Recruitment Partner - Jumpstart - Refugee Talent (jumpstartrefugee.ca)
Volunteers (ongoing)
We are also always on the lookout for other skilled and motivated volunteers to join our team!
If you're interested in becoming a mentor, offering resume support, assisting with interview preparation, or advising a refugee start-up, please visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved.