91裸聊视频淵ou can91裸聊视频檛 imagine how much immigrants are suffering,91裸聊视频� said Shaimma Yehia, a software engineer who migrated to Canada in 2015 through the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

For many women who immigrate ready to break into the Canadian tech industry, the path to gainful employment proves more difficult than they expected.

91裸聊视频淚 found it very hard with no family support and four children who depend on me 91裸聊视频� all while I91裸聊视频檓 trying to catch up and find work in the tech industry. It seriously drained my mental health,91裸聊视频� the Lower Mainland resident said.

Even with a degree in electronics and communications engineering and a decade of experience, the 40-year-old has only found work in B.C. as a caregiver.

Yehia applied for immigration alongside her husband, Amr, during the tumultuous Egyptian revolution of 2011.

91裸聊视频淲e were looking for a better life and better education for our children.91裸聊视频�

Software designers and engineers remain the top occupation of those invited to apply for permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, according to the . In 2019, 871 were invited to Canada. Most were men.

Though Yehia91裸聊视频檚 family was granted a new life due to her expertise, the software engineer said she91裸聊视频檚 been shut out of the tech market due to a lack of Canadian job experience.

In Egypt, things were more stable, Yehia said 91裸聊视频� both her and Amr were employed at big companies. Yehia worked as a team leader at IBM, overseeing IT projects worth millions.

READ MORE:

91裸聊视频淲hen we arrived in Canada we had to start everything from scratch,91裸聊视频� she said.

The mother-of-four said she91裸聊视频檚 been stuck in a 91裸聊视频渧icious cycle91裸聊视频� of IT job rejections, resulting in a six-year employment gap on her resume.

By 2017, time spent looking for work had depleted her family91裸聊视频檚 entire savings.

91裸聊视频淚 had aspirations to come to Canada and join the economy but it91裸聊视频檚 not absorbing immigrants like me,91裸聊视频� said Yehia, who received her citizenship in September.

91裸聊视频淎ll this experience, why can91裸聊视频檛 Canada make use of it?91裸聊视频�

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated Yehia91裸聊视频檚 effort to reboot her career. While many B.C. businesses shuttered, Yehia decided to upskill.

She enrolled in a program with MOSAIC, one of Canada91裸聊视频檚 largest settlement and employment services organizations, in partnership with Vancouver-based tech company Traction on Demand.

It91裸聊视频檚 providing immigrants like Yehia with the hands-on experience needed to break into B.C.91裸聊视频檚 tech ecosystem.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 one of those people who had always had big dreams and big plans for myself,91裸聊视频� Yehia said.

91裸聊视频淕etting the job is the first step of it.91裸聊视频�

MORE:

sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism? Make a donation