Our Stories
These are some of our stories.
Johani and Juana
Currently, Colombia has one of the highest displacement records in the world. Many from vulnerable communities have had to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Like many families who seek a secure and better life for their children, the Duques left their homeland in Colombia and immigrated to Canada 5 years ago. Settling in Kitchener, the Duques family faced the challenges of a new culture, a new language, and living in very different surroundings with unfamiliar faces. The children, Juana (now 17 and in Grade 12) and Johani (now 15 and in Grade 10), also confronted a new challenge of starting high school. Upon starting high school, Juana and Johani joined Mosaic’s Pathways to Education program. The program provides Juana and Johanni with tutoring, after-school activities, advocacy and financial assistance - all in the hopes of helping them to achieve their dreams of graduating from high school, going on to post-secondary education, and making a better life for their family. Juana hopes to be a dentist and Johani, an engineer. Highly engaged in Pathways, they are certain to attain their goals. Both attend their tutoring session regularly – in fact, Johani has the highest tutoring attendance of all 500 students – attending 3 times each week. Juana and Johani also take advantage of Pathways mentoring program where they take violin lessons offered through a partnership with the KW Symphony.
David
A tall, handsome and athletic young man, eighteen-year-old David suffered from depression and increasingly isolated himself from his family. Worried about his falling grades, his explosiveness, and his bouts of out-of-control drinking, his parents were most concerned that David might harm himself.
Reluctant at first, David met with a counsellor at Mosaic over a period of five months. Slowly, he shared his discomfort and resentment with feeling compelled to measure up to his family’s standards. David wished to feel connected to his family, but felt inner turmoil about his strong interest in the arts and his ability to express his own individuality which seemed to him to be at odds with his family’s identity. Counselling became a safe place for David to explore his feelings, values and behaviours. He developed a broader perspective about himself and his goals for the future and experienced more satisfying family relationships. His eating and sleeping improved, and he was accepted to university in the arts program of his choice. At the end of David’s sessions, he was reducing his anti-depressant medication in consultation with his doctor.
Terri
Growing up in Sudbury, Ontario, Terri moved to Kitchener when she was just 19. It was then that she began to accumulate debt. After her marriage ended, and at the age of 22, Terri was alone with a toddler, new-born twins, a mortgage, a minivan and was deep in debt. She turned to alcohol to deal with the pain and struggled between low paying jobs and welfare. A friend suggested she contact Mosaic Counselling and Family Services where she could get free advice about options on her financial situation. She met with a credit counsellor and together they discussed her debt load and came up with an affordable solution for payments. The counsellor also acted as a liaison for Terri with her creditors. Following, Terri decided to better her job opportunities and further her education and applied to Conestoga College where she was accepted for the fall program. She applied for OSAP, but was denied due to past credit issues. Terri contacted her credit counsellor who provided her with a letter and history of her payments. Terri appealed the OSAP decision, and was approved for financing. Today, Terri feels her life is very different. Almost half of her debt has been repaid, she is working on advancing her education and career, and she has been in recovery for over one year. “I believe that this has all been possible because of the excellent resources and supportive staff at Mosaic,” says Terri. “I would especially like to thank my counsellor, Tanya, for an outstanding job in supporting me through this difficult time.”
Quan
A newcomer to Canada and a mother of two, Quan joined a Mosaic group at the local community centre to meet other parents, practice her English and learn about life in Canada. Her preschooler also enjoyed the children’s program and was learning skills to help prepare her for attending school in the fall. The program staff noticed that Quan and her children had been absent from the program for several weeks and arranged a home visit. They discovered that Quan and her daughter had not been attending because the mother was concerned about her infant who had developed a horrible skin condition that was getting steadily worse. The staff connected Quan with the necessary resources where the baby received suitable medical treatment. In just a few weeks, Quan and her children enthusiastically returned to the program where they continued to play an active role in community events, connect with other children and parents, and learn skills and develop relationships and supports that will help them in their new life in Canada. The right help at the right time can make a remarkable difference in making newcomers feel welcome and supported.
Amy
It was the morning of December 24th. After a busy month of organizing our Spirit of Giving campaign, I was ready to go home that evening and enjoy Christmas Eve with my family. A group of dedicated volunteers and I had spent the last month collecting gifts and goodies from businesses and generous individuals, coordinating individual profiles with gifts, shopping, wrapping, and finally distributing planned Christmas packages to more than 60 families experiencing great difficulty this year.
By early afternoon, the day was drawing closer to an end, when John, a counsellor at the agency came to me and said, “I have a family that needs our help…"
I took a deep breath, scratched my head and said, “okay, do you have any idea what the children would like?"
“Well, apparently their little girl really wants a “Spy Kit." Not having any idea what a spy kit was, I thought that maybe I could find something at a local department store, but time was running out. Then I remembered that we did receive a small bag of gifts that came in after our regular collection and said to John, “let’s go have a look."
We opened the small bag and found that there, sitting right on top of the pile of toys, was a girl’s purple spy kit. John and I were ecstatic. We could not believe our luck. With giddy excitement we quickly assembled, wrapped and packaged this family’s Christmas basket and delivered it before the end of the day.
The next week we received a note from the grateful parents who told us that their daughter had wanted a spy kit for the past three years. Then Mom added, “And, how did you know that Amy’s favourite colour was purple?"
Well, as luck would have it… or was it luck?
Submitted by Mosaic's Director of Volunteers at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services.
Yemerhi
Yemerhi is beginning a new life in Canada. Along with his Mom and six siblings (Dad died before they came to Canada), Yemerhi escaped the uncertainties of living in a refugee camp in Uganda.
A grade 9 student, Yemerhi is not only facing the challenges of starting high school, but is also having to learn about a new culture, a new country, a new language, computers, not to mention just day-to-day living in very different surroundings filled with unfamiliar faces.
This Fall, Yemerhi joined the Pathways to Education (Kitchener) program – a program at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services dedicated to helping students in designated neighbourhoods succeed in high school and move on to post-secondary education. Pathways provides Yemerhi with tutoring, mentoring, advocacy and financial support such as the provision of bus tickets, school uniform and scholarship incentives.
“Yemerhi attends tutoring on a regular basis and he’s told me that he loves it there," says George Mastrapa, Pathways Student Parent Support Worker. “He absorbs everything around him and enjoys making new friends there as well."
Yemerhi is always expressing how grateful he is for the help he is receiving and never misses an opportunity to give back. “He made the soccer team at school," says George, “and I went to support his team. It was a really cold day and he told me that he didn’t know if he could play in this weather. But, he not only played, he was one of the best players on the team, and then after the game, he was still outside picking up the garbage around the field even though no one asked him to do so."
Pathways staff members are also thankful for the amazing opportunities they are given to help students like Yemerhi. “We may have an incredibly hectic week," says George, “but when I see their facial expressions, no words can describe that feeling. I forget about the busyness and smile and enjoy the beauty of the moment."
Pathways to Education, Kitchener, is a program of Mosaic Counselling and Family Services that provides a system of supports to youth in lower income neighbourhoods to supply them with the tools, supports, and opportunity to successfully complete high school and attend college and university. For more information about Pathways, call 519-743-6333.
Tyler
“Oh we couldn’t go, my son has Celiac Disease," was the first response I heard when I approached Jane about her family participating in the Families and School Together program at Howard Robertson Public School.
“Absolutely, you can come," I assured her. “We can be flexible and accommodate Tyler’s dietary needs."
Tyler was always a happy child, but he lacked self-confidence. The F&ST team felt that Tyler could benefit from the social supports and relationship building that this weekly program offers.
But, we had one more hurdle to overcome. Tyler’s Dad also struggled with going out in public and had never been to the school before. But, once I explained how much fun we have, he decided to give it a try.
Since participating in the F&ST program, the difference for Tyler and his family has been phenomenal. Their world has expanded around them, providing them with a sense of community. They now do something together as a family and look forward to Thursday nights.
Dad has made connections with other parents and the school, and enjoys chatting with the other dads. He even expressed his concern to me about the program coming to an end – “so, after tonight, there are only 4 weeks left." He was pleased to hear about F&STWORKS – where the families continue to meet on a monthly basis for two years.
Mom is so pleased to be able to do things together as a family and is so proud of both her son and husband.
And Tyler, well, he made new friends and has gained a lot of self-confidence and self-esteem and even initiates activities with the other children.
Submitted by the Coordinator of the Families and Schools Together program at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services. F&ST is an innovative program that brings families together at the local school to build networks, strengthen social supports and develop mutual relationships of trust and cooperation. They eat together, they sing together and they share concerns with each other in a multi-generational, multiple family, informal setting. For more information about F&ST, call 519-743-6333.
Jeff
About three years ago, Jeff began what he calls his “downward spiral of bad habits." Having gone through a complicated and bitter divorce, Jeff was extremely despondent and overwhelmed with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. He lost his house and gambled his remaining equity away. To maintain his habit, Jeff used credit cards and then turned to payday loans. Creditors began to hassle him at work, threatening to garnishee his wages. They called him at all hours of the night demanding immediate payment in full.
Noticing his lack of concentration at work, Jeff’s employer referred him to Mosaic where Jeff met with a credit counsellor. “Facing the challenges of $50,000 worth of credit card debt, we helped Jeff to devise a Debt Management Plan," says Heather Cudmore, Credit Counselling Manager. “We also discussed his rights when it comes to creditors and payday loans and he now knows that they cannot garnishee his income without a court order. We also reviewed better budgeting habits."
Jeff is fighting his gambling addiction and is also seeing a social worker at Mosaic for counselling. He is now looking at life differently, getting back on track with his finances and focussing on his future.
Mosaic Counselling and Family Services provides the only not-for-profit credit counselling service in Waterloo Region. The professional credit counselling team provide individual and group counselling around money management, budgeting, and credit and debt issues. For more information, call Mosaic Counselling and Family Servicesat 519-743-6333.
Elaine
“I have a special place in my heart for this building," says Elaine. “It has been a second home, a safe place. When I first came here, Sue took my hand and I have never looked back."
For more than 20 years, Elaine lived in an abusive home with a controlling husband. He demanded perfection from Elaine and her children, isolated them from the community, belittled them, and terrified them with violent rages and threats. “He methodically took the music, the fun, the laughter, the friends, my self-esteem and confidence and my hope and locked me in a prison." Paralyzed with fear and anxiety, Elaine turned to and became addicted to prescription medications. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Elaine was desperate for help and made her first phone call.
Realizing that Elaine was searching for help, her husband increased his abusive behaviour so that Elaine was afraid to leave the children in order to seek help. But, Elaine continued to talk to Sue and knew that she had to keep looking ahead for the sake of herself and her children. Elaine and her daughter found the strength and courage to go to a shelter and to attend counselling at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services. “It was a very positive experience and I took full advantage of the meetings and groups that were provided."
It has not been an easy journey for Elaine. She has had to make some difficult choices along the way and surmount huge barriers and hurdles. “Some people in the journey have let me down, but this agency never did. With their help, I have stayed strong and I’m very proud of myself. And, my daughter is proud of me and I know that she will not allow anyone to treat her the way that her father treated me." Elaine worries about the consequences for her children of years of living in this environment. But Elaine is working to repair the damage and her daughter and son are attending counselling at the agency. “My daughter’s confidence and self-esteem is evolving and she now has the tools to cope with her father’s anger."
“When I first came here I was pathetically weak, but now I am a strong person that is in control of my life. I have been able to stand up to a man that did his utmost to terrorize and scare me. The healing process is a long one, but now I wake up in the morning with a clear head and look forward to the day’s promise. I’m not living a black and grey day every day – a sunny day is actually a sunny day. I appreciate all of the good things in life again that were gone for such a long time. I have my own house that my children know is a peaceful home. I’m still on a journey, but am moving on to a new life."
Mosaic Counselling and Family Services is the home of The Family Violence Project, a collaborative of 12 agencies all under one roof that are dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. For more information about The Family Violence Project, call 519-743-6333.
