Anna

“I was deeply moved by the participants’ personal journeys; this was the most uplifting part of the program for me because of the intimate nature of these experiences and the courage of such an exposure.”

When did you come to Canada? 
I returned to Canada 4 years ago. 

Where did you come from? 
I have lived in a number of places. Before returning to Canada, I lived and worked in Mexico. 

Why did you return to Canada?
I had a complicated professional and personal situation in Mexico so I decided to return to Canada to be with my family. I was hoping to re-establish myself here and transition to a new career.  

Why were you interested in joining the S2S program?
An acquaintance forwarded me S2S's call for participants and it felt like a good fit for me during this complicated period of transition. I thought participating in this program would give me a chance to meet new people, learn and grow. 

What is the most significant thing you have learned about yourself since being a Sister?
I met interesting and courageous women and I was moved by their stories. I learned that being in Canada as a new or returning immigrant is not easy and that we can learn from each other and support each other in meaningful ways.  

Please finish these two sentences with one word that describes how you are feeling: 
Before the program, I was more isolated. After the program, I am less isolated.

What did you appreciate the most about the program?
I appreciated the invited speakers and the variety of topics covered during these months. I really enjoyed hearing from them because each of them brought a different perspective to the table. Toastmasters was interesting. The creative aspect of the program (our eyes being drawings and the February 14th projects) was lovely. I was deeply moved by the participants' personal journeys; this was the most uplifting part of the program for me because of the intimate nature of these experiences and the courage of such an exposure.

What is your favourite memory from the program?
When one of the women showed up after months of absence and told us about how she slept in the street and in shelters when she first arrived to Canada.

What did you learn about gender-based violence? 
How many years it takes to exit a violent relationship and the local protocol for dealing with these cases. 

What does it mean to you to be a good leader? How has the Sister2Sister program helped you develop that skill or outlook? 
I think being a good leader means the person knows how to articulate and champion a cause; so one needs to be passionate about something, systematic in their way of thinking about how to move forward, and extroverted. The Leadership Institute's session was helpful -- how to write a story and build it outwards. I don't think I have been a good leader outside of the familiar academic setting. I am more comfortable working as part of a team, although I can see myself moving in that direction at some point. 

What is your one piece of advice to future Sister2Sister members? 
Enjoy yourselves! Create a Whatsapp group to exchange info. 

Check out Anna’s PhotoVoice project. It’s a thoughtful and provocative commentary on life here in Canada.