KW YMCA: Help you settle down; Help you with your employment
[本报记者 剑桥采访报道] 经朋友Grace引荐，地处剑桥(Cambridge)的YMCA华语工作人员杨延秋女士通过邮件与本报联系，希望通过媒介，向华人社区介绍YMCA所提供的服务工作。笔者觉得这是一件大好事！即使她不与我联系，笔者也应该与YMCA接触，让华人，特别是新移民，了解他们的服务。在一个大雪飘飞的日子，按照预定时间，笔者前往位于258 Hespeler Road的YMCA办公所在地，与杨女士见面，同时与该分部负责人Andjelka Raic和Sonia Kamboj女士座谈。
Ms. Yanqiu Yang, a staff of the YMCA in Cambridge was introduced by Grace Chen to journalist Patrick Lang. Ms. Yang wants to promote YMCA services to Chinese communities in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Guelph with this media. Patrick thought it was an amazing idea. Even if she hadn’t emailed him, Patrick had already planned to contact the YMCA to inform Chinese immigrants, especially newcomers about YMCA programs & services. Patrick attended the meeting with YMCA ES supervisor Andjelka Raic, ES Job Developer Sonia Kamboj and Ms. Yang.
忙碌中的杨延秋女士
到达的时候，杨女士正在接待一位咨询工作来客。笔者感受到，他应该是一个新移民，对加拿大的服务系统非常陌生，所以琐碎的问题特别多。杨女士耐心地告诉他，YMCA所能提供的帮助以及他可以免费使用的设施。之后，杨女士为他预约就业服务时间，并告诉他所有的注意事项。看来，这个移民非常满意杨女士的介绍，满口答应第二天就开始接受YMCA的服务，并充分利用这里的资源。
Ms. Yang was helping a client who is looking for a job when Patrick arrived at the office. He felt that the client is a new immigrant since he knew little about Canada and asked many questions. Ms. Yang patiently explained to him about the services and programs at the YMCA. After, she made an appointment for him to get Employment Services and explained to him what he should bring for that appointment. The client was very satisfied with the help, and confirmed that he will come for the appointment and to use the ES resources the next day.
等来客满意离去之后，杨女士才抽空与笔者打招呼。她告诉我，她已与负责人Andjelka Raic介绍我的到来，负责人非常重视，希望本报的介绍能让更多的华人移民了解YMCA的服务，并充分利用他。本来，在Kitchener总部那边的负责人Marian Rozman也计划赶过来一起座谈的，但因为临时有事情，无法成行。对他们的重视，笔者非常感动，希望有更多的华人移民获益YMCA的服务。
After the satisfied client left, Ms. Yang welcomed Patrick to the YMCA. She told Patrick that she talked with her supervisor Andjelka about Patrick’s visit, and Andjelka was very interested in that. Andjelka hoped that more individuals from the Chinese community will get to know about the services of YMCA from this newspaper and get the Y’s services. Patrick was very thankful for their consideration of his visit, and he hopes more and more Chinese could benefit from Y.
基奇纳YMCA电脑室
据负责人Andjelka Raic介绍，滑铁卢地区的YMCA移民和就业服务主要提供两个方面的服务。第一，帮助新移民安置，既通常所说的Settlement。没有了解之前，笔者觉得安置方面的事情非常简单，何须有这样一个机构来服务。但是，的解释让笔者有重新认识。因为移民的层次和社会关系很不一样的，有的移民语言好，并且在落地之前就已经有通过各种途径建立关系、了解安居方面的各种事情。所以，他们到达之后，基本不需要外来的帮助，在朋友的带领下，将安置方面的所有事项按步骤办好。
According to the information that Andjelka gave Patrick, the YMCA Immigrant & Employment Services provides two parts. The first part is helping newcomers settle down which is the Settlement Services. Before meeting with Andjelka, Patrick thought that settling down was an easy task, and there wasn’t any need to have an organization to help you do it. However, after the meeting, he realized that it was an important job. Since there are different classes and social status among immigrants, their language levels are different. For example, some immigrants have good language skills, and they already know how to settle down and establish networking before they landed there. So once they arrive in Canada, they can settle down step by step with the help of their friends, and there is no need to get assistance from the outside.
但是，更大一批的新移民，他们的状况就不容乐观。这种状况通常是，语言是一个非常大的障碍，也就是说语言相当有限，很难实现一般交流。其次，许多移民对加拿大的生活体系两眼一抹黑，他们的思维可能还局限于原住国的制度。这样，移民自己去处理安置方面的事情就变得很复杂。正是由于这些原因，联邦移民部和省移民厅拨出款项，资助类似YMCA的服务机构，为新移民安置提供系列服务。也就是说，YMCA所提供的安置服务是由政府拨款的，特意为新移民服务，可以说是“不用白不用”。
However, for a large number of newcomers, their situations are not as good. The language is a huge barrier, which means their English is very limited, and they cannot even communicate normally. On the other hand, many newcomers know little about the Canadian system, and they still act accordingly to their home country. Therefore, this is why it is very hard for them to settle down by themselves. Due to these reason Canadian government sponsors agencies like YMCA to provide settlement services. That is to say, YMCA Immigrant services are funded by government, which are free for new immigrants.
基奇纳YMCA
那么，在安置方面，YMCA具体能提供哪些方面的服务呢？Andjelka Raic解释说，假若你是一个新移民，落地之后，你可能还住在移民接待站，所以，第一步，你得找一个地方住下，也就是租房，这就是YMCA能帮助你做的第一件事情。住房解决之后，小孩入校就是许多家庭面临的事情，除非你还年轻，尚没有小孩。YMCA会根据你所在住处的学区，帮你联系当地的学校，甚至帮助你与学校打交道，安排小孩上学。
What kind of settlement services can the Y provide? Andjelka explained that for a new immigrant, the first step for them is to find a place to live which means they need to rent a house or apartment. This is the first thing the Y can help them with. After finding a place to live, most families will face the issue of children going to school unless they are young people without children. The Y can help them to find a school in their location and help their children go to school.
当然，与此同时，新移民所需要办理的各种证件，诸如健康卡、工卡(SIN卡)等，YMCA服务人员都会告诉你如何办理。之后，YMCA也会给你介绍，银行如何开户？图书馆如何申请借书卡？驾照如何申请和准备？等等。当然，YMCA也可能帮助你介绍社区情况，了解社区服务的分布状况？当你真正安居之后，YMCA可能就会安排你参加语言培训班，提高语言和拓展人际两相提高。可以说，YMCA所能提供的服务非常细致，因为他们的服务人员，大多与服务对象有过类似的经历，所以他们非常清楚新移民所需要的帮助。假若你有幸获得YMCA的帮助，你的安置一定会变得相对轻松和顺利的。
At the same time, Y settlement workers can direct new immigrants on how to apply for all kinds of documents that they need, such as a Health card, a SIN card and so on. They can also teach them how to open a bank account, apply for a library card, and as well as how to apply and prepare for a driving license. Never the less, the Y will introduce them to the communities and the services of the communities. As long as they settle down, the Y will help them with their language training to improve their language skills and to get the networking connection. The services from the YMCA are very detailed and helping. Since many of YMCA staff have the similar experience as their clients, they understand very well what the new immigrants want. If they are lucky enough to have the assistance of the YMCA, their settlement will become very easy and smooth.
剑桥YMCA外景
第二，为所在社区居民（包括新移民）提供就业服务(Employment Services)。来到新的国度，就业是每一个新移民最大的挑战。在安居之后，如何乐业就是一个最为迫切的问题。由于文化、国度和传统的不同，对于如何找到自己的理想工作，大部分新移民都很茫然，这可能是YMCA能够获得政府支持，提供这一方面服务的原因。另外，就业服务也是一般居民所需要的，因为每一个人都有可能失业的，再就业帮助也是非常有意义的。
The second part of the services is helping people (including new immigrants) with their employment which is the Employment Services. Looking for a job is the biggest challenge for every newcomer once they come to a new country. How to find an employment becomes a key issue after they have settled down. Due to cultural and traditional difference, most new immigrants are not sure how to find their ideal jobs in this country. This is one reason why the government gives funding for the YMCA to provide this kind of service. Above all, Employment services are necessary for all people since everyone has a possibility of losing their jobs. Thus, helping people to re-enter the work place becomes a very meaningful job.
针对每个人的实际情况，YMCA量体裁衣，提供配套服务。比方说，对于新移民来说，YMCA可能从简历撰写、面试准备方面入手，让你正确了解加拿大的找工程序和职场注意事项。当然，假若你没有简单技能，YMCA可能会建议你参与相关专业培训，提升自己为先。当然，假若你既有专业技能，又已经熟悉加拿大的职场规则，YMCA可能会给你推荐雇主。对于再就业者来说，YMCA可能为你提供个人指导，分析自己的职业规划，可能需要调整。
YMCA Employment Services provide a huge range of services according to individual job seeker’s needs. For example, for new immigrants, YMCA ES will help them with their job search starting with their resume and interview preparation. YMCA ES will let them know about job search procedures and what they need to know about employers in Canada. Certainly, YMCA ES will recommend them to get training and upgrade themselves if they don’t have basic work skills. If they do have the skills for the job they are looking for and know the principles of employment in Canada, they are job ready, and YMCA ES will help them connect with some companies. For those people who lost their jobs, YMCA ES could give them individual guidance on their employment plan or career change.
让笔者好奇的是，YMCA还提供一项服务，就是与一批雇主建立伙伴关系。YMCA为这些雇主提供学徒或员工，同时帮助雇主从政府获得补贴。这是一种双赢！雇主雇佣足够的人力，维持生产或提供服务，但不增加成本；雇员（也就是找工者）获得有偿工作机会，同时学习技能。据了解，对于该类雇主，YMCA当然会有一些考核标准的，同时也避免弄虚作假的事情发生。
The fact that interested Patrick was that the YMCA ES has a service which creates a partnership with some employers. YMCA provides these employers with apprentices and placement employees, and the employers can get training incentives from government. This service benefits both employers and employees. Firstly, employers can hire enough people to run their business or provide services without increasing their investment. On the other hand, employees (job seekers) have an opportunity to get a paid job, as well as work experience. Also, the YMCA has criteria to assess eligibility of the employers so they can be trusted.
据杨女士介绍，目前滑铁卢地区的YMCA雇佣华人职员不少，能够为大家提供国语服务。甚至，假若你需要法语服务的话，在Cambridge办公室也能够提供。确实，在Kitchener办公室，已有不少华人移民在接受服务。当然，还有一些华人可能根本不了解YMCA所提供的服务。从她自身的经历来说，杨女士强调YMCA服务的重要性，无论是生活，还是工作，YMCA都能帮到你。
According to Ms. Yang, there is quite a few Chinese staff in KW YMCA, and they can provide Chinese service for our community. Also, YMCA Employment Services provide services in French in Cambridge office. Indeed, there are a lot of Chinese immigrants that get services in YMCA Kitchener office. It is true that many Chinese are not aware of services from the YMCA. Ms. Yang emphasized from her own experience that the services from YMCA are very important. No matter for living or for working, YMCA can give them all the help they need.
假若有读者希望了解YMCA服务的更多详情，建议你亲自前往咨询。YMCA在Kitchener的办公地点在800 King Street West，中文服务热线519-579-9622转237或246或225或261；在Cambridge的办公地点在258 Hespeler Road，中文服务热线519-621-1621转291。
If you would like to know more about YMCA, you are recommended to visit the offices in person. In Chinese, you can call 519-579-9622 ext. 237/246/225/261 with Kitchener office located at 800 King Street West. In Cambridge office located at 258 Hespeler Road, you can reach them at 519-621-1621 ext.291 in Chinese.
