FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Inquiries

WHAT IS THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM?

The Mentorship Program allows a newly arrived Ukrainian women to be paired with a female in the local community. We have designed a one year program, that is fully customizable. This allows for maximum impact and meaningfulness for both the mentee and mentor. The goal of the program is not to replicate any existing settlement support services that currently exist in Calgary; but rather to enhance the settlement experience with dedicated one-on-one additional support.

I AM A UKRAINIAN NEWCOMER, HOW DO I SIGN UP AS A MENTEE?

Eligibility for the Mentorship Program includes; 18 years of age and older, female, residing in Calgary, Alberta, who arrived in Canada from the Ukraine recently (in the past five years), and a minimum of beginner English. To sign up for individual one-on-one support please click on the apply page.

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?

The outcomes of the mentorship program are as diverse and unique as the women who participate in our program. We find most newly arrived women will want to concentrate on improving their English language skills, navigate life in Canada, find a social support system, and ultimately mind meaningful employment that can assist them and their family.

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER AS A MENTOR?

Eligibility to become a Mentor includes; 18 years of age and older, female, residing in Calgary Alberta, passionate about education and empowering others, two references, a criminal record check and having the time availability for a minimum of two (2) hours per month (with a 12-month commitment). However, if your schedule permits, we find that meeting more frequently in the first 1-3 months can have a substantial impact on both parties. Please note - you do NOT need to be of Ukrainian origin to be a Mentor.

The focus of the program centers around empowerment, education, and career readiness. Thus we are seeking women from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.

CAN I VOLUNTEER IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY?

Yes, absolutely! Positions centered around marketing, communications, event management, resource development, and volunteer coordination are available.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING?

There are many benefits to volunteering! This includes but is not limited to; making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, enhancing our local community, and strengthening your career profile (i.e. your university application, resume/CV, and/or LinkedIn profile. Our aim is for the Mentorship program to be equally beneficial for both parties, and we appreciate everyone's participation!

HOW DOES UWAA DIFFER FROM OTHER EXISTING SUPPORTS?

Many nonprofits in Calgary can provide support for newly arrived individuals. At UWAA we recognize that in most cases a meaningful, one-on-one connection can have far-reaching outcomes that support the overall settlement experience. Furthermore, Ukrainians who arrive in Canada are placed in a different program (a temporary residency status) than the majority of Canadian refugees. This limits their entitlements to many supports and resources that are described further below.

WHY WOMEN? WHY UKRAINE?

Firstly, why women? Statistics highlight that the majority of newcomers to Canada (from Ukraine) are women and children. This is due to a variety of a reasons, however often a female will arrive in Canada by herself (or with children).

Why Ukraine? Ukrainian newcomers arrive as "evacuees" and thus are given a temporary residency status. Although this serves a great need to get Ukrainians out of active war zones, it does not afford them refugee status that is accompanied by a permanent Canadian Resident status. Thus Ukrainians face an additional battle to secure a sustainable life in Canada, with less support (including financial aid) than other newcomers. Thus the goal of UWAA is to equip Ukrainian Women and their families with additional support that can enhance their chances of success in remaining and residing in this beautiful country.