YWCA Fresh Start start 3:Layout 1 - YWCA Canada

YWCA CANADA | A TURNING POINT FOR WOMENexplain your financial need. Volunteering or joining your localreligious institution can also provide social outlets at little or no cost.WHAT ABOUT FINDING A JOB OR FURTHER TRAINING?I’m getting more training than I ever thought I could, so that when I’mfinished school, I will be qualified for a job that I like, as well as beingable to make more money than I could have made before. Best of all, I’mmeeting new friends and I feel better about myself. When I left him, Ibelieved I was stupid. Now I know I’m not.You may realize that you need or want to get a job. A job gives youincome, and can also increase your self-esteem and confidence. It canhelp you become more independent and have more control over yourlife. A job is an excellent way to meet new people. If you have notworked outside your home for many years and feel you need toimprove or develop your work skills, you can find free careercounseling at your local YWCA, the employment centre, a socialassistance office, or, if you think you may need more education, at acommunity college or university. Employment counselors can giveyou an idea of the current employment situation as well as retrainingopportunities.TrainingYou may want or need further training before you take a job. Theremay be grants that can help pay your tuition, daycare, transportation,books and other living expenses. Check with your local YWCA oremployment centre to find out what is available. If you are on socialassistance, check with them to see if you can access these grantswithout losing your regular benefits.You may want to think about moving into a trade or high-techindustry. Such work often pays better than jobs in fields that havebeen traditionally female-dominated. There are often specialprograms to help women access these trades.If you need to, you can improve your language skills, often throughprograms that do not cost anything and that are tied to employmentprograms. Check with your local YWCA or employment centre fortraining opportunities. If you have professional qualifications fromanother country, call your equivalent professional association inCanada to see if you can get your status recognized here. You may needto do some retraining or take some exams to be certified in Canada.76