Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - June 2009
A successful government pilot program, involving internships for refugee students, is expected to become permanently implemented as of this year.
Over the past year, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration has given out 12 internships to new university graduates from the World University Services Canada Program, which helps young refugees from poor and war-torn countries come to Canada to study.
The Department of Citizenship and Immigration is currently the only government department offering such an opportunity. However, they hope that the positive example will spread.
“The problem is [the students] go to university and then they’ll have nowhere to get that first (employment) step,” said Immigration Department spokeswoman Danielle Norris. “And that’s what this program offers. It’s really an opportunity to succeed after university.”
The Young Newcomers Internship Program helps to bridge the gap between university and employment which is far too wide for many immigrants to cross when they arrive in Canada.
“We have a lack of educated people in sectors where they’re required. But, sadly, people who have the knowledge are (instead) doing jobs that they’re not supposed to do.” observed Nasir Maimanagy, one of the Internship Program’s success stories, referring to the current trend in Canada of highly-skilled immigrants working in low-skilled positions.
Maimanagy came to Canada nine years ago from Afghanistan to study at the University of Toronto and then at Memorial University. He was chosen for the internship program and called the experience “wonderful.”
According to Norris, this fall another 10 internships at the Department will be offered to recent university graduates.
Source: The Canadian Press
