Refugees to Canada learn about financial literacy in their new home 
As Canada continues to welcome refugees from Syria along with its usual multitude of diverse immigrants, organizations that help those newcomers settle in are finding themselves in high demand. Judith Bond is the Coordinator of one such organization—the Mississauga branch of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, which is run by the Afghan Women’s Organization. LINC Mississauga is a part time, all-women’s learning program that teaches the basics of life in Canada—from English literacy to money management. Bond says money management especially important to help newcomers set up their lives in Canada. And for some, even the basics can be brand new.
“We do the fundamentals, what money looks like. At our level one, one thing we teach is how to use an ATM,” she says.
Starting at the basics is a lot of work—and it can be tricky for learners who don’t speak English yet. With women coming from the Middle East, South America, Asia and Africa, LINC has a lot of language needs to meet. And with the influx of refugees from Syria, Arabic instruction is in especially high demand. Though many of the women are new to English, Bond says they’re still eager to learn.
“We are finding many of them are starting from a lower benchmark level but have been educated in their first language. So while they come in as literacy learners, they progress quite quickly.”
To meet these women’s needs, Bond has turned to the Money Matters for Newcomers and New Canadians program, created by ABC Life Literacy Canada. She says the material’s simplified language and availability in Arabic make it accessible to learners who are ready to learn, but don’t yet speak English.
Money Matters is a free financial literacy program that offers learners an introduction to the basics of money management in Canada. The Newcomers and New Canadians version is geared specifically toward the needs of recent immigrants and refugees—with information designed to introduce them to the banking system and help them start building credit. Participants leave with improved control over their finances and a clearer understanding of their new home. Bond says student response to the program has been overwhelming and learners tell her they’re thrilled with the confidence they’ve gained.
“One woman was talking about the level of independence she can now have, because her husband handled everything before,” she says, “She didn’t realize it wasn’t that hard.”
LINC ran two Money Matters for Newcomers and New Canadians classes for its learners this summer and Bond says given the learners’ tremendously positive response, she’s planning two more in the fall. Information on Money Matters is available at ABCMoneyMatters.ca.
