New start hard for Russian immigrants
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In her worst nightmares, Svetlana never dreamed she'd suffer an identity crisis at 49 years old.
Working hard as an economist in her native Moscow, she tried to equip herself with the tools necessary to face an uncertain future.
Living in Russia, a country racked by political unrest, she never expected stability. But, living in Canada, she's shocked to discover her years of toil are almost in vain.
"I try to find anywhere I can to use my knowledge or skills," says Svetlana, from the one-bedroom apartment she shares with her husband and 12-year-old daughter. "I feel myself lost."
Forced to flee Russia because of political problems, her husband Michael came to Canada in 1999. Svetlana and Leanna joined him in 2005.
Filled with optimism, Svetlana hunted for a job in her field for months, adapting her resumé to Canadian standards and seeking regular advice from counsellors at the YMCA's newcomer assistance program.
But that wasn't enough. She started looking for work as a volunteer. She sent out 60 applications and was rejected by almost every program.
Like so many newcomers, she realized her language skills were to blame.
Sitting behind a small table in their St. Jamestown apartment, Michael points to a plaque that names his wife one of the best employees at the company where she worked in Russia.
"It's very hard," he says, but adds that, despite their financial woes, the couple is thrilled to be in Canada. They love the diversity and the freedom of speech.
They also love the culture of giving. With little money to buy Leanna the things every preteen needs, Svetlana and Michael are grateful to receive The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund gift box — not only for the warm shirt, hat, mitts, socks, book, candy and toy inside, but because the present arrives addressed to Leanna. Each Santa Claus Fund box is addressed to the child.
"It shows there's enough people around who know about her existence, who care," Michael says. Trying to solve all the problems he and Svetlana have here, he says, it's easy for a child to get lost in the shuffle.
"It's not about what comes in the box. It's about the very fact that they care. That's what makes Canada unique."
Svetlana and Michael are both receiving loans from the Ontario Student Assistance Program to attend George Brown College, where they're studying to become career and work councillors. They also study English. "When we finish, we'll understand what we'll need to do," Svetlana says. "We can start to work from the bottom."
This year, the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund celebrates its 101st anniversary, aiming to raise $1.4 million that goes entirely to distributing gift boxes to 45,000 underprivileged children across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ajax and Pickering.
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