Viktoriia was abruptly awakened by her daughter’s panicked voice. “Mom, wake up! The war has started!” Trying to calm her daughter, she reassured her that this couldn’t be true. However, her attempts at consolation were cut short when the wailing sirens outside began to fill the air, confirming their worst fears.
Viktoriia and her daughter were among the thousands of Ukrainians forced to flee their homeland, leaving everything behind. After three months in the grips of war, they found safety and refuge in Canada, offering them hope and a fresh start.
Arriving in Canada felt surreal, as if they had entered an alternate reality. “We were happy, terrified, lost, and confused,” she recalled. One day, while strolling through downtown Kitchener, they discovered a door filled with job advertisements. As they paused to look, a friendly woman swung open the door, offering her assistance. Little did Viktoriia know that this encounter would become a turning point in her life.
Welcomed into Lutherwood’s Kitchener location, Viktoriia and her daughter were introduced to an Employment Advisor. The advisor listened to their harrowing journey with genuine care, empathizing with the feelings they were experiencing. “After a long and heartfelt conversation, we left the office with a renewed sense of hope in our hearts,” Viktoriia reminisced.
Viktoriia’s remarkable determination, resilience, and strong desire to contribute to her new community left a lasting impression on Lutherwood’s Employment Advisor and without wasting any time, she helped Viktoriia swiftly secure a full-time position in a local factory’s HR department, where she took charge of screening and hiring new employees. Viktoriia’s daughter was also enrolled in Lutherwood’s youth program, providing support for resume preparation and career guidance.
As Viktoriia settled into her HR role, she reached back out to her Employment Advisor, expressing her desire to give back by offering support and employment opportunities to Lutherwood clients seeking factory work.
When her contract concluded, she sought Lutherwood’s guidance again. Recognizing her potential and passion for helping others, her advisor mentioned an available position as an Employment Specialist at Lutherwood.
Viktoriia embraced the opportunity and was offered the position—a position within the very organization that had embraced her during the most challenging time of her life.
Grateful for her journey, Viktoriia now guides others, empowering those who have faced hardships like she did. And while the memories of war’s terror remain, the compassion she has encountered in Canada fuels her hope for a bright and positive future.