Why Mentor?Make an impact. Become a mentor.

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO)

• Serving New Immigrants to Canada for over 33 years

• Over 100 staff members and over 300 volunteers

•Served 11, 000+ new Canadians last year

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) Background

Career Mentoring Team OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Omaima Faris

Acting Manager of Community Economical Development

Karen Molina

Mentor Recruiter and Liaison

Michelle LaBarre Blouin

Mentorship Facilitator

Karyn Steer

Mentorship Facilitator

Micheline Ghaoui

Mentorship Program Administrative Liaison

•The pilot project started in 2011 and continues through March 2014

•The Project was developed in collaboration with the foreign Credentials Recognition Office (FCRO) of Citizenship & Immigration Canada

•Enables public service employees to engage as mentors to new Canadians

•Mentors & Mentees meet a minimum of three times per month, either in person or via Skype.

Federal Public Service Mentorship Program

OCISO Career Mentorship Program

• The Program began in 2004 and was initially offered to women only

•The program is now Core funded through Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC), settlement funding and offers mentorship opportunities to over 150 new Canadians each year

•Mentees are matched with Mentors who have the same or a similar professional background. (where possible)

•The pair meets weekly for approximately one hour. Mentors are asked to commit to a minimum of three months to the match.

Core

Current Program Outcomes

200+ active Mentors (86 new mentors last year)

200+ clients served last year

63% of clients exited the program to employment within their field

71% of clients participating in the Public Service Mentoring exited to employment in their field

OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Bringing Career Mentoring to your work placeOCISO Career Mentorship Program

• Workplace Champion Model• We can present OCISO Career Mentorship Program at your work place• Orientation in your work space for potential new mentors• Mentor Training at your office ( 7+ participants)

Why Mentor? Value and Benefits

• Engage in professional development training activities

• Enhance your cultural competency skills

• Have direct access to the talent pool

• Improve your mentoring/coaching skills

• Expand your professional networks

Our Mentors:OCISO Career Mentorship Program

• At least 2 years of work experience in Ottawa

• Contacts in employment and professional networks

• Good interpersonal, communication and listening skills

• Sensitive to employment and cultural transition experience

•Commitment to a mentoring relationship for at least three months

Strategic Networking

Mentees meet with up to five Mentors in the same field for informational meetings/interviews

Benefits:• Builds network• Develops sector/career specific knowledge• Enhances communication skills specific to sector

OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Additional Program Elements

• Mentee/Mentor Network and Share events

• Speed Mentoring

• LinkedIn groups

OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Value and Benefits to Mentees OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Supports Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) to achieve their employment goals by facilitating mentorship matches where they can:

• Obtain strategic support with their employment search

• Learn about the Canadian working culture

• Develop their professional networks

Our Mentees:OCISO Career Mentorship Program

• Newcomers who have chosen Ottawa as their home (not a Canadian Citizen)

• Post Secondary Educated Professionals (BA, MBA, PHD)

• Job ready with years of experience within their fields

• English Language workplace proficiency

•Has not worked within their field in Canada

Mentee Testimonial

Mauricio Mendoza, arrived in Canada last spring from El Salvador. He has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from a university in his native country. He came to OCISO’s Mentoring Program in May 2013 and was matched with a mentor, a mechanical engineer, in June 2013. He has been working with his mentor to improve his chances of finding work in his field.

OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Mentor Testimonial OCISO Career Mentorship Program

Karima Kara has always been passionate about education, intercultural effectiveness and humanitarian development, bringing together public and private sectors in Canada and at the international development level to nurture healthy, vibrant and pluralist civil societies and communities.

Karima has contributed to exciting educational programs in Asia and Africa and across Canada in her leadership roles as Mentor, Coach and Facilitator.

Over the past 2 years, Karima has had the privilege of mentoring newcomers to Canada with OCISO where she also provides professional development opportunities for Mentors in communicating effectively across cultures so that they can build lasting relationships of trust with their Mentees.

Karima holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from McGill University, a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University and she is a certified coach and mediator. She is fluent in English and French.