Aicheh’s Path
Many of us haven’t experienced what many newcomers do: moving to a new home in a country with a unique culture, and languages you don’t speak. Imagine yourself in this situation and the challenges you would face as you establish your finances in your new home. Aicheh is a newcomer to Canada and is living in this very scenario.
Aicheh didn’t know anything about Canadian banking and finances before she moved to Nova Scotia. She is currently developing her English and said she couldn't even go to the bank by herself with the language barriers. Aicheh learned about Money Path through the Newcomer Women Program at MetroWorks and signed up for the Money Basics 101 course.
Aicheh was one of six newcomer women trailblazers that completed this eight-part course earlier in February. Money Path team member Moe facilitated this exciting course that helped each woman establish their knowledge about money and Canada’s financial systems. At any point, you may have heard English, Arabic and Somali spoken and every participant had interpretation and language support.
The course had lessons about income sources in Canada, creating a budget, the Canadian tax system, protecting yourself from frauds and scams, and where to go to speak with financial experts.
“I didn’t know anything about banking here beforehand,” said Aicheh through interpreter Iman. “I learned about budgeting, how to care for my banking, about spam and frauds. When we go to the bank, we get asked personal questions to help protect our information. I learned about banks’ services and fees, too.”
During Money Path’s Money Basics 101 course, Aicheh was partially excited to learn about Canada’s Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). Aicheh has a teenager daughter at home that aspires to attend university.
Through the Money Path course, Aicheh learned how she could open an RESP for her daughter. She gathered the documents she needed and made an appointment to visit the bank. She wasn’t alone for this appointment either, she had language support from the Newcomer Women program and Money Path Atlantic.
Aicheh said the appointment was an easy process with all the support she had. She did tell us there were some small technical issues on the bank’s side, and she had to wait a few extra days for everything to process officially — something most of us have probably experienced, too!
“The information I took home was very important to have,” Aicheh said through interpreter Iman. “This was great and I know I don’t have to worry. I’m very happy because there were no difficulties at the bank and I know we are looking out for our future.”
