08/22/2026
๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต: ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐๐น-๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ณ๐ถ
Shams was born in Iraq and came to Canada when she was 10. She has vivid memories of the challenges she and her parents faced during their settlement. Drawing on her own experience, she believed she could make a positive difference in the lives of other newcomer women. She has volunteered with Everyday English for Seniors since 2025.
She works full time and volunteers in four places.
Shams had no teaching experience when she started. Staff encouraged her and gave her opportunities to build her confidence.
"๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง." she says.
She brings humour into her lessons and looks for creative activities that keep learners engaged. One of her fondest memories is playing charades with the class.
"๐๐ค๐ก๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ. ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ง. ๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข. ๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ."
Staff say the seniors have embraced her like a granddaughter. She checks in on how they are doing, takes an interest in their lives, and makes sure they feel supported and valued.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐. ๐
