What was the initiative?

The creation and development of a technology and digital literacy program was the core of Daniela’s initiative. Daniela partnered with MAGMA, the local settlement agency of the Greater Moncton Area. Through her initiative, she implemented weekly mentorship workshops within the newcomer language classes to enhance language learning and bring technology exposure through a digital lens in English. The project brought learners together in a space where technology was accessible and allowed for individuals to see themselves in the digital space and use it to achieve their goals in a way that was meaningful to them.

What was the community connection?

Daniela has a personal connection to the newcomer community in Moncton. “My own parents immigrated to Canada as refugees over thirty years ago. The Maritimes have embraced my family as much as I have embraced the lands and people that reside within my local community,” Daniela says. Prior to the Fellowship, Daniela volunteered with MAGMA’s language programs. Through this and other personal experiences, she was exposed to the long-lasting barriers facing newcomer integration.

How was it innovative?

The project prioritized upending the more traditional and formal approach taken in programming where content and learning goals are pre-determined. The initiative focused on working collaboratively with the newcomer language curriculum to follow general monthly themes, but left ample space for community-led learning. Every month, newcomers were given autonomy over their learning to specify things they wanted to talk and learn about. This allowed for learning outcomes to be constantly evolving and truly representative of the community. Daniela’s Pathy project eliminated barriers to technology by supplying laptops to participants, not only for the program, but for daily use as well. This allowed for some newcomers to work on business plans, search for jobs, help their children with online school, complete online errands, and retrieve old family photos. As a result of the project, Daniela noted remarkable learning, growth, and comfort in participants in both technology and language skills, “apprehension turned into eagerness, and reservations turned into confidence. I really believe the community had a newfound appreciation in themselves as learners, proving that age or background has little influence over resilience.”

What is Daniela doing now?

Daniela is currently completing a Master’s degree in Global Health at McMaster University.