World Skills Employment Centre Recognized at the VOscars 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

World Skills Employment Centre won the Leadership in Volunteer Diversity Award at the VOscars 2017.

OTTAWA – On April 26, World Skills Employment Centre was the recipient of the Leadership in Volunteer Diversity Award at the VOscars, 2017.

On what was a very exciting night at City Hall, long-standing World Skills’ volunteer Paul Murray, also received the Professional Leadership Award.  Mengistab Tsegaye, Executive Director of World Skills, expressed his gratitude to the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers for their contribution and support:

“World Skills gets rewarded by the very presence of many talented and passionate volunteers, some of whom have transitioned to becoming employees at World Skills. I also want to say a big thank you to Volunteer Ottawa for the work that you do with newcomers in particular. Because of your work, many newcomers have gained valuable Canadian work experience in their new home. You have also helped many non-profit agencies to benefit from the diverse skills and talents which newcomers bring to our country. The non-profit sector would not survive without the contribution of volunteers. Ottawa is a better place to live because of the outstanding contribution volunteers make.”

Mengis made special mention of Atoosa Adnani who is the Volunteer Coordinator at World Skills Employment Centre. “Without her we would not be able to provide meaningful learning opportunities for our volunteers.”

This award is not only for World Skills Employment Center, but also for the volunteers who give of their time and experience to support newcomers to integrate into the labour market in Ottawa. In the past year, 157 professional coaches and volunteers donated 3 484 hours supporting internationally trained professionals who come to World Skills looking for job search assistance.

Paul Murray, who received the Professional Leadership Award, has been working with World Skills Employment Centre for over five years and has provided professional resume writing support and interview preparation to hundreds of World Skills’ clients. The effort of our volunteers is indispensable for the success of new immigrants as well as World Skills’.

In Paul’s own words:

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone at World Skills for your tremendous support and kindness over the past five years. The award is very special, although simply the “icing on the cake” when taken in the context of the joy I get from being at World Skills and working with so many talented newcomers. I’m looking forward to continuing my volunteering at World Skills for a long time”.

For more information on how you can you be a volunteer with World Skills Employment Centre, contact Atoosa Adnani at atoosa@ottawa-worldskills.org or fill out this application form.