Everyone knows the story of the foreigner who, despite his education and qualifications obtained in his homeland, ends up driving a cab in North America. His hopes and dreams of a better life turned into disappointment and frustration…Well it’s time to rewrite that story.
I met Anand about a year ago. He had recently immigrated from India, where he worked as a computer engineer. He had grown up in a small village, but his parents’ hard work allowed him to go to the city to study and find a job. He heard that there were great opportunities to work in Canada. He figured he could make a lot more money and send it home to his family. His application for permanent residence was approved a year later and he arrived in Toronto in November 2016. He was hopeful and ready for success. Yet after months of applying for jobs, he realized his experience as an engineer in India wasn’t recognized here. As bills started piling up, he was already considering going back home.