Women RISE Toronto Campaign

By Berishna Naseer

My name is Berishna Naseer, 31 years old, and I am a Social Service Worker graduate from Centennial College. I am working as an outreach worker in an after-school program, and I truly enjoy it because it enables me to make a positive impact on children and serve as a role model for them. I’ve always had a passion for helping marginalized communities and newcomers. Alongside my personal life experiences, my journey has been deeply shaped by my work with marginalized communities through placements and volunteer work with Indigenous groups. I was interested in their history and felt a deep connection with them, as I have personally experienced oppression as a woman from a marginalized background. That is why I chose to work with them. Through this, I was able to learn and integrate anti-oppressive practices into my life and my career. I am deeply passionate about community development and committed to fostering equity and empowering underrepresented groups. These experiences have opened my eyes to the immense strength and resilience people demonstrate in overcoming barriers.

As a racialized woman, I know firsthand the struggles that marginalized, and newcomer women often face. From my own experience, I have faced financial insecurity, feelings of isolation, and systemic barriers. I’ve also witnessed how unequal access to resources and services affects marginalized communities in similar situations. Sometimes my accent and language became the reason that I was not recognized for who I am, like my skills and experience were not taken into consideration. Therefore, I have struggled severely since the beginning when I came to Canada. I had experience in community work and advocacy back home and in Turkey, but in Canada I had to start from the beginning and spend years to continue my education in order to be eligible to work here. When I arrived in Canada, I came with a background in community work and advocacy from my home country and Turkey. However, I had to start from scratch, building my education to qualify for work here. Even with experience, I found myself facing barriers because of my accent or background, and without a local network, finding opportunities felt even harder. But I was determined. 

Throughout my studies, I jumped at every opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I want to further enhance my knowledge in my career, social service, so I can help people more efficiently. Since my role requires me to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, I aim to improve my cultural competency and my ability to set boundaries in both professional and personal settings. I became a youth leader in the Resilient Youth for Change program at the Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS), where I empowered and guided other community members in making positive change. I took leadership training, safe space workshops, and got involved in extracurricular activities. Each of these experiences strengthened my skills and commitment to helping others. Now, I work part-time as an Outreach Worker in an after-school program at a nonprofit organization, always learning and improving as I aim for a full-time role.

The challenges I faced have fueled my desire to support other newcomer and marginalized women. I hope to become a Settlement Worker. I want to help women find their independence and discover their strengths in a new country. My dream is to empower them to navigate Canadian systems, know their rights, and chase their goals confidently. If I can help even one woman find her footing, I believe she’ll inspire others too.

I want to use my experiences to support women like me, sharing what I’ve learned to help them succeed. For example, I have learned that newcomers, especially marginalized women, need social support and guidance to understand their rights and access opportunities to continue their education and careers. I am now able to assess their needs and act as a mentor and resource, helping them navigate their lives, understand their rights, and stay informed about pathways to employment and education. Through mentorship, advocacy, and collective action, I believe we can create positive change and build a more inclusive community.

My resilience has guided me through each step of this journey, and through the Women Rise Project, I hope to share my story with other newcomer women, helping them overcome the challenges they face. My hope is that all women who come here for a brighter future are able to reach it, free from discrimination, oppression, and stand proudly on their own.

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