Fifteen new immigrants graduated from The Salvation Army's Life and Employability Enhancement Program (LEEP) at the Multicultural Family Centre in Winnipeg. The young adults came to Canada from war-torn countries such as Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Iran, Sudan, Burma, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Esraa Al-Tahan, a 28-year-old Iraqi woman, fled from her country with her husband and daughter. Al-Tahan has a computer science degree from Iraq and is following her life-long passion to become an interior designer “thanks to The Salvation Army.”

“Esraa is a strong, intelligent woman who has overcome many struggles and is now taking the first steps toward reaching her dreams,” says Michelle Strain, supervisor of LEEP. The course teaches skills such as workplace English, computer basics and preparing for job interviews. Students must take part in five months of training, followed by a two-week job placement with the goal of being employed at the end of the course.