These Calgarians have agreed to share how their lives have been changed thanks to the educational and financial support they received from the Queen Esther Education Foundation.
Pedro’s Story
A farmer in his native Colombia, Pedro Palma came to Canada five years ago and quickly realized his future would likely involve cleaning hotel rooms or some other unskilled-labour work in the hospitality sector.
“It’s the only job for the immigrant people,” he thought when he arrived in Calgary with wife Francy and two children. “It’s a job, it’s money. You do what you have to do for your family.”
Times were tough when Pedro approached the foundation several years ago, in need of a loan to help pay mounting household bills. “I was very worried. I had no exit. And they helped me when I needed it most. I thought, ‘WOW!’ “
Not only did the foundation provide financial support, it helped pay for ESL tutoring and supported him when he enrolled in the two-year, 3,000-hour program at MaKami College massage therapy school. He will soon finish his first year.
“They helped me focus on my studies, to learn massage, but also English. My home life is much better now,” he says with a big smile. “My kids, they are happy too.”
“Muchas Gracias for helping me, for my kids, for my family. I am very thankful. I will never forget that.”