Irina’s Story: From Uncertainty to Entrepreneurship in Canada

When Irina arrived in Canada with her two children, she felt completely lost.
She had no job, minimal English, and constant anxiety that made every day feel overwhelming.

Everything changed when she attended a local newcomer event and learned about VONA Foundation.

​

She started by joining a psychological support session. Then came the English conversation club, where she spoke English without fear for the first time. Later, she joined a small business development workshop, and a spark was lit:
“What if I really could do this?”

​

Irina completed the "New YOU!" transformation program, connected with a mentor, and launched her first product — handmade natural soap. Today, she sells her creations at local markets, runs a small Instagram page, and is preparing to register her own business.

“My biggest achievement isn’t the business — it’s that I started believing in myself again.”