Calgary

Refugee finds part-time work after CBC story

Only a day after Zainab Al Qaisi's story of her first year in Calgary went online, she was offered part-time work through a Calgary-based well service company.

'It's like something very big is happen to me,' says Zainab Al Qaisi

Dawn Sweany, Human Resources director at Trican Well Service Ltd. Sweany offered Zainab Al Qaisi part-time work after hearing her story on CBC Radio. (Judy Aldous/CBC)

Driving to work last Wednesday morning, Dawn Sweany listened to an Iraqi refugee on CBC Radio talk about the challenges of learning English and finding a job in Calgary.

"I was just impressed with her dedication" says Sweany.

The refugee was Zainab Al Qaisi, who arrived in Calgary a year ago and has devoted 27 hours a week to learning English.

​"I was thinking about how difficult it would be to find a job that would be flexible to the hours so she could stay in school and not feel conflicted," says Sweany, who is the director of Human Resources with Trican Well Service Ltd..

"And then I started thinking: We have that role."

So Sweany got in touch with Al Qaisi and offered her part-time, temporary work helping Trican deal with a backlog in filing.​

Al Qaisi started on Friday.

"I had given up, I don't get a job. Just go to school. When I get this call from you, oh my god. Like something very big is happen to me."