Kitchener tech firm welcomes newest hire with help from refugee-matching group
Mohammed Hakmi started his new job at Kitchener's Bonfire on April 2
Kitchener's Mohammed Hakmi has spent the past six years living in Lebanon after war broke out in his home country of Syria.
On Tuesday, he started work at a Kitchener tech firm thanks to a special program that helps companies hire skilled refugees.
"I'm so excited and so happy," Hakmi said.
With the help of the non-profit organization Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), Bonfire was able to hire Hakmi and help him relocate in Kitchener.
TBB has been matching refugees with companies that are in need of their skills in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Kris Braun, director of engineering at Bonfire, worked closely with TBB and offered Hakmi a job in the company's engineering department in April 2018.
Now, one year later, Hakmi is living and working in Canada.
"When we saw Mohammed walk through the sliding doors at the airport, it just became so real," Braun said as he and a number of staff from TBB waited for Hakmi to arrive at Toronto's Pearson Airport on March 20.
"This program has changed my life," Hakmi said, adding he hopes to be able to bring his family to Canada one day.
Hakmi is one of a number of refugees that Bonfire hopes to hire through TBB.
Braun said they are ready to hire again and hopes they can set an example for other local tech companies.
"We're very interested in building a movement of other companies in Waterloo region who will join us in hiring the next 10, 20 [staff] through Talent Beyond Boundaries," Braun said.