Meet Poy Zong.

Poy is a new immigrant to Canada. She worked six weeks as part of a co-op project with Habitat Halton-Mississauga last year. When she lived in China she was a manager in a large media company. Originally she was worried about adapting to marketing in Canada, but Poy found that she grew in her new role. “I needed the opportunity and they thankfully gave it to me, being (at Habitat) taught me a lot.”

Poy worked in the Burlington office space branch. “I worked on consumer behaviour, did posters, and created surveys. It was a really good learning experience about how things work.”

“I was scared I wouldn’t do well at the start but after working here people gave me confidence to succeed in the media world in Canada,” she says.

Poy is learning to speak English as well as the differences of Canadian advertising. “I think in China if you want to promote something it is very expensive and impractical,” she says. “In China they just want to advertise. They provide too much content for consumers. Canadians pay more attention to practical things, in China you get overwhelmed.”

Poy described her department fondly. “It is not very big but everyone is very kind people and were willing to teach me lot, they showed me all of the material I needed,” she says.

“The slogan is Everyone Deserves a Place to Live and I think that statement is full of love,” she says. I have met so many volunteers who are so kind, so giving. They donate their time and energy just because of the goodness of them.”

“Habitat made me stronger, it made me feel like a Canadian. Now I know that I can handle doing what I love here in Canada.”

 

Once finished her co-op with Habitat for Humanity, Poy planned to look for jobs in marketing and media. “I was scared I wouldn’t do well at the start but after working here people gave me confidence that I will succeed,” she said.

Poy described her first experiences in Canada, “When I first moved here I didn’t know how to communicate. Over time I have been here my English and my understanding of the way we market in North America has gotten so much better. Even now I am still learning but everyone is very patient and good at waiting for me to speak.”

When asked how working here has helped her Poy answered: “Habitat made me stronger, it made me feel like a Canadian. Now I know that I can handle doing what I love here in Canada.”

If you or someone you know is looking for similar experience working in an office environment, Habitat HM is always in need of more volunteers. Click here for more information.