Leadership by Design Program 2021/2022

 Shared by request. See below:

The Leadership by Design (LBD) program targets promising Black youth who are currently enrolled in Grade 10. Hence, only students who are now in Grade 10 may apply. Parents must sign their student’s application form and work in partnership with us to support the growth of their child. https://llileaders.com/leadership-by-design-lbd/.

Given that we are also partnering with University of Toronto in offering a special PursueSTEM program to LBD students, we would like our new Grade 10 cohort to include some students who are keen to further their knowledge and interests in the STEM field. For more insights into the PursueSTEM program that is offered by University of Toronto to LBD students, link to https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/physics-at-uoft/outreach/pursue-stem/ .

We provide two deadlines which suggest:

(i) we prefer early applications (by December 17, 2021); and

(ii) we will continue to consider applications received by January 15, 2022. 

You may click on the links below for:

-the Application Form for admission into the Leadership by Design program (Cohort2021); 

- the Application Guide which answers some questions; and

- Two (2) Promotional Flyers (please see below).

Now in its sixth year, the LBD program has three cohorts of students who are engaged in post-secondary studies (Years 1-3), and three cohorts based in high school (Grades 10, 11 and 12). Essentially, the program provides leadership development and career-exploration opportunities. Our goal is to provide Black youth with the resources and support they need to optimize their talents and fulfill their highest ambitions.

Last Summer, we also offered Black students from across Ontario a set of courses called SummerUp, a program funded by the Ministry of Education https://llileaders.com/summerup/ .

With kindest regards, 

Trevor Massey 

Chair, Lifelong Leadership Institute

Leadership by Design Program

SummerUp Program

Common Mistakes to Avoid As a (Canadian) Immigrant

Not Having A Solid Plan

If you take nothing else away from this post; the key message is to have a Plan A, B, C, D and an Exit strategy. When you are immigrating you need to have a solid plan (s). Unless you are a refugee of war; there are things worse than leaving the security of your current country. Basic things, like leaving your country for another without having adequate know how or savings to get settled in, can lead to bigger issues like depression, anxiety and culture shock. Issues that may stick with you years after.

To create a solid plan you need to:

1. Research, research, research the most current official resources provided by the government of that country.The key question here is how you are going to legally maintain your status in the new country (in this case Canada)? You would be surprised at how many people immigrate to countries where they are clueless about what it means/takes to be in legal status. Or they invest thousands of dollars on a path that leads nowhere.  Boarding the plane, getting there and setting up house is not the end goal. Not because you can legally enter a country means you can legally and perpetually reside there. Not because you know of a friend or family who took a certain path means that path is valid for you. Immigration law and policies change frequently and also vary from province to province so it is important to always stay updated on the requirements. Always. 
2. Not rely solely on the advice of friends and family when immigrating. While they may have good intentions; friends or family may be giving you outdated/inaccurate immigration information and you don’t want to find this out in the midst of having to survive in a new country. You need to do thorough research yourself and or seek advice from a qualified Immigration Consultant or International Advisor at a school.
3. Not rely on family and friends for financial support.I’ve heard and seen so many cases, I can say it’s a trend. There is such a thing as a ‘Canadian Welcome’ and it’s possible you can overstay your welcome and create tensions where none existed previously; even if they were the ones who suggested you come. The long and short is that people have their own lives and struggles and while they may be willing and able to help you get settled in and get a head start; they may not be willing or able to hold your hand, financially, throughout your immigration journey; which brings us to the next point. 
4. Create a budget. Try to get an estimate of the minimum amount you (and your family) need to settle in and survive. You at least need to have that or access to that amount. This is where friends and family living in Canada can be most helpful. You can ask them all the questions you have about cost of living; things like Food, Clothing (Read quality Winter gear), Transportation, Health Care etc. For example, you may have to be a legal permanent resident to get full access to free Health Care or be part of an International Health Care plan offered by a school. Also, you need to research some ways to legally generate income if and when your initial savings run out. In summary, you need to know the resources you have and what is available to you (and your family) based on your status and where you will be living. 
5. Have a Plan B,C,D and an exit strategy because Plan A does not always work out. Even in spite of preparedness; life happens. Look at as now in the middle of a pandemic that most could not have predicted. Think carefully about different paths of immigration that may be available and applicable to you while you are in legal status. If all else fails be sure to have enough money to relocate or go back to your country if necessary. I want to stress that for many immigrants there are things worse than returning to the security of your country or a country where you can be in legal status. Being out of status or remaining illegally in a foreign country is riddled with stressors; especially if you value your freedom and being able to move about freely and transparently.

What else would you include in your solid immigration plan? 

Immigrating To Canada: How to avoid culture shock - Tip 1

Find your tribe: Plan to make Multicultural Friends

When in a new environment your first instinct is to seek out people who are familiar. While this is a quick and easy way to feel at home in a new country, challenge yourself to make friends with people from different cultures.

It is a very challenging and humbling experience to be miles away from family and loved ones. So try to have an open mind and be prepared to learn about and befriend people from different cultures.  

As the saying goes; better a friend who is near by than family that is far away and as the Jamaican saying goes ‘good Fren betta than pocket money.’

The good news is that through social media you can start the friend making process before you even get on the plane to Canada. You can reach out to Program Coordinators to see if there is any group for incoming students in your cohort. That's a good resource for meeting your classmates/school mates virtually beforehand and establishing some rapport. 

The reality is that in order to survive and thrive in your new environment you will need to make friends and preferably friends from different multicultural backgrounds. It’s good for your well being and  good for maintaining a healthy network for job hunting and finding other opportunities. 

Plus you never know what you can learn from your new family/tribe and they from you. 

Immigrating to Canada: The one thing you must know...

The one thing you must know is that immigration laws and provisions are constantly changing. So let's say you decided in 2010 that you wanted to migrate to Canada. You did your preliminary research, asked a few questions and then determined to shelve it for later, until you are better prepared financially etc. Many people go through this process, but the one thing you must know is that...

When you eventually decide to make the move a few months, years down the line you will have to begin the process all over again. 

Quite likely the research that informed your decision (or lack of decision) in 2010, would have been dated. A good way to stay current on immigration changes relevant to you is to plug into an immigration consultant who has an updated blog, social network feeds or sends out updated newsletters. Check the dates of the posts to make sure the information is current. If the information is older than a year it is not current. Also, stay in contact with friends and family who are going through their immigration process but understand that your process may not be the same. Friends and family who have lived in Canada for years are not good sources on what is current in paths to immigration, unless they went and did research on your behalf. There process is quite likely - dated.

Of course, if you enjoy reading vasts amount of information and time allows you to do so, visit the Canadian Immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca to find out the latest immigration programs and changes in policy. Also visit the Canadian job bank site to get an idea of employment rates by province and the kind of jobs that are in demand in each province.




For individual consultation email janadianimmigrant@gmail.com

3 Tips for Choosing the Right Immigration Consultant (for International Students)

Immigration is a big move and it can be quite a heavy task to do the required research, gather all the relevant information while trying to keep up with your 9-5 job. Consultancy fees are often a one-time expense depending on the help required. Other fees are normally requirements of the schools. So here's my list of what to look for in an immigration consultant:

1. Someone who keeps up with the requirements of International study. Canadian Immigration law changes often, very often... sometimes several times in the same year. A general complaint of applicants is often encountering immigration consultants advising them with outdated information. If a consultant is advising you with information based on a year ago it is definitely outdated information. Ask around to find out if any of your family and friends have been victims of outdated information and stay far. Find someone who enjoys research and keeping up to date with Canadian Immigration changes.

2. Someone who can advise you on Immigration (Permanent Residence) beyond the requirements of International study. 99 percent of international students in Canada pursue International study as a means to permanent residence. Currently, many Canadian schools are not legally authorized to give immigration advice and many schools are now training Canadian advisers to be able to offer this service. Ideally you want to find a consultant who can help you paint a picture of immigration after your studies, by pointing to immigration law or recent success stories. You also want someone who believes that there is always a way. Which leads to my last check point.

3. Someone who understands your journey and genuinely cares about your success. Again, you can discover this information by asking around and doing background checks. Is it a person who goes above and beyond to provide help for you as a client. Are they easily accessible to you while you have questions during your process? 

These are just a few considerations. Feel free to share any other check point to look for when selecting an Immigration consultant.

Form an Encouragement Committee

I recently got the wording, 'encouragement committee', from a friend but the concept I had to learn from experience...

If you are going to accomplish anything worthwhile in life you need to surround your dreams and plans with people who believe in them and believe that you can succeed. You need people who will listen, advise and genuinely cheer you on when you feel like giving up on your dream. In other words, you need to form an encouragement committee.

This means...
It's not the best idea in the elementary phases when you are contemplating a move to tell everyone what you are considering. You may share your emigration dream with someone who intentionally or unintentionally squashes your dream before it even gets a chance to take flight. There is much wisdom in the saying, 'misery loves company.'

Sadly, the phrase 'crab in a bucket' is very real in our Caribbean context. So avoid this pitfall. And again, surround your dream and your plans with people who can help you believe (we're not even talking about finances and funding at this point...just moral support.)

When I was planning to leave for Canada back in 2010, my mother was the only person I told. This wasn't my first attempt at leaving though...in late 2009 I was 'invited' to go to Canada and quite a few people knew and that fell through faster than the speed of lightening. My mother, however believed in my dream so when one route fell through she was on the look-out with me for another route to accomplishing this dream. She was my encouragement team of 1 in the initial stages and when my plans became more concrete I sought out more people who were able to offer advice and counsel on the journey.

Take Away: Form an encouragement committee and shelter your dreams so that they can take flight when the time is right.

Welcome Future Janadians!

Welcome to the Janadian Immigrant blog! This blog will mostly discuss various immigration policies, strategies, planning advice and survival tips as it relates to immigrating to Canada as a Jamaican national. Occasionally, we will also touch on immigration policies in other countries, particularly as it relates to International Education.

We believe that with a little bit of faith and a little bit of work, any Jamaican can immigrate and live the life they've always dreamed of. We hope the information shared here will spark something or help make your immigration journey easier.

Blessings.