I’m Riddhima Sharma, originally from Nepal. Just over four years ago, I stepped off the plane at Toronto Pearson on a freezing December evening. It was my first time really being away from home. Everything felt brand new and a little scary.

Back in Nepal, I spent five years working in nonprofits as a communications person, fighting for social justice and gender equality. Yet, I also wanted more learning and growth, which is why I chose Canada for my studies.

That first year hit me hard. Unemployment, brutal winters, the COVID mess, homesickness. It all piled up. I bounced around doing whatever jobs I could find: farm work, factory shifts, babysitting, serving tables. I moved between three cities and six different places in just eight months. Life wasn’t what I’d pictured at all.

I was frequently targeted by scammers and exploited by businesses that paid me less than the minimum wage; as a result, life did not unfold as I had imagined. Though I considered myself fortunate to have a support system, even though they were far. I met many women fleeing war and violence, starting their lives from scratch. I wanted so badly to help them, but I was barely keeping my own head above water.

My mental health was slipping. Honestly, I started wondering if Canada was right for me. Then everything shifted when I moved to Ottawa. The same week I got my diploma, an email popped up with a job offer. It meant packing up and heading there. Ottawa ended up being the place where things finally clicked.

I landed my first ‘big girl’ job in a non-profit supporting kids and families across the city. It felt like I’d found my calling. My supervisor was amazing. She believed in me and helped me figure out the ropes when everything still felt overwhelming. I also reunited with my partner, who was my biggest cheerleader.

Around the same time, I started freelancing as a translator and interpreter in Nepali, Hindi, and English. A lot of it was remote, but I’d go in person whenever I could. Especially for Nepali-Bhutanese families. I’d sit with lonely parents during cancer biopsies, hold hands with expectant moms at their first ultrasounds, and help kids and parents actually talk to each other again. Those moments made me feel useful and connected. I was really making a difference.

One day on a translation job, I spotted a pamphlet for Immigrant Women Services Ottawa  (IWSO). It was like the organization was speaking straight to me. This was the community I’d been looking for. By then, I was doing my Master’s in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Carleton University.

When I saw the call for board volunteers at IWSO, it just felt right. I had just taken up a new role with a group advocating for Indigenous rights in Canada. It was like the next step I was meant to take. Now here I am as a board member. I’m bringing everything I’ve been through my immigrant experience, my love for justice, my nonprofit background. I want to help make sure more women feel seen, supported, and strong as they build their lives here.

I’m excited to keep showing up for this work. No one should have to navigate this path alone. Together, we can make it a little easier for the next person.