Bengali Information and Employment Services (bies)

During this fiscal year we engaged 35 youths in artwork in February 2024 to celebrate International Mother Language Day and helped them learn about history culture cooperation collaboration empathy and emotional regulation. Our Youth Council was also revived and workable during summer time where again 15 Youths were recruited and made active for community development. They created and promoted two audio videos highlighting BIES’s programs and services and building awareness among and helped reach out the community. In this fiscal year a total of 280 newcomers have been provided employment support that includes resume writing teaching job search techniques providing interview skills development tips job information sharing and connecting with employers. A total of 35 job seekers landed on the jobs. Three workshops were organized on job search techniques and 110 participants joined and gained job search skills. During this fiscal year the partnership was built with two employers. We supported another 120 community people including seniors and youth in addressing their mental health issues and substance abuse due to COVID-19. We have reached out and connected the community with the mental health and substance support services available in the community. The support was provided in person by telephone and online. Our volunteer social workers and social service workers provided mental health first aid & addiction support to the community. We started English Language Skills Development Training for the Newcomer where a total of 12 sessions were conducted to teach them about workplace-based English communication. A total of 45 newcomers participated in the session and learned how to search for jobs prepare for interviews work and communicate in the workplace. Two volunteer teachers conducted the session. We organized four online Zoom live sessions for newcomers who arrived in Toronto to teach them about this country its culture information resources