When Real Life Changes Everything: YWCA Employment Navigator
When Alicia joined the YWCA Employment Navigator program, she hadn’t worked in nearly five years. Parenting alone, without a driver’s license, managing a back injury and navigating a significant gap in employment, she felt trapped. On top of it all, child care limitations made her options even narrower.
“As a single mother facing many barriers, I had to learn how to navigate both employment and educational opportunities,” Alicia shares. “My previous career was no longer viable, and I needed guidance—not only to discover what options were available, but also to find a career path that resonated with me.”
That support came through the YWCA Employment Navigator program. Through one-to-one career exploration, access to resources and a loaner computer, Alicia found a way forward.
“It definitely helped me understand the opportunities available and made me aware of the abundance of resources within the community,” she says.
This fall, she will begin the Mental Health and Substance Use Certificate Program at Douglas College, financially supported with multiple awards and scholarships. Her long-term goal is to work as a support worker before opening her own recovery house.
Coast Capital’s Lasting Impact
Alicia’s journey is one of many made possible thanks to Coast Capital Savings, a dedicated supporter of Employment Navigator since 2005 and one of the program’s funders since 2024. Their investment ensures mothers parenting alone have access to training, financial resources and the tools they need to succeed.
When women gain opportunities for education and meaningful employment, their children benefit too, creating a ripple effect that uplifts families and strengthens communities for generations.
For more information on Employment Navigator and how to support single mothers in their employment journey, contact Andrew Nguyen at anguyen@ywcavan.org or 604 985 5808.
