The 33-year-old former teacher in Aleppo is using her knowledge of English to help other Syrian refugees.

Sevan Hallajian hasn’t figured out how to navigate Toronto’s transit system yet. But, she’s figured out a way to help fellow Syrian refugees.

“Some of these people don’t know any words in English,” she said Monday afternoon as she sorted donations at Culture Link Toronto. “So I feel very happy that I am doing something to help. It gives me some purpose.”

It’s been just a little more than two weeks since Hallajian and her husband arrived in Toronto, among hundreds of Syrian refugees sponsored by private groups at the Armenian Community Centre.

Friends told her about Culture Link, a centre that’s been gathering and distributing goods to Syrians since government-sponsored refugees started landing late last year, last week, and when she showed up looking for help, she ended up offering some as well.

It’s the kind of spirit she’s seen a lot of since arriving.

“I think it’s a Canadian thing,” she said. “Everyone wants to help you when they hear you’re from Syria.”

The centre, meanwhile, is thankful to have her around as a volunteer.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the influx of demand,” said Fei Tang, program manager at Culture Link. “It is very inspiring to have people like Sevan to help.”

Most of Hallajian’s time at Culture Link is spent translating for other refugees who come in for help.

She studied English-Arabic translation and was working as a high school teacher in the Syrian city of Aleppo before war broke out.

Most of her family — including her brother and parents — stayed behind. Life in Aleppo, known as the epicenter of fighting, was “very difficult.”

“It is four years of hell. No electricity, no water and no security all the time. Tough.”