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Experts by Experience (EX2)

The YWCA Halifax's Experts by Experience (EX2) project, initiated in 2018 and funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), addresses the needs of newcomer women and families in Nova Scotia. In this three-year pilot, the goal was to strengthen settlement services using a peer-led model by harnessing the skills and experiences of newcomer women. The project specifically concentrated on equipping Newcomer Peer Leaders (NPLs) with the essential tools, enabling them to lead educational workshops on vital topics and adapt continuously based on participant feedback. Eligibility aligns with IRCC's definition of newcomers, emphasizing ongoing adaptation. The project emphasizes peer learning, promoting information exchange among individuals with commonalities, and aims to build a supportive community. A comprehensive evaluation, including interviews with key stakeholders, will determine the project's success in achieving its goals and benefiting the target audience.

Project Introduction

EX2 presents an innovative opportunity for newcomer women to leverage their skills and motivation, offering crucial information to assist other newcomer women in starting their lives in Nova Scotia. 

Read the Project Overview

Peer Learning

The primary goals of the project involve establishing a service delivery model centered on peer support to enhance settlement services for newcomer women and to bolster the capabilities of NPLs (Newcomer Peer Leaders) and newcomer women receiving these services. 

 

More About Peer Learning

NPLs Shaping the Program

Newcomer Peer Leaders (NPLs) play a big role in deciding what the program talks about and how it helps. They use feedback from the people in the program, and even casual conversations, to figure out what's important.

Learn More About NPLs
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Messages From The Team 

In the following messages, you will hear directly from key contributors to the success of our community-driven initiative. The perspectives shared by our Executive Director, Program Manager, Program Coordinator, and Newcomer Peer Leaders provide valuable insights into the impact and progress of our programs.

Read The Messages

Adapting to Change 

During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program demonstrated remarkable flexibility and adaptability in assisting newcomers. 

How We Adapted

New Skills & Impactful Sessions

NPLs, or Newcomer Peer Leaders, have successfully learned and applied evaluation tools to collect feedback. They've become adept at conducting interviews, using probing questions to gather valuable information. 

 

Hear From the Participants

Unveiling Impact 

Learn about the insights gained from The Sensemaking Workshop, the summative evaluation findings and final recommendations for the program. 

Read the Project Summary
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We should have more of these workshops to prove to Canadians and the world how capable we are as Newcomer Women

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NPL Evaluation Report 

Explore the complete evaluation report for the newcomer peer leadership model.