Helen shares how she was born in Malaysia and in later years, she wanted to come to Canada to start a new life. She notes she experienced racism, such as people would ask where is from and they would say they don’t understand her English. She voices the importance of speaking and listening to children when they talk about experiences of racism. She conveys that speaking up and sharing our concerns are crucial for change.
Helen Ong works as a Settlement Counsellor dedicated to helping new immigrants to settle down in Canada. She is also an experienced language interpreter, helping social workers and new immigrants who do not understand the English language. Originally immigrated from Malaysia in 1998, as a member of 3rd generation Chinese descent, Ong has grown up with traditional gender roles and patriarchal values. Sadly, these values did not encourage women's participation in politics nor in the workplace. Furthermore, racial discrimination was also a major topic in her home country. As a result, she felt afraid to speak up at that time. Helen Ong is involved in Malaysian Singaporean Bruneian Community Association as a VP Malaysia and Activity Coordinator; Canadian Indonesian Social Club as a Social Director. Her hobbies include biking, swimming, singing and dancing. In her free time, she participates in non-profit organizations and communities.
