At PeaceGeeks, we believe that creating meaningful tools starts with truly understanding the challenges newcomers face. As a team of many newcomers and immigrants, we bring personal experience and empathy into every step of our work. For Kimiya, who leads user research for the Virtual Career Coach on Welcome to Canada, this approach is at the heart of her role as she shapes our platform and tools to support both newcomers building their new lives and the staff helping them succeed.
Kimiya’s journey to PeaceGeeks is deeply personal. Growing up in a refugee family fleeing religious persecution and as an advocate for her stateless brother, she saw firsthand the barriers displaced individuals face. “I have lived experience of some of the challenges many users face, giving me a unique perspective on the cultural, social, and systemic factors that influence their decisions and behaviours,” she shares. These experiences drive her passion for designing tools that are not only practical but deeply reflective of users’ realities.
Her role involves gathering insights directly from newcomers and settlement workers across Canada. “My background allows me to build trust with participants, creating space for them to share their stories openly,” she says. This connection helps her identify unspoken barriers, like stigma or hesitation, that otherwise may go unnoticed.
As a researcher and a second-year PhD student at the University of Ottawa focusing on displacement and gender, Kimiya combines academic rigour with personal experience. Her work ensures that tools like the Virtual Career Coach are intuitive, inclusive, and tailored to the complex needs of newcomers. “I translate user insights into actionable recommendations for our developers and designers,” she explains.
By leading interviews and focus groups with newcomers and settlement staff, Kimiya ensures that the Virtual Career Coach is more than a tool - it’s a bridge to belonging, stability, and opportunity. “Displacement can be isolating," she reflects, "but our team is building something that addresses migration in a meaningful way.”
Kimiya’s dual perspective as a researcher and newcomer enriches PeaceGeeks’ work. "Growing up in a refugee family and being a newcomer to Canada myself reminds me to listen carefully and avoid making assumptions about users’ needs," she shares. “It helps me design tools and methods that are culturally sensitive and deeply relevant.” Her pride in the project is evident when she talks about the impact of the Virtual Career Coach on users. “The AI job interview tool, in particular, stands out,” she notes. “In my interviews with newcomers, many have shared how nervous they are about job interviews - especially in an unfamiliar cultural context or a new field. The interview tool helps ease that anxiety. It’s a great example of how thoughtful design and user feedback can create an experience that feels genuinely supportive.”
Looking ahead, Kimiya hopes to connect with even more newcomers and settlement organizations. “I want every user to feel supported in a way that reflects and is coherent with their lived realities,” she says. “And I’m excited to see how we can continue creating positive change for immigrants and refugees for generations to come.”
With empathy, dedication, and a firm belief in the transformative power of ethical AI technology, Kimiya and the PeaceGeeks team are building solutions that foster belonging, stability, and growth for displaced communities worldwide.
Are you an organization interested in joining our mission? We're always seeking passionate change-makers - reach out at info@peacegeeks.org to learn how you can help create a lasting impact for newcomers.
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