Abir is a 2019 alum of Pathways Regent Park. After graduating from high school, Abir went on to study Retail Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and is now in his final year. He also works part-time at Mazda Canada as the Coordinator of Warranty Operations.
Pathways has always been a part of Abir’s life. Growing up in the Regent Park neighbourhood, where the Pathways Program first started, Abir and his family saw the program’s growth firsthand. “The program has been around since I was born, and I’m grateful to see its long-term impact on my community.” As soon as Abir and his siblings started high school, they joined the program.
At Pathways, Abir received academic and financial support, but what helped him the most was the mentoring programming. He was one of several students who attended job shadowing sessions at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. “It was really nice to learn about the hospitality industry and how things work. It opened my eyes to try and explore new things.” He also took a part-time job in a customer-facing role during high school as a brand ambassador to further his career development and save money for his education. Abir also volunteered at his former elementary school, tutoring students in subjects such as Math and English, and helping them improve and develop their skills in a variety of sports. “I wanted to support & empower the next generation of youth in my community”.
This experience led Abir to apply to Toronto Metropolitan University’s Retail Management program—and he got accepted. But his relationship with Pathways didn’t end there. His brother came across a few co-op opportunities with Mazda Canada through the Pathways Alumni Newsletter he subscribed to and shared them with Abir. “What interested me in the Warranty Operations role was how unique it was, as I wanted to try a more specialized field of work” he explained.
In this role, his responsibilities revolved around managing warranty products and supporting the creation of new extended warranty plans for customers. He also had the opportunity to collaborate with different teams on various projects. “Having these experiences has made my time at Mazda truly rewarding. I learned a lot about the automotive industry and applied my creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills in a corporate environment.”
Abir’s hard work and dedication earned him a promotion to Coordinator of Warranty Operations, which he will do part-time in his final year of university. Looking ahead, he hopes to move up and continue working in the automotive industry. “I really think this is a great fit for me! Plus, it allows me to learn new skills and step outside of my comfort zone.”
This opportunity was made possible through Pathways’ partnership with Mazda Canada, where together, we are preparing youth like Abir for life beyond high school and developing the necessary skills needed to thrive in the modern workplace. “We believe that investing in Pathways is important because research shows that breaking down barriers to education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty in our country,” said Krista Tzanopoulos, Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications at Mazda Canada. “When we join forces with a shared vision, we create synergies that enable us to achieve far more than we could alone.”