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Amy had recently become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and had wanted to become self-employed again.

Amy has lupus, PTSD, and panic disorder.

North Island Employment in Campbell River, BC referred her to Neil Squire’s Digital Jumpstart program to get her the right equipment and the computer skills needed to be successful in her ventures.

Through Digital Jumpstart, she received a laptop, laptop tray, keyboard, and mouse.

She worked with program coordinator Gordon Watt, starting out on the basics, learning an introduction to Windows and getting started with Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.

With English as her second language, an English tutor accompanied them on the virtual learning sessions.

“He was really a good teacher, [I felt] no pressure,” Amy says of working with Gordon.

When Amy joined the Digital Jumpstart program, she had initially wanted to start websites for her different ventures, which included message therapy — she had recently earned her certificate — and tutoring for cooking.

However, after working with Gordon, she instead decided to make Facebook pages, seeing that she could more easily reach people online. She learned how to market and promote her businesses on Facebook.

She likes that it is easy to use, and makes it easy for potential clients to see her prices and the information they need.

“I was shocked, because I was not thinking I could get a laptop,” Amy says of the help she received through Digital Jumpstart. “I feel like I’m better than before [on the computer . . .] I feel more like I can do it.”

She credits Neil Squire staff with making her feel encouraged and comfortable in all of her interactions.

“The people were very kind and patient. I never feel any bad things. They always make me feel more successful,” she says. “There were very good energies there. I didn’t feel embarrassed, I didn’t feel negative, so just surprised, wow, thank you.”

Amy concludes with a thank you to her teacher:

“I’m very appreciative of Gordon, so just to say thank you to him again. Thank you for everything, for supporting me,” she says. “This was a big success for me.”