1. Why do we want to interview you?
You are being invited to take part in this interview because you are an immigrant woman from an ethnic minority and interested in self-employment. We want to learn about your self- employment journey.
Your input is valuable and it will help other women like you who are trying to start their business. We will take your recommendations to write a report that, hopefully, will improve service accessibility for women like you.
2. Who is conducting the research project?
The Women’s Economic Council (WEC) is conducting this project. The WEC is a national charitable organization that helps Canadian women, especially marginalized women and those at risk of poverty, achieve their economic goals. WEC relies on women’s lived experiences to support systemic change and promote women’s economic prosperity.
3. Why is the WEC doing this research project?
You are being invited to take part in this project because you are immigrant women from an ethnic minority, 19 years or older and interested in self-employment. We want to learn about your self-employment journey. This study will help us learn how current services and resources are suited for your self-employment needs and how to improve service accessibility for women like you.
4. What happens if I say “Yes”?
If you decide to take part in this project, we will support you for 6-12 months to start your business. You will be asked to attend a series of workshops to learn about business types in Canada, marketing, funding sources, financing and much more. You will receive a personalized needs assessment and referrals to the organizations that will help you reach your goals. Additionally, we will help connect you with an experienced mentor in your chosen field of business.
5. What will happen to the study results?
The results of this study will be published in reports and shared with our funder, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The findings may also be presented at conferences or published in journal articles and books. If you choose to be anonymous, your real name and any personal information that identifies you will NOT be included in any published writing or presentation. If you want a summary of the research results, you can ask for them by choosing to be contacted at the end of this form and a summary of the findings will be emailed or mailed to your address.
6. Is there any way participating in this project could be bad for me?
We do not think there is anything in this project that could harm you or be bad for you. However, we understand that immigrants come from different backgrounds and some of their experiences might be unsettling. You can decide NOT to share stories or experiences that upset you. You do NOT have to answer any question, if you do not want to. If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, please let the interviewer/facilitator or any of our team members know.
7. How will your identity be protected?
Your confidentiality will be respected. If you chose to be anonymous, your real name and any personal information that identifies you will not be included in any published writing or presentation. Any printed material with your personal information will be locked in a cabinet in one of our offices. Any electronic material with your information will be kept secured according to our electronic information security policy. No one can access your information except for WEC team members involved in this project. All electronic files will be deleted, and all printed material will be shredded one year after the end of this project.
8. Will you be paid for your time?
You will receive an honorarium for participating in two forums to be held during the project timeline.
9. Who can you contact if you have questions, complaints or concerns about this project?
If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1 888-800-8946