Empowering Immigrant Women from Margins to Mainstream: Sharon Njobo’s Journey from Zimbabwe to Canada

Sharon Njobo, originally from Zimbabwe, shares her impactful journey, beginning with her upbringing in a large family raised by her grandmother. Trained as a broadcast journalist despite the absence of media devices at home, Sharon's life took a significant turn when she relocated to Canada under compelling circumstances. In Canada, she ventured into international development, driven by a desire to contribute beyond journalism. Her experiences prompted her to establish '263 True North,' a Facebook community for Zimbabwean women in Canada, which led to the creation of an investment company. Sharon and her community have faced significant challenges in adapting their culturally rooted methods of raising capital, like communal savings, to the Canadian financial system, which often views these practices as illegal or illegitimate. Her consultancy work, Fire Start Ideas, aims to help immigrant women move from the economic margins to mainstream participation. Sharon also critiques the colonial undertones in international development work, advocating for development that prioritizes the perspectives and needs of those it aims to help. With her vision of establishing multi-generational wealth among immigrant women, Sharon's story is one of resilience, systemic change advocacy, and empowerment, striving to reshape economic participation to reflect Canada's diverse population.