Kiden Jonathan

Instructor, Author & Public Speaker

Kiden’s mother taught her two important lessons: excel in both household responsibilities and schoolwork, because her mother had not had the opportunity to receive a formal education; and build strong friendships with her siblings. These lessons inspired Kiden to pursue continuous personal and professional growth.

Before being displaced, she worked at a feeding centre for malnourished children. In Uganda, she began selling beauty products and learned Swahili and body language through her business. Soon afterward, she moved to a refugee camp in Kenya, carrying with her the courage to begin again. She was hired as a primary school teacher, where she encouraged girls to attend school and remain enrolled despite the pressure of arranged early marriages. In addition to caring for babies, working in sales, and teaching, Kiden served as a community chairperson, helping vulnerable women obtain subsidies for essential fuel. In Canada, Kiden was elated to find a home. She served as a practical nurse for years.