The following is one of several spotlights being published by Tennis Canada this month as part of its Victory will be HERS fundraising campaign. They tell the stories of five inspirational women for whom tennis has played a major role and contributed towards victories in their personal and professional lives. Be part of the movement and take action.
“You saved my life.” Those are the incredibly powerful words that Jeannie Rohr heard from Waad, one of the first participants in Tennis BC’s groundbreaking program for women refugees arriving to Canada. For Waad and many others, the program is about so much more than tennis. It’s about hope, friendship, and a fresh start.
Tennis has been part of Rohr’s life for as long as she can remember. Her mother loved the sport and first picked up a racquet when she discovered free public courts upon immigrating to Canada. She made sure that all six of her children followed in her footsteps. Quickly, tennis became the glue that kept the family together.
READ the inspiring stories of five women for whom tennis has played a major role
Rohr’s childhood inspired her to give back within her current role as Director of Coaching Education at Tennis British Columbia and to create a safe place on the court for new Canadians, specifically women and girls, to meet people and help them assimilate into the country.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennis BC was able to secure the Stanley Park courts as a venue of their own to operate out of and one of the asks from the city of Vancouver in exchange was to implement diversity programs focused on newcomers as well as people with disabilities. The rise in domestic violence towards women during the pandemic pushed Rohr to bring her vision to life and a new tennis program for women refugees arriving in Canada was born. A connection with the YMCA brought 25 participants to the program’s first eight-week installment in 2021, including women from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran. Many had never been exposed to sports and while they loved playing tennis, their fundamental movement skills were weak, so they needed to find a comfort level moving on the court. After tennis, they would enjoy a meal together with everyone bringing food from their culture to share and talk over. The program’s debut was run entirely by women coaches which helped with retention. Some wanted to keep playing and some were interested in pursuing the Community Facilitator course and eventually the Instructor course to become a certified coach.
“I had no idea the impact would be so powerful for these women. It was a safe place for them to go,” Rohr explained.
Two women, Waad, from Syria, who spent three years in a refugee camp in Turkey before escaping to come to Canada, and Maryam, a refugee from Iran, became best friends after going through the first program together.
“I remember Waad saying to me, ‘my country told me I should hate Maryam, but I love her she’s my best friend now.’ And then towards the end of the program she told me, ‘You showed me there was hope and a future for me. I was despondent. I was so isolated and so alone I am a refugee; I cannot go back home to family. I’m here by myself,’”
– Jeannie Rohr
Both women have gone on to blossom together and Tennis BC even gave them their first paying job in Canada. Waad’s dream was to become a personal trainer. She got her foot in the door at the YMCA working in childcare and today, she’s officially a personal trainer there. Waad’s husband Ned has fallen in love with tennis and plays almost daily and wants to become a coach. Meanwhile, Maryam is pursuing an architecture certificate.
Three years after its inception, Rohr’s inspiring program, which is about much more than just tennis, continues to provide a portal for women immigrants and refugees to realize their dreams because they have the freedom to pursue them. In addition to playing the sport, the participants have also discovered the many opportunities that tennis can provide them, both on the court and off. Some have taken on roles at provincial tournaments while others are now mentors and certified coaches leading outreach programs to encourage more girls and women to get involved in the game.
“Whether they continue with tennis or not, they’ll never forget the experience,” Rohr said. “It’s given them purpose and the comfort to know that they can. They’ve learned to have a voice, that it’s ok to say no, it’s ok to be who I am, and it’s ok for me to have honest discussions.”
Rohr’s focus for the future is identifying more passionate women who can carry the torch, create new opportunities and more inclusive tennis spaces, inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps, and keep the engine running to ensure that Victory Will be HERS.
Programs like Jeannie’s are possible because of Tennis Canada’s commitment to creating opportunities for women and girls through initiatives like Game. Set. Equity. Your donations ensure that women like Waad and Maryam can find their voice, build community, and achieve their dreams.
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