Rohingya-Speaking Group Volunteersfor Refugee Newcomers

Rohingya‑Speaking Welcome Group Volunteers for Refugee Newcomers

Organizational

Description:

Together Project connects government‑assisted refugees and refugee claimants with volunteers to build stronger, more integrated communities in Winnipeg. Our Welcome Group Program serves newcomers that face significant challenges to successful integration in their new communities, including language and culture barriers, health issues, unemployment, and lack of social connections. Together Project provides a platform for community engagement to address these challenges, ensuring that it both complements the work of existing service providers and is tailored to the needs of individual newcomer families.

Volunteers work to address specific priorities identified by their matched household, giving both newcomers and volunteers an opportunity to get to know each other and build social connections. Together Project’s work is supported by evidence‑based program evaluation and research to inform and improve our impact. Together Project is a charitable initiative of the Make Way Shared Platform.

Volunteer Opportunity Details

Volunteer Opportunity

Description of Duties:
As featured in The Globe & Mail and the CBC, Together Project’s Welcome Group Program matches volunteers with refugee newcomers for social and integration support over a period of 3‑6 months. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet with, and empower, refugee newcomers to the community. Together Project is delivering the Welcome Group Program in collaboration with IRCOM (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba).

Skills Required:

We’re looking for volunteers who are:

• Rohingya speaking
• Passionate about helping newcomers and making social connections
• Organized
• Sociable
• Culturally sensitive
• Patient
• Interested in social work, immigration, and/or settlement
• Open to using virtual communication tools (e.g. Whats App, Zoom, etc.)

Skills Gained / Related Careers:
Volunteers will be assigned to their Welcome Groups and matched with refugee newcomer families based on availability, skills, location, shared interests, and family composition. Over 3‑6 months, volunteers will work together as a group to address the priorities identified by their matched household; in this way both newcomers and volunteers have an opportunity to get to know each other over time.

As a volunteer, you can help newcomers with:

• Practicing conversational English skills
• Accessing and navigating services, like healthcare
• Finding and applying to employment opportunities
• Helping youth with school and extracurricular activities
• Socializing and helping newcomers learn about Canada

Training: Together Project provides volunteers with training, guidance, and interpretation/translation assistance to help each Welcome Group maximize its impact.

Age: 18‑30, 31‑54, 55+

Time Commitment:
Micro Volunteering, Flexible Hours. Since we recommend a weekly interaction between Welcome Groups and matched newcomer families, most volunteers dedicate roughly 3‑4 hours a month to their match over a 3‑6 month period. These interactions can take place online or in person, as preferred/convenient. Your individual time commitment is flexible, as the responsibility is shared among group members and Welcome Group members can divide up activities according to their availability, interests, and expertise.

Guidance:
Please bear in mind that volunteer interest typically exceeds available opportunities, and it may take time to hear back from us. Once we have accepted your application, a staff member will contact you via email to arrange for an interview. If you have any questions, please contact Jennilee Austria, Communications and Program Outreach Specialist ().

Location of volunteer opportunity:
Winnipeg – Assiniboine South, Downtown, Elmwood, Fort Garry, Inkster, Point Douglas, River East, River Heights, Seven Oaks, St. Boniface, St. James‑Assiniboia, St. Vital, Transcona.

Does opportunity require a criminal record check? Yes. Will cost be reimbursed? No. Does opportunity require a child abuse registry check? No. Opportunity is available to candidates that:
Group – small, family and friends;
Speaks another language (other than French or English):
Rohingya.

Organization will provide: A letter of reference, Supervision, Training/Orientation.

Office Address: B Suite 511, 428 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0E2. We work a hybrid model; appointments are highly encouraged as we are not always in the office.

Volunteer Manitoba acknowledges the traditional territories of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anisininew, Dakota, Dene peoples, the homeland of the Métis Nation, Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, and treaty territory, and its commitment to partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.