Fula​/Fulani-Speaking Group Volunteer 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. These include language and culture barriers, health issues, unemployment, and the 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 will work to address specific priorities identified by their matched household, through which both newcomers and volunteers will also have 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:

-Fula / Fulani-speaking

-passionate about helping newcomers and making social connection

-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 things like availability, skills, location, shared interests, and family composition. We like to think there's a match for every kind of Welcome Group.

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 X , 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.

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 member of our staff will contact you via email to arrange for an interview.

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):
Dari, Pashto

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

B Suite 511, 428 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0E2

Suite 511, 428 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3C 0E2

Please note our team works a hybrid model; appointments are highly encouraged as we are not always in the office.

Volunteer Manitoba is located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anisininew, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that the clean water we drink comes from Shoal Lake 40 first nation, and that our electricity is produced on treaty territory. Volunteer Manitoba respects the Treaties that were made on these territories, we…