Welcome Group Volunteer for Refugee Newcomers
| Organization Details | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name: | Together Project - MakeWay |
| Address: | 2 St. Clair Avenue East Toronto ON |
| Website: | http://www.togetherproject.ca |
| Organizational Description: | Together Project connects government-assisted refugees and refugee claimants with volunteers to build stronger, more integrated communities in the Greater Toronto Area. 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 MakeWay Shared Platform. |
 |
|
| Volunteer Opportunity Details | |
| Volunteer Opportunity ID: | 5865 |
| 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 excited to launch the Welcome Group Program in July 2025 in collaboration with IRCOM (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba). |
| Skills Required: | We're looking for volunteers who are: -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. WhatsApp, 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. 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
Micro Volunteering - any self contained volunteer opportunity that can be completed in a short amount of time, often through a web-enabled device. Flexible Hours Commitment: 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. How to Apply: Volunteers can sign up as individuals or as a group with their friends, family members, and/or colleagues. Volunteers registering on their own will be connected to other volunteers to form Welcome Groups based on their skillset and interests. If you are signing up as part of a group, please indicate the names of other registrants you'd like to be in a Welcome Group with. Volunteers will be asked to complete a police background check before beginning their match. To apply, please click here: bttr.im/a772o - 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 jennilee@togetherproject.ca |
| 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 Uses a mobility device |
| Organization will provide: | A letter of reference Supervision Training/Orientation |
| How to Apply: |
|
| Closing Date: | Jan 1, 2026 |
