Dari​/Pashto-Speaking Group Volunteer Refugee Newcomers

Dari and/or Pashto-Speaking Welcome Group Volunteer 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 the lack of social connections. Together Project provides a platform for community engagement to address these challenges, ensuring that it 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, offering a chance for newcomers and volunteers to 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

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).

• Dari and/or Pashto-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.)

Volunteers will be assigned to their Welcome Groups and matched with refugee newcomer families based on availability, skills, location, shared interests, and family composition. They work together over 3-6 months to address the priorities identified by the matched household, allowing both groups to learn and connect over time.

• 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

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 – most volunteers dedicate roughly 3-4 hours a month over a 3-6 month period.
• Flexibility: interactions can take place online or in-person based on preference.
• Volunteer application process:
  After acceptance, staff will contact via email.

Jennilee Austria, Communications and Program Outreach Specialist

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Criminal record check:
Yes
Child abuse registry check:
No

Speaks another language (other than French or English):
Dari, Pashto
Opportunity is available to candidates that:
Group - small, family and friends

• A letter of reference
• Supervision
• Training/Orientation

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

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 acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.