As featured in the Toronto Star, The Globe & Mail, and CBC’s Metro Morning, Together Project, a charitable initiative of MakeWay, matches volunteers with refugee newcomers from over 25 different countries for social and integration support through its Welcome Group Program.
Volunteers will welcome a Ukrainian newcomer family to their new community in Toronto (Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough) or Mississauga.
Please note that while we are always looking for a variety of volunteers, we are currently in need of Ukrainian or Russian-speaking volunteers to help Ukrainian newcomer families in Toronto (Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough) and Mississauga.
Responsibilities:
Over 6 months, 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. We make our matches based on shared interests, newcomer needs, and volunteer experience and skills.
Common priorities include:
• Practicing conversational English
• Navigating services like healthcare and education
• Finding extracurricular activities and tutoring for youth
• Socializing and making new friends
We’re looking for volunteers who are:
-Ukrainian or Russian-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. WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.)
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 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.
Training:
Together Project provides volunteers with training, guidance, and interpretation/translation assistance to help each Welcome Group maximize its impact.
How to Apply:
Please fill out our application here: bttr.im/a772o
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:
Ahmed Barbour, Volunteer Coordinator