Together Project – MakeWay (Welcome Group Volunteer for Refugee Newcomers)

Organization Name: Together Project – MakeWay
Opportunity Title: Welcome Group Volunteer for Refugee Newcomers
Category: Social and Community Service
Commitment: Less than 6 months, 6 months to 1 year
Start Date: June 4, 2025
End Date: July 31, 2026

Email: jennilee@togetherproject.ca
Website: http://www.togetherproject.ca
Details:

• Background/police check required
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

Opportunity Description:

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). Responsibilities: 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 We’re looking for volunteers who are: 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 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. Training:  Together Project provides volunteers with training, guidance, and interpretation/translation assistance to help each Welcome Group maximize its impact. 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.