VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Make an impact on their life and yours: Become a NEEDS volunteer
Volunteering with newcomers to Canada is often a life-altering experience. Seeing children and youth start to flourish in their new country, begin to hope and dream of a safe and successful future is deeply rewarding. Our volunteers play a critical role in our programming by expanding opportunities for exposure to positive Canadian culture and experiences.
Volunteer Opportunities
Intro Program - Classroom Assistant
- During summer, we will provide two in-person summer programs for newly arrived Ukrainian children and youth. One program will be hosted at our agency, while the other will be at two satellite sites in the city of Winnipeg.
- Volunteers will support with program lessons and activities, help supervise students, Assist with classroom prep (cleaning and sanitizing, prepping lesson material, etc.), and help with other tasks assigned during program.
- This program runs from July 4th to August 25th (Monday to Thursday) from 8:30 -4:00 pm.
- Volunteers are required to have a consistent schedule (i.e. volunteering every Monday afternoon until further notice or the end of program). Ideally volunteers will be able to help for the eight weeks this program is being run.
- Volunteers can choose to work for the full day from 8:30 – 4:30 pm, in the morning from 8:30 – 12:30 pm or in the afternoon from 12:30 – 4:30 pm.
- Ukrainian language not required.
Intro Program -Classroom Assistant
Classroom Assistant Volunteers will assist Introduction to Canadian Education staff deliver orientation activities and curriculum to newly arrived refugee children and youth ages 6 to end of high school who have not yet attended school in Canada.
Volunteer Shifts available :
- Volunteers can volunteer for the full day from 8:30-3:30 PM
- Volunteers can volunteer in the morning from 8:30-12:00 PM
- Volunteers can volunteer in the afternoon from 12:00-3:30 PM
Classroom Assistant will :
- Assist in the delivery of individual and group classroom activities and curriculum
- Help with classroom set-up, preparation of materials and clean-up
- Work directly with newcomer clients to develop supportive and productive relationships.
In-Person Mentor
Volunteer mentors will be paired with newcomer students ages 12+ who are attending high school. Mentors will help youth build confidence, become more familiar with their new community, and feel supported as they settle into life in Canada.
Volunteer mentors will:
- Meet with their mentee twice per month for approximately 1–3 hours per session
- Build a positive and supportive relationship with a newcomer youth
Help mentees build confidence and become more connected to their community - Participate in activities and community experiences with their mentee
- Maintain regular communication with Mentorship Program staff
Volunteers must be able to commit to the program for 9 months.
N.E.E.D.S. provides onboarding and training, ongoing support and resources, complimentary tickets to selected events and activities, and dedicated Mentorship Program staff to support volunteers throughout their mentorship.
REMOTE AFTER-SCHOOL VOLUNTEER MENTORS
Volunteer mentors will remotely assist clients in our Remote After-School Mentorship Program for newcomer and refugee children and youth in Grades 1 through 12.
Volunteer mentors:
- Provide tutoring support in various subject areas including but not limited to English, math, science, social studies, health education, etc.
- Assist newcomer and refugee children and youth develop and foster positive relationships with adults in a safe environment
- Provide support to help develop, practice, and improve English Language Skills
- Supervise clients during one-on-one meetings and communicate all issues with staff
We are looking for English and French speaking volunteers to help clients in both official languages.
Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 3-4 hours per week for three consecutive months
In-Person Language Assistant
Volunteer Language Assistants will assist Introduction to Canadian Education staff to deliver orientation activities to newly arrived refugee children and youth ages 6 to end of high school who have not yet attended school in Canada, with a particular focus of helping provide language assistance to youth who do not speak English. Program runs Monday to Thursday and volunteers are needed between 8:30-3:30 PM
Volunteer language assistants will:
- Provide interpretation supports to clients as needed
- Assist in the delivery of individual and group classroom activities
- Support with the delivery of our orientation curriculum
- Help ensure that all classroom materials and supplies are prepared for each activity. Help with classroom set-up and clean-up.
- Work directly with newcomer clients to develop supportive and productive relationships
- Prepare clients for entry into the Canadian school system
- Communicate client issues with lead staf
Please confirm your interest in this position and the language(s) you could support in at volunteers@needsinc.ca
Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 3-4 hours per week for three consecutive months
Volunteer Language Assistant shifts are generally scheduled as:
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
12:00 pm – 3:30 pm
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
French Remote Homework Assistant
- Volunteers will remotely assist SWIS Staff in our after-school homework club for newcomer and refugee children and youth in Grades 1 through 12.
- Volunteers help supervise, tutor/mentor students with homework in various subject areas in French including but not limiting, math, science, social studies, health education etc.
- This program runs during the school year (Sept-Jun) on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00-8:00 PM.
- We are running this academic year’s homework club remotely using a video conferencing App. Volunteers will be paired with clients and assigned to a breakout room on the video conferencing platform to provide one-on-one support based on their preferred subjects and areas they feel comfortable supporting clients with.
How to apply?
- A minimum commitment of 2.5 hours per week for three consecutive months
- All volunteers will be responsible for getting a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search on your own and you’ll need to provide identifications so that N.E.E.D.S. Inc. can apply for your Child Abuse Registry Check.
- Attend an interview with our Volunteer Coordinator
- A two-hour orientation session is provided for all volunteers.
Practicum Placement
Practicum placement opportunities vary.
If you are interested in doing a practicum placement at NEEDS Centre, Please contact volunteers@needsinc.ca
