Welcome Group Volunteer for Refugee Newcomers in Vancouver, BC

Together Project is excited to launch the Welcome Group Program in July 2025 in collaboration with ISSofBC (Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia).

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.)

Language:
-Volunteers must speak English. Other languages are also an asset, such as Arabic, Somali, Rohingya, Farsi, Dari, and Pashto.

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.

Training:

Together Project provides volunteers with training, guidance, and interpretation/translation assistance to help each Welcome Group maximize its impact.