Description:
Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services is committed to and works to promote health and well-being and improved access to services for immigrants and refugees in Toronto by addressing medical, social, economic, settlement and integration, and environmental issues. The Centre envisions a future in which diverse individuals can achieve: Health with Dignity.
The Friends for Youth program (F4YP) is an exciting peer mentoring program where youth can volunteer to support and make friends with other youth who are new to the country and help them integrate more easily into the new community. This program is now looking for young volunteers who can become mentors of recently arrived immigrant youth and government assisted refugees. This is an interesting and fulfilling position for those who are willing to make a difference in their communities.
The role of the youth mentor is to provide friendly support to another immigrant or refugee youth who has recently immigrated to Canada, while promoting a welcoming relationship based on equality, inclusiveness, respect, trust, and flexibility. There are many ways you could provide support all depending on the needs of the newcomer. Mentor and mentee will agree on the activities they will do together. Those activities will normally take place in public places and may include:
• Orientation to the community
• Going for a walk and exploring interesting places
• Assistance with learning new skills useful in daily life
• Making the newcomer aware of and helping them access social services
• Reading together and discussing issues of mutual interest at your local library
• Learning and practicing English
• Basically doing fun, social and recreational activities!
As a volunteer mentor you can benefit a lot from participating in this program by:
• Getting volunteers hours and getting recognized for our efforts
• Making new friends
• Gaining new knowledge and appreciation for the newcomer experience, other languages and cultures
• Feeling good about your role in building a welcoming and diverse community
• Accessing relevant training and acquiring mentoring experience
• Experiencing meaningful volunteering and building your professional references
Volunteer Requirements:
• 13 to 24 years old.
• Lived in Canada for a minimum of 3 years.
• Reliable, responsible, open minded and non-judgmental.
• Good interpersonal skills, including listening skills, patience and sensitivity.
• Interest in learning about other cultures.
• Ability to working with others so they can reach their full potential
• Knowledge of the local community.
• Live in the west end of Toronto (our west office is located on Jane St., north of St. Clair Ave.).
Volunteer Assets:
• Ability to speak more than one language.
• Experience in a multicultural setting.
• Understanding of anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks.
• Specific areas of knowledge (arts, sports, computers, cooking, botanic, etc.).
