Volunteer!

ESL Tutor

As a volunteer ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor you can provide invaluable support to those interested in improving their English. You can help by:

offering individual attention
engage in a relaxed atmosphere that is focused on conversation
provide the learner with small homework projects
model your actions to the needs of the learner

Once matched one-on-one with a learner, the tutor is expected to meet once a week (or on a somewhat frequent basis agreed upon by the learner and tutor). This should be a relaxed meeting where the learner can feel comfortable (i.e. over drinks in a coffee shop). Meetings should be approximately an hour. There are tutor resources available at CoRDA for use to guide these meetings, or to give out as homework.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Megan at [email protected] to become an ESL Tutor.

Settlement Helper

As a Settlement Helper you are here to provide support in any areas of living in Colchester county. Everyone has special skills and connections to the community, and you can utilize your own unique experiences to help clients. You can help by:

meeting with people who have similar interests to you
make referrals if necessary
provide individual support on an as-needs basis
keep an eye out for newcomers in the community and refer them back to CoRDA

As a Settlement Helper you agree to be called upon anytime your skill set is matched to a newcomer. For example, if you have a keen interest in rugby, you may be matched with a newcomer who has a similar interest. The amount of time you work with the newcomer is up to the two of you.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Megan at [email protected] to become a Settlement Helper.

Interpreter

The role of the interpreter is quite straightforward. Based on your language ability in a non-English language, you may be matched with a newcomer of the same language to help in certain settlement situations where language clarity is essential (for example, at doctor appointments). You will be called upon in an as-need basis.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Megan at [email protected] to become an Interpreter.

Events

Newcomer events are an important component to settlement as it gives them an opportunity to get out into the community. If you are interested in helping solely in events, you agree to be called upon an as-needs basis (you will be given plenty of warning on upcoming events). For example, you could help to arrange games at the summer BBQ.

Event planning, promotion and advertising could also be part of your duties if you express interest in becoming and Event volunteer. You will be given specific instructions depending on the event, and the time commitment will depend on what is worked out between you and CoRDA.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Megan at [email protected] today to help with Events.