The purpose of the project is "to understand present newcomer youth volunteering practices and perceptions in Waterloo Region and to explore local strategies to deepen their engagement.” The Ontario government has funded several initiatives to strengthen volunteerism in the province. This project included a one-year research program that used focus group discussions and key informant interviews to gain more knowledge about the issue of newcomer youth volunteerism.
This Project addresses the issues around volunteerism for newcomer youth. Volunteerism is an important part of Canadian society, but many newcomers come from different cultures with different perceptions about volunteerism. Many cultures are community based and people voluntarily help each other without having a label for that work. Yet, in other countries, volunteering implies forced military service. Having to volunteer because it is mandatory in order to find a job or to finish high school has confused the issue for newcomer youth and their families. The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre worked with youth on new outreach strategies for engaging young volunteers from diverse communities.
Main objectives of the Project:
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To identify, develop and test strategies to increase the involvement of newcomer and ethno-cultural youth in volunteerism;
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To gain a greater understanding of ethno-cultural youth involvement in volunteerism and to analyze the main factors deterring youth from volunteering;
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To identify, develop and test strategies to assist organizations (mainstream and ethno-cultural) to engage, attract and retain youth volunteers from ethno-cultural communities;
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To develop a Took Kit which can be replicated for use across Ontario;
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To develop a presentation targeted at starting conversations about volunteerism;
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To raise awareness of volunteerism in Canadian society.
Benefits of Volunteering:
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Helping others & your community
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Making a difference
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Experiencing personal happiness & satisfaction
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Improving interpersonal skills
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Developing communication skills
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Increasing knowledge
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Gaining experience for post-secondary education or the workforce
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Trying something new
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Exploring different career paths
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Supporting a cause you believe in
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Developing personal and professional contacts
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Building your resume
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Getting over your fears
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Meeting others who share similar interests
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Making friends
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Bettering yourself
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