DIVERSEcity is excited to bring the award-winning Together Project from Ontario to British Columbia.
The Together Project connects newcomers and Canadians to build stronger, more welcoming communities. It matches groups of volunteers known as “welcome groups” with newly arrived refugees and immigrants for meaningful settlement support.
“Our goal in launching the Together Project as a pilot program at DIVERSEcity is to help newcomers make social connections that can assist with their settlement journey in Canadian society, specifically here in Surrey, BC,” says Rola Nasreddine, Manager, Volunteer & Civic Engagement, DIVERSEcity.
Matches are made for six months, with a possibility of extension. There are many ways volunteers provide social support to newcomers through the Together Project, including:
- Regular English language practice
- Tutoring young learners and helping parents engage with their education
- Helping newcomers find a job
- Understanding services like the health care system
- Learning about Canadian culture
- Meeting new people
The program will leverage technology to connect volunteers and newcomers virtually.
“We want to thank MakeWay Charitable Society – Together Project, who will play an active role in supporting our pilot of the program here in BC,” adds Nasreddine.
These welcome groups will also bolster research by the Together Project, in partnership with DIVERSEcity, TD Canada, Western University, and others on the impact of remote versus hybrid social support on newcomer settlement.
A call for Welcome Group participants in Surrey will be announced soon. To learn more about the program in the meantime, see togetherproject.ca.