Volunteer Role: Citizenship Test Preparation Facilitator

Role Description

Preparing and presenting topics covered in the Canadian Citizenship Test to support newcomers in their study. Volunteers will familiarize themselves with the contents of the Discover Canada citizenship book and present it in a way that is accessible and appropriate for English language learners and those new to Canadian culture and history. To learn more about this program, click here.

• Type of Position: Virtual – Limited schedule
• Location: Virtual
• Language Required: English
• Time Commitment 1 – 2 hours of facilitation per month, plus time for presentation preparation. 1 – 2 presentations a month for a minimum of 3 months. Weekdays only
• Training and Supervision: Reports to a Citizenship Preparation worker and the Volunteer Coordinator

Responsibilities

In this role, you will

• Present topics related to history, government, symbols, regions, rights/responsibilities, geography according to your interests
• Ensure that participants understand information provided in the Discover Canada citizenship book
• Create activities to check comprehension or use existing materials provided by the facilitator
• Answer questions on the test material
• Collaborate with program mentors to promote discussion

We look for volunteers that have

• Good interpersonal skills
• Knowledge about Canadian culture, history, government and the political system
• Group facilitation skills
• Research skills
• A passion for working and interacting with people of other cultures
• A friendly with a positive attitude
• An inclusive mindset and the ability to work within an anti-oppression framework

Benefits of this role include

• Sharing your knowledge and learning something new
• Reference letters
• Building your personal network
• Building leadership skills
• Developing strong interpersonal skills
• Supporting newcomers who may have limited English
• Understanding the challenges that newcomers face on a deeper level

Training and Evaluation

Training for this role includes an orientation and shadowing from the program supervisor, as well as ongoing volunteer workshops.

A volunteer is successful when

• Newcomers are able to understand citizenship topics
• Newcomers are able to connect to their community and make new friends
• There is improvement in the newcomers’ language skills
• There is a high rate of success in passing the citizenship test

For more information, contact
Danielle Benton, Volunteer Coordinator
dbenton@nych.ca | 437-343-5516