Cultural Orientation Ambassador-Welcome House-Lewiston/Auburn

Related Program: Refugee & Immigration Services

Lewiston/Auburn, Maine

The Cultural Orientation Ambassador (COA) supports local day-long cultural orientation on the third Friday of each month; locations to be decided. The COA helps prepare the event by making calls to clients, transporting clients or arranging for transportation, setting up the room, and  preparing multilingual learning materials. During the day-long event, COAs will welcome refugees, keep children entertained, and share a meal with cultural orientation students. This position is perfect for those who love to host events and make others feel welcome. It is a great option for those who want to make a difference and can schedule a day a month to give their time. Knowing another language is useful but not required.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Help in the morning with set up of tables and chairs 8 to 9AM
• Clean up 3 to 4PM
• Help with setting up activities and materials
• Help with setup and clean up during morning snack time , and lunchtime.  

Impact of Opportunity:  

The Cultural Orientation volunteer will embody the CCM core value of “hospitality” by “welcoming the most vulnerable and in need to an environment of dignity, safety, warmth and a sense of being home.” The efforts of the orientation volunteer will help refugees build a safe life in Maine by improving connectedness to their local community at large and to the local immigrant community. The efforts of the orientation volunteer will help refugees become independent and self-sufficient. 

Qualifications & Skills Required: 

• Must be over 18, or with a parent or guardian if ages 14 to 18
• Willingness to learn from refugees and promote respect. 

• Ability to build relationships and establish trust. 
• Patience, flexibility, and dependability.  

• Outgoing with excellent communication skills. Language skills helpful. 
• Experience and/or strong interest in working with people/families from different cultural backgrounds. 
• Ability to learn/teach how to access local resources. 
• Creative problem solving. 

Training Offered:  

• Monthly supervision with Volunteer Coordinator 

Time Commitment & Schedule: 2 to 8 hours per month 

Benefits: 

• An increased appreciation for human rights. 
• Deepening of your knowledge of immigration. 

• A mutually beneficial cultural exchange. 

Program Contact: Linca Vanessa Iradukunda, RIS Volunteer Coordinator, 207-653-2491 or [email protected]

Click Here to Apply Online

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