Volunteering gives this newcomer a sense of belonging at school
Two years ago, Tashvi Menghi began a new life as her family moved to Peterborough from India for a better quality of life. Now, she is a Grade 11 student at Crestwood Secondary School
Tashvi started volunteering for the New Canadian Centre (NCC) because it offered an opportunity to teach English to new Canadian youth. Previously, she had a job doing this in India for not-for- profit organizations supporting young girls.
As addition to attending school, Tashvi volunteers about three hours per week at the NCC. She serves on the youth council at the centre, organizing various special events and activities, such as movie and game nights.
Founded in 1979, the New Canadians Centre Peterborough (NCC) is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees and other newcomers. It operates in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, City and County of Peterborough and Northumberland County.
It could neither operate nor reach its goals without the generous help of volunteers. Some benefits of volunteering there include:
- Sharing and making a difference in someone’s life
- Gaining knowledge and building your skill set
- Volunteer recognition events and training opportunities
- Making connections and learning about other cultures
For instance, each government-assisted refugee that comes to Peterborough is welcomed and supported by a Refugee Support Team of volunteers. Support Teams act as a support network of friends, helping them adjust to their new life in Canada and overcome cultural barriers and other challenges that surface when navigating a new place.
Depending on volunteers’ interests and the family, this can involve many different types of support like: friendly social conversations, general community orientation (walking routes, trails, bus station, groceries, markets, parks, helpful places, your favourite places), teaching English, family activities and more.
Of course, the Centre offers many volunteer roles for anyone wishing to help out with its programs. It has volunteer opportunities in the following areas:
- Administration
- Driving Assistance
- 1-on-1 Matching Program
- Youth Program (primarily for youth volunteers)
- English tutoring
- Facilitating groups
- Joining its board
- Supporting special events
One of the highlights for Tashvi was acting as the coordinator and master of ceremonies for the Multicultural Festival sponsored by NCC. In late June, all kinds of activities, such as dancing, food booths and live bands, filled Aylmer Street outside the centre. It is now destined to be an annual event due to its roaring success.
Tashvi says she volunteers for one major reason. Since she faced all the challenges of being a new Canadian and trying to make friends and connections, volunteering creates a very personal opportunity to learn about the community and her school.
“Volunteering gives me a sense of belonging and I have made so many friends. One thing leads to another. I have been able to help at the Peterborough Folk Festival and backstage on theatre productions,” she adds.
Her offer this advice to other youths: “Start with something you love.”
“Maybe it’s cooking or tech and you can find something to do to use those skills,” she adds. “I started because high school graduation requires 40 hours of community service so that was a good beginning. My aim is to make it easier for other new Canadian youths.”
Tashvi hopes to get involved with peer tutoring at her school as she guides herself to a future in the sciences and math.
We can hardly wait to see what she does next!
If you want to follow Tashvi’s lead, simply sign up via the NCC’s volunteer page and provide references, then meet with one of its volunteer administrators for an informal interview.
After your orientation to support newcomers, you submit your police screening document and wait to hear when they need you to start.
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