About Afiwi Groove School

Afiwi Groove School is a community-based arts and culture organization dedicated to empowering youth through music, arts, and creative expression. Through workshops, camps, and performances, Afiwi provides young people with opportunities to develop artistic skills, confidence, and leadership while celebrating Caribbean and global cultural traditions.

Role Overview

Location: Pickering, Ontario (In-person / Hybrid)
Position Type: Volunteer

Afiwi Groove School is seeking an organized and enthusiastic Volunteer Coordinator – Showcases & Camps to support the successful planning and delivery of youth camps and showcase events. This role focuses on recruiting, organizing, and supporting volunteers who assist with program activities, events, and performances.

The Volunteer Coordinator will help ensure that Afiwi’s camps and showcases run smoothly by building a strong volunteer team and creating a positive experience for both volunteers and participants.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit and onboard volunteers for Afiwi showcases, camps, and special events.
• Coordinate volunteer schedules and assignments during programs and events.
• Serve as the main point of contact for volunteers during camps and showcases.
• Support volunteer orientation and ensure volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Work with program staff to identify volunteer needs for camps and performances.
• Ensure volunteers help create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for youth participants.
• Track volunteer participation and maintain volunteer contact lists and records.
• Recognize and support volunteer engagement through appreciation and feedback.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Experience working with volunteers, youth programs, or community events.
• Ability to communicate clearly and manage multiple tasks.
• Friendly and approachable personality with strong leadership skills.
• Passion for arts, youth development, and community engagement.

Assets

• Experience coordinating community events, camps, or performances.
• Experience working with youth arts programs or nonprofit organizations.
• Ability to manage schedules and organize teams of volunteers.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 3–5 hours per week, with additional time during camps and showcase events.

• Assist with setting up and running daily activities including games, word games, crafts, social programs, and community outings etc.
• Help prepare activity spaces, including moving furniture and setting up supplies or entertainment areas
• Helping with special events, game nights, clubs, creative and fitness classes, committees, etc.
• Encourage resident participation and social engagement
• Build positive relationships with residents through conversation and companionship
• Demonstrate patience and understanding while working with seniors with varying abilities and needs
• Provide support and encouragement to residents during activities and events
• Work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers
• Help maintain a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all residents
• Assist with cleaning up and organizing activity materials after programs

To apply - please complete the application through the link below:

https://dam.chartwell.com/m/5d5f3dd490d3ce8a/original/volunteer-application-form.pdf 

As a Peer Support Volunteer, you will provide emotional support, empathy, and a listening presence to individuals and families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Drawing from your own lived experience, you’ll offer one-on-one or group-based support, helping others feel seen, heard, and less alone in their grief.

Responsibilities:

• Offer compassionate, non-judgmental support via phone, loss-specific online group, or in-person meetings

• Uphold personal and professional boundaries in all interactions

• Maintain confidentiality and respect each family's unique grief journey

• Participate in ongoing training, reflection, and supervision

• Collaborate with fellow volunteers and staff to ensure safe, inclusive support

Qualifications:

• Personal experience with pregnancy or infant loss (your own or as a close loved one)

• Ability to listen deeply without trying to “fix” or minimize grief

• Willingness to reflect on your own healing process and maintain self-awareness

• Commitment to empathy, inclusivity, and trauma-informed care

Time Commitment: Flexible; typically 2–4 hours per month, with additional time for training and meetings as needed.

COSTI is currently recruiting volunteers for its Community Connections Program to support government-sponsored refugee families arriving in the Greater Toronto Area. Selected volunteers will be matched with a newcomer family to assist in their integration and settlement journey, providing guidance, support, and a welcoming presence as they adapt to their new community.

Duties of Welcome Group volunteers might vary based on the family’s needs, some of which might include  

• Build a positive and trusting relationship with newcomer families 

• Socialize and engage with the newcomer family to help build connections and raise a sense of belonging 

• Provide interpretation support if you speak the same language as the family  

• Escort the newcomer clients to some appointments to help navigate the public transportation system 

• Provide information and share resources based on the family's needs 

• Hold a casual conversation with parents/ adult family members to enhance English skills  

If you are interested, please contact us at nahrin.ojanes@costi.org

The Peer Support Volunteer plays a vital role in providing compassionate, empathetic support to individuals and families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Volunteers offer a listening ear, shared understanding, and companionship on the grief journey, creating a safe space for bereaved individuals to express their feelings, share memories, and receive validation from someone who “gets it.” By joining our team, you’ll help ensure that no one has to grieve alone.

Responsibilities:

• Provide emotional support through one-on-one phone calls, online meetings, or in-person (as appropriate) to individuals who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.
• Listen actively, showing empathy and compassion, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to share their grief.
• Share your own experiences in a supportive and respectful manner, when appropriate, to help normalize and validate the individual’s feelings.
• Support participants in finding resources and encourage self-care practices that align with their unique grief journey.
• Communicate and collaborate with PAIL Network staff, sharing updates as needed while respecting the privacy and confidentiality of participants.
• Complete initial and ongoing training to enhance skills, including workshops on grief, trauma-informed care, and cultural sensitivity.

Qualifications:

• Personal experience with pregnancy or infant loss and a desire to support others going through similar experiences.
• Excellent listening and communication skills, with the ability to provide empathetic, non-judgmental support.
• Respect for confidentiality and boundaries, with an understanding of the importance of privacy in peer support relationships.
• Ability to commit to regular volunteer sessions, showing reliability and consistency.
• Willingness to participate in training, supervision, and support meetings as needed.

Training and Support:

• Comprehensive training on topics such as grief, trauma-informed care, effective communication, and cultural sensitivity.
• Ongoing support from PAIL Network staff and access to additional training opportunities.
• Regular check-ins and debriefing sessions to support volunteers in their role.

If you have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and feel called to support others on their grief journey, we encourage you to apply. By sharing your understanding, compassion, and empathy, you can help ensure that bereaved individuals know they are not alone.