A volunteer opportunity that makes a real impact on your local community. If you have a passion for connecting people and creating a welcoming Australia this project could be for you!
The Welcome Dinner Project is launching in Canberra very soon and to get things off the ground we need a team of volunteers who help facilitate the dinners. There’s a training day for people interested in becoming a Welcome Dinner Facilitator coming up on Sunday 26th July from 10:30am-4pm in Canberra in the city centre. Full details about the location, what to expect and to bring will be sent out to people who register for the training.
What is The Welcome Dinner Project?
The Welcome Dinner Project connects newly arrived people with established Australians over pot-luck dinners in local homes. It all began in March 2013 and since then the initiative has taken off right around the country. Watch this video to see the dinners in action: https://www.youtube.
What do Welcome Dinner Facilitators do?
The Welcome Dinner Project relies on volunteer Welcome Dinner Project facilitators to create successful experiences where people come together across cultures over a shared meal. The volunteer Welcome Dinner Project facilitator plays a key role in ensuring the effectiveness of this project by creating a safe, welcoming and comfortable environment. At every dinner, two facilitators hold a space for all participants to be able to bring something to the table through a series of ritualised activities and helps to get interaction flowing between Welcome Dinner hosts and attendees.
What’s involved?
You will need to complete the 1-Day Welcome Dinner Facilitator training workshop run by joiningthedots. After successful completion of the training you will assist a lead facilitator to facilitate Welcome Dinners until you are ready to step into the lead facilitator role yourself. The date and time of each Welcome Dinner is determined by the Welcome Dinner hosts and attendees in conjunction with the availability of the facilitators. Dinners usually begin in the evening between 6pm and 7pm and conclude by 8pm-9pm, although some prefer to have a lunchtime gathering.
How much time is expected?
After completing your Welcome Dinner Facilitator training we ask that you commit to facilitating approximately one Welcome Dinner every 2 or 3 months, depending on how many are organised in the region you are assigned as well as attending shorter supplementary trainings and facilitator catch ups several times a year. You are also invited to assist with promotions, for example reaching out to local English classes and help where possible with preparations in the lead up to dinners you’re facilitating.
APPLY HERE ( by Friday 17 July) or send an expression of interest to admin@joiningthedots.org