Organization Policies
Volunteer Characteristics:
What we are seeking in volunteers:
- Positive attitude towards and an understanding of LGBTQI+ individuals, recognizing their right to thrive here in Canada and have access to supports and unbiased, accurate information .
- Reliability, flexibility, and open-mindedness.
- Value confidentiality and respecting privacy.
- Willingness to discuss or hear difficult topics related to SOGIESC persecution and handle them with sensitivity and confidentiality.
- Familiarity with or eagerness to learn about immigration issues.
- Self-awareness and diverse life experiences that promote understanding of and respect for various perspectives and all identities.
- A strong commitment to anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and anti-oppression principles.
- Understanding of anti-colonial perspectives and dedication to addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism on marginalized communities.
- A sincere willingness to be in solidarity with refugees, rather than ‘helping’ or ‘saving’ refugees, and a willingness to learn when we fall short of this objective.
We appreciate your consideration of these qualities and perspectives in our volunteers.
Screnning Process
Application Form:
If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form located at the bottom of the page. Depending on your needs, the Volunteer Coordinator can also provide the form via email.
Completing this form is the first step to becoming a volunteer candidate, ensuring that Rainbow Refugee can understand your interests and match you with suitable opportunities.
Interview Process
- Category A Volunteers. No initial interview is required for Category A Volunteers as you will not have direct contact with members. However, if you express interest in other volunteer categories, interviews may be conducted.
- Categories B and C Volunteers. Interviews are conducted for positions in Categories B and C due to the level of interaction with members. Reference or criminal record checks may be required for some volunteer positions.
- Interview Purpose Questions are designed to assess skills, competencies, and relevant experience related to role responsibilities. A phone or online video call interview may be the only round, depending on the role's requirements.
References
References may be requested at any time, but candidates must provide consent to contact references. References will not be contacted until the final stage of the screening process and must be contacted by staff for the candidate who has been tentatively selected for the role.
Rainbow Refugee recommends the use and selection of the following as acceptable references:
- At least one person who has served in a supervisory capacity with the volunteer in paid or unpaid settings.
- At least one person who knows the volunteer personally and can vouch for their experience as listed.
- Additional references based on the level of risk in the role.
- Partners, spouses, family members and a volunteer’s medical professionals may not be used as references.
Next Steps:
Supervisors will determine the timeline for the screening process if a second or third interview is required. Any additional requests from volunteers will be equitable to all candidates of this stage in the screening process.
Accepted Volunteers:
Once your application is approved, you will have the opportunity to contribute to volunteer position A. If you want to participate in additional positions, you must attend an orientation session and fulfill any required training prior to commencing the volunteer activities.
Declined Volunteers:
We value fairness, transparency, and confidentiality in all aspects of the volunteer application process. We carefully assess each applicant to determine whether they meet the organization's requirements and align with the needs of the volunteer program.
If we determine that an applicant is not a suitable fit for the organization or that there are too many volunteers for the available positions, we will notify them of the decision in a respectful manner, usually through email or a phone call.
There might be several reasons why a volunteer application is not accepted. Some of these reasons include:
- Limited Capacity. We may have a finite capacity to accommodate volunteers at a given time, and the available positions might already be filled.
- Skills Mismatch. The applicant's skills and experience might not align with the specific needs of the volunteer program or role.
- Position Availability. The desired volunteer position may not be currently available due to organizational changes or shifts in priorities.
- Experience Gap. The applicant might lack the necessary experience or qualifications required for the role they applied for.
- Overqualified. In some cases, an applicant might be deemed overqualified for the available positions, making them more suited for a different level of engagement.
- Unavailability. If the applicant's schedule or availability does not match the required commitment for the volunteer position.
- Position Competition. There might be a high number of applicants for a particular role, making the selection process highly competitive.
- Specific Requirements. Certain roles might have specific prerequisites or requirements that the applicant does not meet.
- Geographical Constraints. The applicant's location might be a limiting factor if the organization operates in a specific region.
- Communication Skills. For roles that involve interactions with diverse groups, strong communication skills might be a key consideration.
- Commitment Level. The applicant's demonstrated commitment or understanding of the organization's goals might not meet expectations.
- Long-Term vs. Short-Term. The organization might be looking for volunteers committed to a longer-term engagement, while the applicant seeks a short-term role.
- Availability of Resources. The organization might lack the resources, time, or training necessary to onboard and support new volunteers effectively.
Please note that these reasons may vary depending on nature of our volunteer opportunities.
