Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo

CULTURE KITCHEN

The Culture Kitchen celebrates cultural diversity through cooking and shared meals. Join interactive sessions featuring cuisines from around the world, promoting healthy cooking, nutrition education, and food safety. Participants explore new recipes, share cultural traditions, and learn budget-friendly cooking tips. Volunteers co-create menus, highlighting foods of cultural significance.

PURPOSE

This position is an excellent opportunity to make a positive impact on the community by helping individuals and families explore diverse cuisines, develop essential cooking skills, and build cultural awareness.

BENEFITS TO VOLUNTEER

• Gain experience in program facilitation and community engagement. • Support efforts to reduce food insecurity and promote community well-being. • Work in a diverse and inclusive environment. • Share your culture and culinary traditions with the community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Culture Kitchen Volunteer, you play a key role in creating a meaningful and engaging experience that celebrates cultural diversity and promotes healthy cooking practices. Your responsibilities may include:

1. Cultural Sharing and Engagement
• Collaborate with program staff and participants to co-create menus featuring diverse cultural foods and recipes.
• Share information about your culture, including traditions, customs, and the significance of the recipes you'll be helping to prepare.
• Deliver a 15–25-minute PowerPoint presentation on your culture, followed by a 5–10-minute Q&A session. Support is available for creating your presentation.
2. Interactive Cooking
• Guide participants through hands-on cooking, ensuring everyone is engaged in preparing one appetizer (30 minutes), one main course (30 minutes), and a dessert (either prepared or store-bought, depending on the difficulty of other recipes).
3. Cultural Insights

Share meaningful aspects of your culture by exploring topics such as:

• Language
• Family dynamics and values
• Traditions, beliefs, and practices
• Religious customs
• Arts and literature
• Popular sports or national pastimes
• Holidays and celebrations
• Music and dance
• Clothing and fashion
• Leisure activities, storytelling, and daily life traditions

Culture Kitchen is a fantastic opportunity to share your traditions, introduce authentic recipes, and build connections within the community. We’re excited to learn from you!

QUALIFICATIONS /REQUIRED SKILLS

• Ability to work effectively with culturally and economically diverse individuals, while accommodating a wide range of abilities. Demonstrate commitment to fostering equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Must complete a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check.

SUPERVISION

1. Each volunteer will be assigned a staff supervisor.
2. The staff super supervisor or another designated staff will be available (either in person or by phone) if a question or issue arises.

ORIENTATION/TRAINING

1. Complete the Volunteer Application Form.
2. Volunteers are required to submit the following before beginning their position: Vulnerable Sector Police Check, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, 2 References.
3. Complete orientation training modules and read required policies. Approximately 5 hours will be required to complete this training.

EVALUATION

1. Volunteers receive ongoing performance feedback from their staff supervisor and/or volunteer coordinator. Volunteers can provide and request feedback as required.
2. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in an annual volunteer experience survey.

TIME COMMITMENT, REQUIRED HOURS & LOCATION

Time Commitment: 1 month-currently recruiting volunteers for 2026

Required Hours: Monday from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, once a month

Location: 44 Francis Street South, Kitchener