A Victoria-based non-profit that provides mental-health support to refugees is looking for volunteer “ambassadors” to help new arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees program will see professionals — retired or current — work with the newcomers.
Counselling centre founder Adrienne Carter patterned the program after ones that were used when she was overseas with Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Centre for Victims of Torture. “It worked extremely well in many different countries,” she said.
Typically, people with backgrounds in education or medicine go into the community to provide new arrivals with peer counselling. Where needed, refugees can be referred to the centre for clinical counselling.
“It’s a community mental-health program,” Carter said.
Ideally, volunteers will speak a second language (Ukrainian or Russian being particularly useful) and have plenty of time to commit. The role is not suitable for people who are already working full time.
The first group of volunteers will receive training May 5-8 at the organization’s offices in Victoria.
Those interested can contact Abeer Smadi at [email protected].
In anticipation of the increased demand, the counselling centre recently received a grant from the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society.
