Companion Volunteer Training
No matter who you are, or what your personality, one of humanity’s most basic but essential needs is to feel connected to other people. It’s something we often don’t appreciate the value of until we feel the sting of loneliness and isolation.
When refugee families move into a Sydney suburb, they have significant barriers to overcome in language, culture and social structure. How to connect with the bustling community around them is a bewildering and overwhelming puzzle for most.
Sydney Refugee Team knows the importance of friendship with refugee families to help them make sense of our confusing Sydney society. Companionship can make the difference between achieving a sense of belonging, or not.
Sydney Refugee Team Companions are local couples and individuals who are willing and available to regularly visit one refugee family. Visitation helps break down barriers of isolation as English is practiced in a non-threatening environment and easy-going conversation. Fear of the unknown is reduced by having someone for company when going shopping or to an appointment. The offer of authentic friendship helps create a safe environment for refugee families. Our refugee and asylum seeker friends are freed to more easily embrace a new life looking forwards to a positive future.
This Companion Volunteer Training prepares you to share the hope of Jesus in the context of friendship with a refugee family. It helps you to understand the experience of refugees and why we believe God calls us to reach out to them in love. It helps you to understand the role of a Companion and other ways you may choose to volunteer with Sydney Refugee Team.
Please note that a Sharing Jesus' Hope with Refugees workshop is a pre-requisite.
Dates
Thursdays 11 AND 25 August 2022. 6.30pm-9.30pm.
Note: Attendance at both sessions is required.
Venue
River's Edge Church
7/2 Holker St
Newington
Contact Details
Further Information
Currently the primary role for Sydney Refugee Team Companion is to be matched with a refugee or refugee family and visit regularly. We suggest visiting a minimum of once a fortnight with a commitment of at least one year.
You are also welcome participate in many of our regular activities.
All volunteers must complete an application at completion of training. The application includes two referees, a NSW Working With Children Check and a Police Name Check.
Sydney Refugee Team is a project of WEC Hope Ltd, a PBI Company of WEC International.
We are a Christian mission organisation committed to sharing the hope of Jesus with people seeking asylum and refuge.