How you can help as a Retired Teacher

RTAM has recently partnered with several groups across the province in recent months, in an effort to support the crisis in Ukraine and the incoming refugees and immigrants coming from their country and surounding areas in Eastern Europe. Please take a look at the partnerships listed below. All of our new partners are looking for retired teachers to sign up as volunteers and help with support programs or classes being offered for newcomers.

NEEDS Winnipeg is one of the first stops for incoming Ukrainians to the province's capital city. They will work with Ukrainians who are being offered permanent homes in Winnipeg.

Website: N.E.E.D.S. Inc. – Accessible Services to Newcomer Children and Youth (needsinc.ca)

Contact: Kirby Borgardt, Director of Operations & Settlement Workers in Schools (e) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (p) (204) 940-1271

MANSO is similar to NEEDS Winnipeg, and is a first stop for many incoming Ukrainians. However, MANSO helps those who call towns and municipalities outside Winnipeg their home. MANSO ensures that all Ukrainians around the province are offered support and connected with a support system when they arrive.

Website: Homepage - MANSO (mansomanitoba.ca)

Contact: Emily Halldorson, Ukraine Response Coordinator (e) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (p) (204) 272-0875

Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural & Education Centre, is home to newcomer programs. Oseredok currently offers limited daytime programs for newcomers, but due to limited staff and resources cannot meet the demand for additional classes or evening classes. RTAM is hoping our retired teachers within the city of Winnipeg will sign up as teachers for these programs and help Oseredok and their team deliver more support to the Ukrainian community. If you are interested in helping teach newcomers, please reach out today.

Website: Volunteer | Oseredok 

Contact: Yulia Zmerzla, Executive Director (e) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (p) (204)942-0218

Ukrainian Canadian Congress is a large community and organization with membership and services throughout Canada. They are an integral part of helping Ukrainians as they come to Manitoba to begin new chapters and lives. Please see the list of volunteer needs below.

Volunteer Oportunity #1 - UCC Manitoba Welcome Desk (James Richardson Airport)

UCC Manitoba operates a Welcome Desk for the Ukrainian newcomers arriving in Winnipeg by air. The Desk operates between 8:30 a.m. and midnight seven days a week.

The primary role of the Desk is to meet and greet the newcomers and to help them access the hotels which are provided by the provincial government. Volunteers are asked to sign up for two hour shifts.

Duties: greet newcomers, provide orientation booklet and other printed material, register arrivals in Desk Log Book, contact hotel to ensure room availability, order hotel shuttle, answer general questions to the best of ability.

Training and orientation is provided. Validated parking is available for the volunteers. Supervision and support via telephone available throughout the shift.

Language requirement: While Ukrainian language is an asset, it is not essential. Ukrainian speaking volunteer

Those interested can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volunteer Oportunity #2 - UCC-MPC Mentor Program

The UCC-MPC Mentor Program matches Canadian mentors with a newcomer Ukrainian family who has requested support from a mentor.

Duties: Mentors will meet, stay-in-touch, and may be asked to assist newcomers with navigating various day to day tasks including but not limited to:
• Connecting newcomers with the Provincial Reception Hub where newcomers can apply for their SIN, MB Health Card, MB Start and connect to other settlement services for employment, housing and financial support.
• Helping with setting up a bank account.
• Helping to enroll any children in school or daycare.
• Mobile phone plans / SIM card setup.
• Apartment set-up (helping to find furniture and household donations)

Mentors will be their support system, guide, driver, and most importantly a friend to lean on. Mentors will not be responsible for housing newcomers.

Time commitment: 3-5 hours per week for approximately 1-3 months. As a mentor you may develop a longer-term relationship with the family although this is not required.

Orientation: Mentors are provided with a list of resources to assist them. The Mentor Program Coordinator is also available to answer questions.

Language requirements: English. Mentors do not have to speak Ukrainian although google translate may be needed.

Other: Use of a vehicle is important. Those interested can complete the google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfil6Sp1VdgT9LGo4PzXVqyx6nihun93P9toK0IGhjl3ZBddw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Volunteer Oportunity #3 - Best Western Reception Hub – UCC Community Table

The Reception Hub is located at the Best Western Airport Hotel at 1715 Wellington. Various services are on site at the ‘one-stop-shop’ for Ukrainian newcomers. This includes Service Canada, Manitoba Health, Public Health, Manitoba Start, New Journey Housing, Immigrant Centre, NEEDS Inc. and UCC-MPC Community volunteer table.

Duties: Be a 'friendly welcoming presence' at the Hub in the first language of people arriving. This may include showing them around to the various services in the room, making connections to these services and providing limited language assistance. Answering questions that may arise about navigating community services. Signing people up for daily van shuttle services and community excursions. Providing resources and ‘giveaways’ (ex: SIM cards, adaptors, bus tickets).

Time commitment: The Reception Hub is open Monday to Friday 9 – 5 (closed stat holidays) Volunteer shifts are 10 am – 1 pm or 1 pm-4 pm.

Orientation: Orientation information is provided to volunteers via email. Volunteer coordinator is available to answer questions or help problem solve.

Language requirements: Volunteers must be able to converse comfortably in English and Ukrainian.

Interested individuals can fill out the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DWT2JPB

Volunteer Oportunity #3 - UNF Newcomer Help Center - 935 Main Street

In conjunction with UCC Manitoba, the Ukrainian National Federation Winnipeg Branch operates a newcomer Help Center which distributes donated clothing, household items and non-perishable food. It also serves as a clearinghouse for information on settlement services and community opportunities.

Duties could include sorting donated items, helping newcomers select items, providing very basic low-level advice on settlement questions and generally being helpful to clients who visit the center.

Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Language requirement: Ideal for a volunteer with limited or no Ukrainian language. Paired with Ukrainian speakers.

Those interested can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.