It's been a great new start to the year here at VIRCS, with the return of our great Homework Club Team, Youth Theatre performance, ESL classes, and more! February is also going to be a busy month, especially with our Open House in two weeks, and the beginning of our Income Tax Program at the end of the month.
As well, many programs are changing, with a new, second Homework Club scheduled for March and our Environmental Education program (MEEP) moving into the world of video production.
To learn about all that's going on here at VIRCS, scroll down. If you'd like to learn about one thing in particular, click on the titles below.
This month's updates include:
- Open House 4-6pm on Wednesday, February 17th
- New Homework Club in March
- Great Youth Theatre Performance
- Tutors Needed!
- Income Tax Program - training has begun
- Be-Friends and Family Friendship - Next Group in March
It's time once again for VIRCS' Open House! Last year VIRCS hosted over 300 visitors with great food, activities, and music from around the world. It was a great celebration, and a chance to meet old friends or make new ones.
This year's event will be the third Open House to have Zero Waste! That means we'll need lots of help guiding our guests to properly recycle all of the food, plastics, and paper at the event. As well, we need help guiding guests, decorating, and providing information about VIRCS.
If you would like to come, feel free to invite your friends and family!
If you would like to help out, please contact me to sign up.
New Homework Club in March
VIRCS has a fabulous Homework Club Team this year, and the word has spread to the Victoria School District. The District has asked us to begin a new, second Homework Club beginning in March. This new weekly event will happen in one of our local schools, and be on a different day than our current Homework Club.
Don't worry, we will still run our awesome Homework Club every Tuesday from 4-6pm at VIRCS.
Check back here next month for more details!
Great Youth Theatre Performance
The highlight of January for many of us was the fabulous theatre performance by our Enable Youth group! On January 15th and 16th, the group performed a series of short plays that they wrote as a group based on their own experience.
It was a great and moving performance that demonstrated just how talented and courageous our youth are. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped during this project!
For those of you who missed out, the performance will be available on DVD later this year.
Tutors Needed!
While our Homework Club is full to capacity, we still have many students in need of tutors. These students are in need of help understanding the Canadian school system, improving their written or spoken English, or catching up on a subject after an absence from education. Many of the students cannot attend our weekly Homework Club, but are able to meet at other times during the week, evenings or weekends, and at other places in the city.
One-on-One Tutors are matched with students based on the subjects, grade levels, and times they are comfortable tutoring. Then, they meet once a week for 1-2 hours at a time and place that are convenient for them and their students.
To become a One-on-One Tutor you can:
- Contact me at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x212
- Contact Danny Tes at danny@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x245
- Or come to our weekly orientation at 4pm every Thursday.
It is time again for our Volunteer Income Tax Program! Each year, experienced tax volunteers help clients with low or no incomes file their Income Taxes for free, many for the first time in Canada!
Thanks to the support of Revenue Canada, training and software for the program is provided for free to volunteers. We now have dates for training times from Revenue Canada, and will be ready to see clients starting March 1st.
To become an Income Tax Volunteer, volunteers must already have knowledge of the income tax system in Canada. The training will provide information on changes for the current year, and guide volunteers in using the Revenue Canada software.
To become an Income Tax Volunteer, contact me.
Be-Friends and Family Friendship - Next Group in March
It's time to form new friendships and help someone get started in Victoria with our Be-Friends and Family Friendship Programs! This program matches people who have lived in Victoria for a few years with those new to Canada and the city, based on common interests and hobbies.
There are two groups: Be-Freinds is for adults aged 19-30 years, and Family Friendship is for parents. Volunteers spend 1-2 hours a week doing something fun with their match, and get to attend great bi-weekly group events, which include hikes, picnics, movies, and more!
To become a Be-Friends or Family Friendship Volunteer, contact me at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x212 or Letitia at letitia@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x242.
That's it for this month's Volunteer Bulletin Update! Thank you everyone for volunteering, and I hope to see you all at the Open House!
Best wishes,
Chris Geater
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@vircs.bc.ca
250-361-9433 x212
