Volunteer FAQs

 
  • Through Learning Buddies Network, you will have the opportunity to work directly with a child and develop a supportive mentoring relationship to foster the child’s learning, self –esteem and attitude towards schoolwork.. You will develop skills in planning, communicating and in nurturing a child, and in how to be a role model to a young child. You will develop valuable tutoring experience. Perhaps the most important reason to join our tutoring team, however, is the satisfaction you can feel in making a difference in a child’s life.

  • If you are excited about the prospect of helping children, and speak English fluently, you are qualified to join us! We will provide a comprehensive training program as well as the teaching materials you will need in order to be successful. We welcome all volunteers!

  • Our volunteers are recruited from high schools (grade 10-12), universities and colleges. Some volunteer mentors are also recent alumni/graduates. If you are a senior high school student or a university student looking for a meaningful volunteer experience we are looking for you to join us!

  • Volunteering at Learning Buddies Network will satisfy your high school hour requirements, Duke of Edinburgh as well as volunteer experience for University applications. We will not only sign off on your service hours but provide a detailed letter outlining the nature of your volunteer work.

  • The first step is to fill out our application form. Once you have done so, a member of our Learning Buddies Network team will interview you. If you are selected to be a volunteer, you will then go through training and will be matched with a school and student.

  • All tutors must attend all of the sessions of the program, except in exceptional circumstances. Please remember that without notice of illness or other commitments in advance, your buddy cannot be accommodated with a substitute mentor and will have to be sent home with disappointment.

  • Training is done asynchronously and takes 1-2 hours.

LBN volunteers have reported gaining teaching/tutoring/mentoring, communication, problem-solving, organization, leadership, and time management skills.

Think about it…

Regardless of what stage you are in your education, we hope you will join us and stay with us for the remainder of your years as a student. Each year as a mentor you will become more skilled and helpful to a child. You will have the opportunity to be a coordinator at your own site for one or more years. Experienced mentors and coordinators develop a wealth of experience and contribute valuable ideas that we seek and incorporate into our programme structure. The longer you are involved with our organization, the more ways you will contribute and feel a part of it.

If you have any additional questions, please send an email to julia@learningbuddiesnetwork.com and we well be happy to help answer them!