Welcoming The Stranger home > Mentor

Interested in becoming a WTS volunteer?

Please read on for a basic description and common questions, and when you’re ready apply here.

Who are our volunteers?

They may be American-born, or they may have immigrated to the US several years ago.

They all speak English, some speak other languages as well (basic French and Spanish are most common).

They are excited to form cross-cultural friendships and they are committed to making Greater Portland a welcoming and inclusive multicultural community.

They commit to spend a couple hours each week building the relationship and assisting where they can.

What kinds of things do volunteers offer?

• rides to appointments or errands

• fun activities in the area such as parks, Children's Museum, the beach, community events

• a chance to practice English or ask questions about American culture

• assistance in finding and accessing resources, such as school registration, social services, food banks, clothing, legal resources, furniture, etc.

• assistance with logistical tasks that require strong English such as phone calls, applications, sorting and understanding mail

Who are our program participants?

They have come to Maine recently with the intention of seeking asylum. Some are single adults, many are families.

Most come from central and east African countries (DRC, Angola, and Rwanda are most common), but we represent a total of 27 countries on 4 continents.

Most are English language-learners who speak basic conversation-level English, though some speak English fluently, and others are brand new to English.

They are excited to form cross-cultural friendships, get to know their new community, and join in making Greater Portland a welcoming and inclusive multicultural community.

What qualifications does a volunteer need? 

• Commit 2 hours per week for at least three months, with a little flexibility in your schedule. For example, if you can only meet on weekends, but most weekend times are flexible, and you can respond to text messages in between, that works great. But if your only availability is 1-4pm on Thursday, that probably won’t work in building friendship with someone from a culture less rooted in scheduling. 

• Smart phone access is strongly preferred. Most program participants communicate mainly through WhatsApp or text messages rather than phone calls or emails. Translation apps like Google Translate or Say Hi are a big help too!

• Willingness to navigate a language barrier, by speaking slowly and clearly and being patient with misunderstandings. Fluency in languages other than English is not required, but volunteers who know some French or Portuguese make use of it!

• Experience navigating cultural differences or a strong motivation to learn. This means having patience, making the most generous interpretation of confusing interactions, and being willing to examine your own biases and assumptions.

I think I want to be a volunteer mentor! Now what? 

Fill out an application here. The application is NOT a commitment to volunteer, it’s just the first step.

After you apply, we’ll schedule a Zoom info session where you can learn more about the program, ask any questions you have, and figure out if the program is a good fit for you.