STUDENTS: Community Action Projects

Community Action Projects (CAPs) are long-term volunteer opportunities with local nonprofit and public sector organizations in the City of Toronto. They are rooted in principles of reciprocity and respectful relationships. Your participation contributes to community-identified priorities and goals. Not only do Community Action Projects allow you to make meaningful contributions to the communities around you, they also allow you to:

gain valuable hands-on experience in a field that interests you and explore careers in the community
develop your communication, time management, leadership and critical thinking skills
explore social dynamics and issues in our city
learn to develop a reflective practice and deepen your understanding of yourself
learn from diverse perspectives and knowledge from all walks of life
build your resume and Co-curricular Record (CCR)

Program Eligibility
How The Program Works
Students will be matched with non-profit and public sector organizations for virtual volunteer opportunities from June to August 2020.

Projects can range from research about impacts of COVID-19 in Toronto, to friendly letter writing to seniors, to social media advocacy and youth mentorship.

We will be responding to non-profit organizations’ requests throughout the summer, so there will be varied opportunities as the program progresses.

How to participate
1. Register for a mandatory virtual orientation under Program Registration. All students will participate in this 90-minute preparatory training workshop on equity and anti-oppressive approaches to community engagement before they are matched with an organization.
2. Volunteer with the community partner. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to join informal, bi-monthly check-ins with fellow students and CCP staff to talk about their volunteer work.
3. Attend a celebratory celebratory reflection event where you can share and discuss your work over the summer.
In order to earn CCR recognition, you must complete all three steps.
Program Registration
Virtual orientations

Register on the CLNx at the links below.
Considerations & Exceptions

Project hours and availability will vary for each organization, and you will be encouraged to set up your schedule with your volunteer supervisor. Organizations can propose one-off projects and/or summer-long commitments.

We encourage students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and experiences to participate in the program, but we cannot guarantee you will be matched with a project in your field. We will do our best to match your interests with your volunteer opportunity. Some opportunities may require a Vulnerable Sector Screening or specific language requirements.

We are following public health guidelines for social distancing, so all volunteer opportunities will be offered remotely. You do not need to be living in Toronto to volunteer in the Community Action Projects program. Please indicate if you are living in a different time zone, and staff at the CCP and your volunteer organization will do our best to accommodate you.

You may need a computer or stable internet for many of the volunteer opportunities, but we hope to support a range of efforts across the city that will not require computer or internet access.

Please get in touch with Catie Thompson at catie.thompson@utoronto.ca with any questions or concerns about this opportunity.
What Students Are Saying

RATE
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2 votes

I was able to improve my communication and interpersonal skills because I was working closely with students, volunteers, administrators, and facilitators. I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of valuing other people's lived experiences… and I improved my ability to work with children in a manner that respects everyone's viewpoints and became better at incorporating individuals who appear disengaged into the group.

Aman