STUDENTS: Community Action Projects

Community Action Projects (CAPs) are remote volunteer opportunities with local non-profit and public sector organizations in the City of Toronto. They are rooted in principles of reciprocity and respectful relationships. Projects for CAPs respond to community-identified priorities and goals, so you can make meaningful contributions to the communities around you and gain valuable hands-on experience.

Volunteering with non-profit and public sector organizations allows you to:

explore careers in the community
develop your communication, time management, leadership and critical thinking skills
deepen your understanding of the social dynamics and issues in our city
develop a critical reflective practice and deepen your understanding of yourself
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 for either a fall term (October – December) or full-year (October – April) commitment.

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

How to participate
1. Register for a mandatory virtual orientation on CLNx under Program Registration below. 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 a community partner organization, arranged by the CCP. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to join informal, monthly check-ins with fellow students and CCP staff to talk about their volunteer work.
3. Check in monthly with your CCP staff liaison.
4. 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 four steps.
Program Registration
Register for ONE of the following orientation dates on CLNx to learn more about the program and how to be matched with a community organization:
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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4 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