V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  

V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  

Brief  Introduction  

V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  is  a  registered  non-­‐profit  organization  that  

builds   connection   between   international   students   and   local   communities   by   leading  

volunteer  work  to  help  these  students  to  overcome  issues  relating  to  cultural  differences,  

such  as  language,  values,  and  social  expectations.  We  developed  from  V-­‐Care  Society  at  

Dalhousie  University   that   started   since  May  2013.  Until   now,  we  have  more   than  140  

volunteer  members.  

Background  

Halifax   has   a   continuing   rising   population   of   young   people   from   other   countries  who  

have  been  educated  and  have  strong  interest  to  involve  in  local  community.  But  they  are  

also   struggling   with   language   barrier,   limited   access   and   lacking   professional   help   to  

fully   participate   in   local   community.   On   the   other   side,   government   and   other   social  

service   sections   have   strong   desire   to   get   more   people   who   have   international  

background   and   multi-­‐culture   perspective   to   involve   in   serving   this   more   and   more  

diverse  local  community.    

  As   a   result,   bridging   the   gap   between   the   need   of   recruiting   enough   qualified  

volunteers  who  have   international  background  and  barriers   for   international   students  

to   get   participated   in   local   community   is   significant   and  will  make   a   huge   difference.  

V-Care International student success society is focusing on encouraging international students

participates in local community and helping international students get access and prepared to

participate in local community through volunteer work.  

Volunteer Work

There two types of volunteer program: long-term volunteer program and one-time events. We

organize and lead our own volunteer groups participating in these programs. In the past year, we

contributed 744 volunteer hours to local community in total.

1. Long-term Programs

(1) Keshen Goodman Public Library

We have been involved in programs such as Women’s Conversation Group, Men’s Conversation

 V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  

Group, Computer Class, Taiji Class, and Weaving Together. We have 14 volunteers participated

in this program. Our volunteers have contributed 436 volunteer hours in this program.

(2) Northwood Inc.

Northwood Inc. is a famous nursing home in Halifax. Our 7

volunteers played the role as friendly visitor accompanying old

people in this program. We have contributed 98 volunteer

hours there.

(3) Pier 21

Pier  21  is  the  last  surviving  seaport  immigration  facility  

in   Canada.   Our   6   volunteers   spent   50   hours   there  

helping  translate  documents.  

2.  One-­‐time  Events  

We  have  got   involved   in  volunteer  work   in  10  organizations,  Canadian  Cancer  Society,  

Canada  Revenue  Agency,   Salvation  Army,   Clean  NS,   Theater  NS,   Feed  NS,  Nocturne   at  

night,  Doors  open  Halifax,  Jazz  Festival,  and  Urban  farm.  

 

Interesting  Activities  Organized  by  V-­‐Care  Society  (View  photo  in  Appendix  B)  

1. “Save  your  Captain”  City  Exploration  Summer  Events  

To   encourage   International   Students   and   the   local   community   to   increase   their  

understanding   of   each   other   and   promote   local   culture,   we   host   this   summer   event,  

which   is   similar   to   Amazing   Race.   Three   teams   go   through   a   particulate   route,  which  

consists   of   5   famous   places   in   Halifax,   and   finish   tasks.   Including   volunteers   and  

 V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  

participants,  39  international  students  participated  in  this  event.  This  event  got  support  

from  several  local  business  owners  and  public  sectors.  

 

2. Workshops  

We   have   host   4   workshops   for   international   students   including   “Immigration  

Information   Session”,   “Job   Finding   Strategy”,   “Job   Fair   Information   Session”,   and  

“Volunteer  Culture”.  

Prize  for  wining  team  and  planning  group:  tour  to  Irving  Inc.  

 V-­‐Care  International  Student  Success  Society  

 

3. Other  Activities  

We   also   have   different   interesting   activities   for   our   members,   such   as   BBQ   party,  

Homemade  Sushi  Party,  and  Karaoke  Night.  We  also  offered   tax  return  support   to  our  

members.  

 

Future  Plan  

To   improve   the   quality   of   the   service  we   offer   to   local   community,  we  have   started   a  

training  program  for  our  volunteers.  This  training  program  ensures  that  our  volunteers  

are  qualified  and  that  our  volunteers  learn  more  efficient  from  volunteer  work  they  do.