These are some examples of volunteer roles available at CVT. Please visit the main Volunteer page for more information.

Client Services

Befriender
A befriender enters into a long-term relationship (usually a minimum of 6 months) with a client. Activities depend upon the needs of the client, the interests of the two people, and the time available, but “presence” is the keystone of this role. The volunteer may accompany the client to social service agencies, legal or health care appointments, etc. In these situations, the befriender may become an advocate (see description below) for the client. The client and volunteer may enjoy social activities such as walks, museums, concerts, or restaurants, with an emphasis on free or low-cost activities.
(Time commitment: approximately 2 hours per week, depending on the needs and schedules of client and volunteer; may not meet every week.)

English Language Learning Tutors
Volunteers who tutor clients in English must complete an approved ESL tutor training program and use the methods learned to teach English to clients. Tutors work with individual clients or small groups of clients.
(Time commitment: approximately 2 hours per week, depending on the needs and schedules of client and volunteer; may not meet every week.)

Donations and moving volunteers
Occasionally we need volunteers with vans or trucks to transport donated furniture to a client’s home or to assist clients who are moving.
(Time commitment: 2-8 hours per move; infrequent.)

Drivers for clients
We need volunteers to drive clients to appointments (usually at CVT, but sometimes to offsite medical appointments) during weekday and early evening hours. It is often difficult for clients to get to important clinical appointments because they might be unfamiliar with the community or bus system, live far from the appointment location or have language issues. Volunteer drivers are crucial to client care. Some clients have an occasional need for transportation and others have weekly appointments. We try to provide consistency when assigning drivers.
(Time commitment: 4 hours a month or more.)

Bus guides
Bus guides assist clients with learning the bus system to promote their independence and navigate the community. Volunteers may need to research bus routes.
(Time commitment: 6-18 hours per client over a month or two.)

Organizational Support Volunteer Roles

Graphic and Web Design
CVT uses Web and graphic design volunteers for various projects, including tactical notebooks for the New Tactics in Human Rights Project. The time commitment varies depending on each project.

Office assistance
Various programs at CVT need office assistance including data entry, filing, telephoning, mailings, conference material preparation, etc.
(Time commitment: a few hours once a year, once a month, or once a week.)

Speakers Bureau
Volunteer speakers talk to various community groups about CVT’s work and set up and staff information tables at human rights-related events. Volunteer speakers educate the public about CVT’s mission, our community’s responsibility to welcome, protect and heal torture survivors, and generate support for CVT’s work.
(Time commitment: a few hours once a year, once a month, or more)

Gardeners
CVT has a lovely Garden of Healing which serves as a peaceful spot for clients, visitors, and staff to rest and reflect. The garden symbolizes our mission: hope, healing and renewal. Volunteers maintain this garden from spring through the fall – cleaning it up in the spring, mulching, watering, weeding, deadheading, planting and putting the garden to bed come fall.
(Time commitment: 2 or more hours per month, April through September)