Volunteering

• Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer Form
• Volunteer Responsibilities

Community involvement is the key to enabling SAWERA to provide key services and programs to women and children (DV Victims) in need throughout Portland. These needs are a community issue…a quality of life issue for everyone, and there is no better way for an individual or group to help address the issue than by giving a little bit of themselves to our common cause. We’ve made volunteering easy! Whether you’d like to work in a classroom, cook or serve a meal, adopt a program, sort or deliver donated food or help us in the office, we have a place for you at SAWERA. Let us know your talents, interests and availability and we’ll find the perfect spot for you.

You can join us in our efforts to help those in need. SAWERA needs and welcomes new members and supporters. Please complete the Membership Application Form if you would like to volunteer.

How you can help. There are many ways you can get involved…

• Do you have a car? Help provide rides for clients in need
• Are you good with children? Come provide child-care for clients with court or counseling appointments, or who simply need some time to themselves to help in the healing process
• Do you have strong writing skills? Use your talents to help us write grant proposals or articles on domestic violence and women’s empowerment
• Are you good at administrative work? Help us with mailings, accounts, and office organization
• Do you speak a South Asian language? Help clients who need interpreters for various appointments
• Do you read and write a South Asian language? Help translate our outreach materials into a variety of languages
• Is teaching your forte? Help us conduct presentations and workshops to educate the local community about domestic violence
• Are you good at organizing? Help us put together fund-raisers and outreach booths at community events
• Do you have public relations skills? Help us build connections with newspapers, magazines, and radio and television stations to spread the word about SAWERA and ensure coverage of SAWERA events
• What are your ideas? Be creative. You can design and implement your own project to help further SAWERA’s cause

Volunteer Training

New volunteers are invited to visit or call our office and speak with our Volunteer Coordinator. We will work with you to find projects and programs that interest you and make the most of your skills and talents. For volunteers interested in working with clients, we offer additional training in basic domestic violence, culturally-specific issues for South Asians affected by family violence, and client advocacy.

Buddy system

We make it easier for you to get involved by pairing you up with a current active volunteer who will keep you informed of SAWERA’s activities and offer you guidance and support in the work you do.

Volunteer Library Access

SAWERA maintains a library of relevant books, video and audio cassettes. Volunteers are encouraged to use them and refer to clients.

Ready to volunteer with SAWERA?

Please fill in the Membership Application Form and our volunteer-coordinator will contact you. Thank you.