MORSL’s Peer Faith Volunteer program is designed for McGill undergraduate and graduate students to enhance their involvement with their faith or spiritual life through peer support. As a team, Peer Faith Volunteers will provide empathetic support and community connection for students for whom faith and spirituality matter. Ultimately, volunteers, as individuals and as a team, will be trusted conversation partners and active community members who are interested in bridging the gap between spiritual and student life.
Additionally, volunteers will participate in multi-faith education and conversation as a volunteer cohort and as representatives of MORSL. Our ideal candidate for this position is comfortable with many types of conversations, from the distressing to the mundane aspects of student life. Importantly, as individuals and as a team, volunteers will be trained on how best to respond to heavy or difficult scenarios. Due to the nature of the program, volunteers should be open to discussing topics such as suicide, sexual assault, and discrimination.
We put out a call for applicants during Aug.-Sep. each year and train new volunteers each fall. Watch our Instagram or linktree for details about the next callout.
Qualifications
- McGill student involved in faith or spiritual life (including secular spirituality) on or off campus
- Eager to communicate and learn from other peer supporters and faith perspectives
- Interested in honing skills such as active listening, resource referral, cross-cultural literacy and understanding
- Open-minded attitude regarding diverse interpretations of faith and spiritual practice; passionate about multi-faith education and collaboration
- Desire to give back to their community at McGill and beyond
- The applicant must be in essential agreement with MORSL’s purpose
- The applicant must demonstrate the professionalism and maturity necessary to work in a secular student services context and respond to the needs of a diverse student community
- Experience with spiritual guidance, multi-faith education, and/or mental health are assets
Expectations
- One-year academic year commitment to the cohort is required
- Commitment to 3-5 hours of volunteer-related activity per month (including trainings, cohort events, peer support sessions, tabling, one-on-one check-ins, social events, interfaith activities)
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours of initial volunteer training including mandatory Peer Faith Volunteer orientation + training (time and date TBD)
- Respond in an efficient and timely manner to one-on-one appointment bookings with peers
- Attend scheduled one-on-one meeting with MORSL staff once per semester to check in on cohort progress and development
- Complete short questionnaire after peer support one-on-one
- Regularly communicate capacity to MORSL staff
- Participate in related MORSL volunteer cohort social programming and outreach (tabling, meet and greets, panels)
- Respect diversity in faith perspectives and interpretations
- Act as a positive mentor for new volunteers.
