Volunteering at Raksha:

All Raksha volunteers must first attend a volunteer orientation, which are held twice a year.  
The next volunteer orientation has not yet been announced--Stay tuned!!
For more information, please contact volunteer@raksha.org

Our prevention and organizing initiatives need many community volunteers, who are impassioned and downright obsessed about ending violence in the community through issue-based organizing and outreach.  Raksha relies on the leadership of its volunteers, and many of Raksha's programs are volunteer driven.

Raksha gives South Asians - young and old, male and female - the opportunity to develop and lead projects. Raksha's empowerment philosophy is an integral part of the organizational structure. The volunteers, clients, and the community have a voice in leading and directing the organization. The leadership opportunities empower volunteers within the organization and in their own lives help develop a sense of community among volunteers and supporters.

Volunteers Can Get Involved in a Number of Ways!

• Serve on a volunteer committee, joining other volunteers working on a specific project or issue
• Organize a workshop or chaihouse aimed at addressing a community issue or educational need
• Plan and orchestrate a fundraiser to benefit Raksha and support its social service programs
• Donate your professional services to Raksha clients, including legal, medical, dental, mental health, translation, and/or other assistance
• Attend and support Raksha events
• Spread the word about Raksha to potential clients, volunteers and/or community supporters

Raksha’s Committees

Raksha has seven standing committees, each with its own set of requirements, tasks, and volunteer needs.  

--Peer Support
--SAHARA (South Asian HIV/AIDS Resource of Atlanta)
--Breaking the Silence Project
--Ek Shaam
--Youth Mentoring Program
--Volunteer Management

Below, please see descriptions of the Levels of Commitment for Volunteers.  Before getting involved with a committee, it is usually best to ensure that you have the time and resources to stay involved. Levels of Commitment for Volunteer Committees
                                                     
Peer Support—Mission: The Peer Support Committee assists staff with client related tasks. Clients will range from domestic violence survivors to the elderly. Volunteers are assigned clients according to their available volunteer hours.

Meetings: Regularly scheduled meetings each month on the 2nd Tuesday.

Tasks:

• Buddy (providing emotional support to a variety of clients)
• Assisting clients with housing, job searches, advocacy, etc.
• Assisting with support group logistics (childcare, calls, etc.)
• Assisting with transportation if needed
• Planning for future trainings and in-services
• Assisting in the office (returning calls, looking for resources, etc.)
• Maintain client confidentiality at all times
• Must be able to maintain professional boundaries with clients
• Must attend 9 out of 12 peer support meetings which are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm
• Attendance of 3 out of 4 quarterly inservices/additional trainings -These inservices are held in place of the peer support meeting
• Monthly documentation (client case notes) and timesheets 

Extra Training:

• Must attend 2 day Peer Support Training (held annually)
• Must go through Peer Support interview process 

Commitment: Commitment Level 1, Committee Member—Minimum 1-year commitments

Requirements:

• Minimum of 18 years old
• Volunteers can be inactive for up to 6 months and still remain on peer support listserv – after that, will need to be re-interviewed and re-trained
• Volunteers may be asked to leave if they do not uphold volunteer expectations, roles, and responsibilities; are not able to commit to meeting with clients; are unable to uphold ethical boundaries with clients; or are the subject of client complaints

SAHARA—Mission: The South Asian HIV/AIDS Resource of Atlanta.  Focus on the need for research, education, and action on HIV/AIDS within the South Asian community in Atlanta.  Address the lack of culturally sensitive resources and services, as well as raise awareness within the community about the impact HIV/AIDS is having on South Asians both locally and globally.

Meetings:  Regularly scheduled meetings on the first Tuesday of each month.  If an event is coming up, we may schedule more meetings before it.

Tasks:  Creating educational materials, flyers, and advertisement.  Hanging flyers for public events around town.  Distributing tools and educational material about healthy sexuality within the community and around town; advertise and market SAHARA’s community events to specific target populations. Finding venues and general planning for our public events, such as chaihouses. Come up with ideas on how to engage the South Asian community on topics such as HIV/AIDS, STIs, and healthy sexuality.

Extra Training:  No extra training required.  HIV/AIDS Instructor training is encouraged once you have joined. 

Commitment:  Level 1 - Committee Member. 

Breaking the Silence Project—Mission: Raksha’s Breaking the Silence project (BSP) is a leadership development and community organizing initiative to address Child Sexual Abuse in the South Asian community. BSP is driven by a community collective of survivors and allies under a guiding framework of community and bystander accountability, violence prevention, social justice, and resiliency in the face of trauma to address the impact of CSA.  Events include “Ending the Cycle of Violence” symposium, skill-building trainings, family violence prevention events, curriculum development, etc. Our allies include, Stop It Now! GA of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, SHaKTI PRODUCTIONS, and Generation Five.

Meetings: Monthly Meetings every second Wednesday

Tasks: Active involvement in event planning and implementation, such as organizing symposiums or public events.  Participation in additional trainings conducted by staff and BSP members.  Attending meetings and working to end CSA through collaborations, education, community engagement, and a strong commitment to justice and compassion.

Extra Training: Orientation Training: 4 Sessions (3.5 hours each)

Commitment:  Level 1 – Committee Member.

Requirements: Commitment to active participation and contribution to community organizing initiatives and a commitment to creating a safe and positive environment where women, men, and children are protected, where perpetrators are held accountable, and where the many sources of violence are identified and challenged.

Ek Shaam—Mission: Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam is the annual fall fundraiser for Raksha.  The first Ek Shaam was in 1999.  It is usually a music program with an after party with DJ’s.  This year we may want some volunteers to assist in restructuring Ek Shaam Raksha Ke Naam to draw newer audiences.

Meetings: This committee meets approximately once a month 4-8 months before the event.  Closer to the event ( 2-3 months before the event) the meetings can be every week.  The meetings are usually on a weekday night and are sometimes alternated with conference calls.

Tasks: Sponsorship and Advertisement procurement, Volunteer Management (before event and on day of the event), Event planning, Booking artists, Managing artist’s logistics, Selling tickets, Publicity for the event, Venue booking, After-party Planning, finding food sponsors, and in-kind sponsorship procurement, Planning and Organizing Raffle, Leading Security for the event, Graphic Design for the event

Extra Training:  Raksha Speaker’s Bureau Training January 28th

Commitment:  Level 2 – Project-Based Volunteer. This project lasts 8 months to 1 year.  This committee will need many “Events-Only” Volunteers as well, to help on the day of the event.

Extra Skills: Helpful skills include Crowd Control, General Fundraising, and Volunteer Management

Youth Mentoring Program—Mission:  Raksha’s Youth Mentoring Program strives to foster a healthy environment for South Asian youth development within the community.  Our program provides educated and trained mentors who serve as positive role models for young people.  The mentors provide academic, social, emotional, and cultural support, friendship and empower the children through all aspects of their lives.

Meetings:  Meetings are held once a month.  They should be used to discuss updates on all events, ideas for future events, confidentiality, any concerns or comments with the Mentor-Mentee relationship and the relationship with parents, and for developing strategies to foster the healthiest environment for all the mentees.

Tasks:  There are two mentoring events each month; mentors are required to pick up their respective mentees and bring them to the event, as well as drop them home afterward. The Mentors are also required to ensure that all necessary liability forms are signed by a legal guardian/parent before taking the children to the programs. The mentors are required to complete approximately 8 hrs of volunteer time per month and call to check in on their mentees once a week.  These phone calls will be logged; the mentors must also keep the mentees’ parents or legal guardians updated.  Also, mentors must maintain consistent contact with the Raksha Youth Programs Coordinator and maintain complete paperwork.

Extra Training:  All mentors are required to have Peer Support Training, Volunteer Training, Mentorship Training and Advance Training. The Volunteer Orientation is 2 hours long, Mentorship Training is approximately 4 hours, and Peer Support Training and Advance Training are ongoing events. 

Commitment: Commitment Level 1, Committee Member—Minimum 1-year commitment.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 18 years old.
• South Asian (If you can trace your roots to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka).
• A minimum 1-year commitment to the program
• A minimum 3-month residence in the Metro Atlanta Area
• Valid Driver’s License or other state-issued ID card.
• Insured Transportation
• A strong interest in working with young people
• Good general health
• Stable lifestyle (is this the right time for you?)
• Emotional maturity and responsible judgement (Volunteers who have been convicted of a felony may be considered eligible provided that at least three years have passed since the last conviction; volunteers who have a history of substance abuse may be considered eligible provided that at least three years have passed since the abuse).
• Appropriate motivation for service
• Work within Raksha’s policies and guidelines.

Volunteer Management—Mission:  Recruit volunteers for Raksha and get them connected to the committees that need volunteers.  Manage the Volunteer database and be an accurate conduit between the Raksha Staff, Committees, and volunteers.

Meetings:  No regularly scheduled meetings.

Tasks:  Holding volunteer orientations (finding venues for them and preparing information for them).  Taking volunteer requests from other Raksha committees and finding volunteers to fill them through email or individual phone calls.  Checking volunteer applications and references.  Maintaining volunteer files and volunteer database.  Answering potential volunteer emails, and connect volunteers with the committees.

Extra Training:  No additional training required.

Commitment: Level 1 - Committee Member.  There are no regularly scheduled meetings and members do much of the committee’s work at home; however, it can still require a considerable time commitment.  Activity within the committee rises before orientations and events.

Levels of Commitment for Volunteer Committees
                 
1. Committee Member—Ongoing active volunteer involved with one or more committees at Raksha. Examples: BSP or SAHARA or Peer Support.
Time Commitment: several hours/month, depending on the committee’s activity.
Committee Leads:

• Responsible for helping to coordinate meetings of the committee
• Keep committee membership updated.  Recruit new members as needed.
• Ensure Raksha policies are followed
• Attend Committee Lead trainings
• Keep other committees updated on your committee’s work

2. Project-based Volunteer—Committed volunteer working on a temporary basis as needed by the project. Examples:  Fundraising, Event Planning, Yard sale.
Time Commitment:  several hours/month during project’s run.

3. Skills-based Volunteer—Devotes time and skills as needed by the Raksha Staff and Committees. Examples:  Computer Support, Pro bono medical or legal services.
Time Commitment:  Varies—often less than 1 hour/week.

4. Events-Only Volunteer—Committed volunteer looking to help out at events or functions. Examples: selling raffle tickets at Ek Shaam, helping to decorate for an event.
Time Commitment:  a few hours/event.

5. Apply to be on the Raksha Board of Directors