Volunteers and Guest Facilitators

Involving volunteers and guest facilitators in your girls’ program is a great way to expose your group to a diversity of different women from the community. As you are setting up your program, think about how the girls in your group might develop meaningful contacts with a wide variety of women.

Volunteers should not replace a consistent group of women who facilitate the program, as this is important for building relationships and trust. From our experience, adding volunteers and guest facilitators who either occasionally or regularly attend your group can make all the difference to girls. Having a diversity of cool, connected, and skilled older girls or women to contribute to the group can expose girls to diverse role models and inspire the girls in new and exciting ways. It is a meaningful way to develop networks, highlight alternative leadership styles, and raise awareness about an array of issues from women with firsthand experience or expertise. Including the right volunteers and guest facilitators is also a great way to showcase what’s going on in the community, and encourage a diversity of girls to get involved.

A few things to consider when involving volunteers and guest facilitators:

• Ask for and review a CV. It’s important to know what skills and experience a volunteer can offer.

• Set up an interview. It is important to develop a relationship with people coming into your program. You want to ensure they fit with your program’s vision. Don’t be shy to turn people away if they do not have the skills needed or if you feel it won’t be a good match. Involving community members is important but the safety and security of your girls’ group is more important.

• Be clear on roles and responsibilities. Once you find a volunteer or guest facilitator who you think will be a good match for your program, outline their roles and responsibilities clearly and ensure they understand and agree.

• Offer training. Depending on the scope of your relationship with a volunteer or guest facilitator, they may require some training. Familiarize them with the girls group, your facilitation methods, the mission and mandate of your program, and any information they may need to participate fully in your program.

• Offer support. Volunteers and guest facilitators may need help in creating a workshop. Be prepared to meet and review their workshop plan in advance and offer feedback if they find it helpful.

• Give volunteers and guest facilitators ownership of their contribution to the program. Offer them the time and space to take the lead and share their experiences and skills with the group.

Things to consider when involving care workers:

• Some girls may require careworkers in order to fully participate and have access to your program. In order to facilitate the integration of a care worker, meet with the girl and her care worker in the same way you would with a volunteer. Explain the program and its objectives and negotiate what kind of involvement the care worker will have.

• This arrangement should be agreeable with the girl and her care worker and then explained to the whole group before the girl and her care worker join the space.

• After a provisional time period, revisit the arrangement. Is it working for the girl involved? Is the care worker feeling comfortable and effective in their role? Does the rest of the group have any questions or suggestions about how to make things more accessible and equitable?