News from the Multicultural Volunteer Project (Feb – Mar 2005)

The implementation of this peer-outreach health information program for ethnic senior volunteers which is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and sponsored by 411 Seniors Centre, involves the following steps:    

Training of bilingual and bicultural senior facilitators from the Punjabi and Spanish speaking communities about the physical and mental health benefits of active living, community involvement and senior-appropriate exercise

These bilingual facilitators train other Punjabi and Spanish speaking senior volunteers who are recruited through existing groups, places of worship and community agencies in their own language.  

These Punjabi and Spanish speaking volunteers pass on the health information to their peers, meeting monthly with project personnel to report progress, receive further training, and support each other in their volunteer efforts.

Program results and processes will be presented in workshops to promote the replication of this type of culturally - specific volunteer program.

Up to date, six multicultural facilitators have successfully completed their training and are in the process of outreaching to Punjabi and Spanish speaking senior groups in the Lower Mainland of BC and disseminating health promotion messages among their peers. Topics that are presented in these information sessions include: fall prevention, healthy nutrition, heart and mental health, stress management, active living, community involvement as well as resources.

For more information about the Multicultural Volunteer Project and/or how to participate, contact Dora Replanski at 604-684-8171, local 239.

~Dora Replanski