Integral, community-based volunteer support
What is Co-Sponsorship?
What are the roles of co-sponsors?
Collect in-kind and financial donations
Welcome and mentor a refugee family for 9 months
Partner with our agency to ensure delivery of core services
A more detailed look at co-sponshorship tasks can be found here
Why Co-Sponsorship?
Becoming a co-sponsors comes with many benefits! You can help by:
Playing a key role in supporting refugees in your local community
Taking part in an extremely rewarding commitment
Building powerful bonds with refugees
Strengthening the host community by sparking new connections and enhancing the ones that already exist
Helping to foster positive attitudes towards refugees and resettlement
Improving the likelihood that refugees will become empowered, contributing members to the community
Who Qualifies to be a
Co-Sponsor?
Becoming a co-sponsor is a decision that requires careful consideration. Potential teams must meet together to discuss responsibilities involved and consider whether the group is ready to make the commitment. Furthermore, there are specific qualifications for becoming a team:
Groups of 7+ people with an identified team coordinator
Raise a minimum of $3,000 to support the family or individuals matched with your team by ECDC
Complete co-sponsorship orientation and training with ECDC
Devote several hours a week for up to 9 months post-arrival
Be willing to sign a written agreement (non-legally binding)
Be open-minded and flexible