Volunteer

Volunteer Opportunities

You commit to:

A minimum six hours a week, Monday to Friday, daytime hours, for Technical Support volunteers.

Contribute your skills to helping people access and participate online

You get:

To meet and work with others in a challenging non-profit environment while gaining hands-on experience

A statement of service following one month of regular, reliable volunteer work

A letter of reference following four months of regular, reliable volunteer work

Training opportunities to enhance your skills to better support individuals and non-profit groups

To apply:

Check out the Volunteer Jobs on the bottom of this page.

Submit the online application form

Or

Send an email to [email protected] with the following information

  • The role you are volunteering for
  • Resume in PDF Format
  • Cover letter which also answers these questions
    • Why do you want to volunteer at VCN?
    • How did you find out about VCN?
    • Why would you be qualified to be a volunteer?

If selected, you’ll be invited to a training session.

You’ll be asked to begin “observation”: shadow a volunteer on shifts of your choice and learn the volunteer procedures. After a suitable time of observation, you begin your volunteer placement.

Thank you for your interest in helping the Vancouver Community Network!

Current Volunteer Jobs

Technical Help Desk Support

Duties:

  • Assist with maintaining new and refurbished computer hardware and software
  • Assist in training/supporting community agencies’ staff and volunteers in the provision of public access
  • Provide ongoing on-site, telephone and online technical support to non-profit groups and sites hosted by the Vancouver Community Network
  • Work with community partners’ technical volunteers with a wide range of skills and experience

Essential Qualifications:

  • A period of orientation and ongoing regular shifts in VCN User Support position
  • Excellent knowledge of Intel/Win hardware/software
  • Good knowledge of Mac hardware/software
  • Good knowledge of LANs
  • Knowledge of Linux very useful
  • Ability to configure and use various Internet software programs
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills (ability to tutor individuals with a wide range of skills and experience)
  • Commitment to public access to information and communication technology and knowledge of VCN and non-profit organizations
  • Ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English; additional languages an asset

Time Commitment Required:

  • 6 hours per week for at least 4 months
  • Regular 6-hour Technical Support shifts per week
  • A great chance to meet people, help people access the Internet, and work with other volunteers to develop skills in a non-profit setting
  • A chance to develop hands on experience in developing, implementing and maintaining a mixed platform environment
  • Statement of service following 1 month of reliable volunteer work
  • Letter of reference following 4 months of reliable volunteer work

Web Programmer

Duties:

  • Creating and updating scripts and sites
  • Manual and automated testing of code
  • Creating and updating code documentation

Essential Qualifications:

  • Excellent knowledge of Python, JavaScript, PHP, Perl, Ruby, or similar language

Time Commitment Required:

  • 6 hours per week for at least 4 months
  • Regular 6-hour Technical Support shifts per week
  • A great chance to meet people, help people access the Internet, and work with other volunteers to develop skills in a non-profit setting
  • A chance to develop hands on experience in developing, implementing and maintaining a mixed platform environment
  • Statement of service following 1 month of reliable volunteer work
  • Letter of reference following 4 months of reliable volunteer work

System and Network Administrator

Duties:

  • Installing virtual machines to test new programs and services
  • Creating technical documentation

Essential Qualifications:

  • A period of orientation and ongoing regular shifts in VCN Network Support position
  • Excellent knowledge of Linux/Unix
  • Excellent knowledge of Windows and Mac
  • Good knowledge of PC/Mac hardware/software
  • Good knowledge of peripheral devices
  • Knowledge of internet security and firewalls is useful
  • Experience as a System Administrator is welcomed
  • Ability to learn & teach other network applications
  • Ability to work independently and in a team
  • Commitment to public access to information and communication technology and knowledge of VCN and non-profit organizations
  • Ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English; additional languages an asset

Time Commitment Required:

  • 6 hours per week
  • Regular 6-hour Technical Support shifts per week
  • A chance to develop hands on experience in developing, implementing and maintaining a mixed platform environment
  • Statement of service following 1 month of reliable volunteer work
  • Letter of reference following 4 months of reliable volunteer work