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.

If selected, you’ll be invited to an interview.

After the Interview:

If you’ve attended an interview and we find a good match, 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

Public Access Site Support

Objective:To assist in the maintenance of the VCN/Community Partner Public Access Sites

Training/Support to be provided by: Project Coordinators

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, initially at VCN offices
  • Additional time to attend orientation, training and meetings and collaborate online with other volunteers and staff
  • 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

To apply for this Volunteer Position, please fill out our Application Form

Internet Instructor

Objective:To deliver training sessions in basic and intermediate Internet skills, content management system, and mailing list use and administration to VCN users.

Training/Support to be provided by: Project Coordinators

Duties:

  • Basic – Intermediate training in word processing
  • Basic – Intermediate training in Internet and Email
  • Providing training and support on connecting to the Internet
  • Providing training for other VCN applications and services
  • 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 Internet and Email clients
  • Excellent knowledge of Windows XP
  • Good knowledge of PC hardware/software
  • Good knowledge of MS Office and Open Office
  • Good knowledge of internet access protocols (dial up / adsl)
  • Knowledge of Linux very useful
  • Ability to learn & teach other technical applications
  • 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, initially at VCN offices
  • Additional time to attend orientation, training and meetings and collaborate online with other volunteers and staff
  • 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

To apply for this Volunteer Position, please fill out our Application Form

Local Area Network Support

Objective:You will be part of an ongoing team to operate and maintain office computers on our LAN and provide technical support to staff and other volunteers.

Training/Support to be provided by: Project Coordinators

Duties:

  • Maintaining cross platform workstations and server LAN
  • Maintaining routers and switches in our offices
  • Developing and researching open source networking applications
  • Providing some training and support to entry level volunteers
  • Assisting with workstation and server installations
  • Assisting with VOIP maintenance

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, initially at VCN offices
  • Additional time to attend orientation, training and meetings and collaborate online with other volunteers and staff
  • 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

To apply for this Volunteer Position, please fill out our Application Form