Volunteers and Students

Volunteering

There are many fulfilling opportunities to volunteer at KW Habilitation! Positions in the community and at our main office in administration are available in Kitchener and Waterloo, while opportunities working with young children are available throughout the Region of Waterloo.

When people volunteer with KW Habilitation they tell us that they are able to gain experience with an organization that is committed to promoting inclusion and equity for everyone.

Types of Volunteer Opportunities

Administration

W elcome Centre– reception, receive mail, answer phones

Other Opportunities

If you have a skill, talent or passion you would like to share with us, we may have a position for you. Please contact our Volunteer and Student Placement Coordinator for additional information.

Community Participation/Activity Hubs

Program Assistant Volunteer– supporting adults with developmental disabilities with recreation and leisure activities
Inclusion Volunteer– supporting adults with developmental disabilities to help build social skills and function with greater independence in the community.
Our Farm (seasonal) – preparing gardens, planting, weeding, mulching, harvesting

Early Learning, Child Care & Family Resources

Early Learning Enrichment– supporting young children with skill-building and promoting healthy development
Early Learning Visuals Volunteer– supporting our Early Learning team create great visuals and resources for licenced child care centres.

Day of Caring/Group Volunteering

One-day placement opportunities are available for groups of up to 12 people at KW Habilitation’s Our Farm Waterloo locations. This program runs May through October and placements are available weather permitting.

"KW Habilitation works to provide a space that is inclusive of everyone, and that is a team that I want to be a part of."

KW Habilitation

Volunteer

"Not only was KW Habilitation extremely welcoming to all new employees (really reflecting the values of the business regarding inclusion), they were supportive in every way. During this placement I worked from home. My employer provided me with unique challenges to not only test my abilities but grow them. I had a lot of freedom and uncanny autonomy to make my own decisions, suggest ideas, and grow personally and professionally in my role as her communications assistant. She is by far the most supportive person I have ever met.

She often asked me for my opinion, showing that she valued it and consistently pushed me to do better and be better. I hope that one day I can work for an organization like this one (or this one!) with a mentor as great as her!”

Robelle M

Communications Assistant

Student Placements

KW Habilitation is dedicated to providing placements for students interested in Human Services. We offer year round placements throughout our organization where students gain valuable and practical experiences in learning-rich environments.

Typical placement students are accepted from programs such as:

Social Work
Recreation and Leisure
Early Childhood Education

Therapeutic Recreation
Developmental Services Worker
Kinesiology

Child and Youth Worker
Resource Consultant
Social Services

Personal Support Worker
Nursing
Organization Administration
Technology and Information Systems

“The things I have learned here are qualities, skills and knowledge I can apply to my future in my field.”

S.K.

Recreation and Leisure Student

“Many of my clinical placements involve working with children and I have been able to improve my communication skills in a way that is appropriate for preschool age children.”

A teacher sitting on the floor of a classroom reading a book to 4 kids.

A.M.

Nursing Student

Apply for a Volunteer or Student Placement

Applicants may send a completed Volunteer and Student application, cover letter and resume to our Volunteer and Student Placement Coordinator. For students applying for co-op placements, please include details about your program of study, your area of interest and practical details about the student placement (e.g. hours, duration, learning objectives, etc.).

Volunteers will provide a current resume and two references, a Record of Immunization and a current Police Vulnerable Sector Check (group volunteers excluded). Volunteers will also receive an agency and program orientation.

Contact Information

Volunteer and Student Placement Coordinator
99 Ottawa St. South, Kitchener, ON N2G 3S8
519-504-2471
[email protected]

KW Habilitation does not currently offer regular paid co-op opportunities. Should we have an opportunity available, we will post it publicly.