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Join us in building a stronger, inclusive, and vibrant Ethiopian community Kitchener-Waterloo. We are seeking passionate volunteers to support our program and services across various areas. Please click on the link below to download the Volunteer Guidebook for a complete list of volunteer roles and description.

Commitment: 3 –10 hours/week
Duration: 6 months (October 15, 2025 – April 15, 2026)

Volunteer Areas:

1. Social Media & Communication Assistant
2. Community Outreach & Engagement Assistant
3. Fundraising Assistant
4. Volunteer Coordinator Assistant
5. Grant and Proposal Writer Assistant
6. Drop-in and Settlement Program Assistant
7. Administrative Assistant
8. Event Coordination Assistant
9. IT Support and Web Assistant
10. Research and Policy Assistant
11. Youth Program Assistant
12. Volunteer Driver
13. Volunteer Child Care Assistant
14. Volunteer Tutor
15. Volunteer Errand Runner
16. Volunteer Interpreter and Document Support Service
17. Volunteer Job Coordinator
18. Volunteer Housing Coordinator

How to Apply:
Please submit your resume and cover letter to: ed@eakw.ca

Application Deadline: October 11, 2025, 11:59 PM.

Note: Deadline Extended to September 20, 2025 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time.

Do you want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in your community? The Ethiopian Association Kitchener Waterloo and Surrounding Areas is looking for a dynamic, Community Outreach Worker to support community needs, deliver programs and events, and assist the Executive Director and Board with administrative tasks.

Job Opportunity – Ethiopian Association KW

Posted Date: August 29, 2025

Job Title: Community Outreach Worker

Reports To: Executive Director 

Position Type: Part-time (21 hours a week), 12 months contract

Location: Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario (with occasional travel within the region)

Pay Scale: $25-$27 per hour depending on experience and expertise

Start Date: October 6, 2025

Position Overview:

The Outreach Worker, Event Organizer & Administrative Assistant is a dynamic, community-facing role that blends direct engagement, event coordination, and administrative support to advance the Ethiopian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo and Surrounding Areas mission. This position involves building relationships with community members, planning and executing impactful events, promoting programs, and supporting day-to-day office operations to ensure smooth organizational functioning.

Key Responsibilities

1. Outreach & Relationship Building

• Identify and engage with community members, particularly underserved or marginalized individuals.
• Build rapport and trust with individuals, families, and community groups.
• Assess community needs, barriers, and goals.
• Provide support, advocacy, and referrals to relevant services.
• Collaborate with other community organizations, service providers, and government agencies.
• Listen and respond to community needs.

2. Event Planning & Execution

• Develop and implement community events, cultural celebrations, workshops, and training programs.
• Manage all event logistics, including venue booking, budgeting, marketing, and staffing.
• Coordinate with speakers, performers, vendors, and volunteers.
• Promote events through social media, community networks, and traditional media.
• Evaluate events and provide recommendations for improvement.

3. Program Promotion & Communication

• Create and distribute promotional materials (brochures, newsletters, flyers, social media content).
• Maintain and update the organization’s website and social media channels.
• Build awareness of the organization’s mission, programs, and initiatives.
• Maintain communication with community members, stakeholders, and funders.

4. Data Collection & Reporting

• Track outreach and event participation metrics.
• Maintain accurate databases of community contacts and program participants.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and summaries for board meetings and funding requirements.

5. Volunteer Coordination

• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers for outreach and events.
• Provide ongoing support, recognition, and engagement opportunities for volunteers.

6. Administrative Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for phone calls, emails, and walk-in visitors.
• Schedule meetings, take minutes, and prepare agendas.
• Maintain and organize digital and physical files.
• Assist with grant applications, proposals, and funding reports.
• Process invoices, receipts, and basic bookkeeping tasks in coordination with the finance team.
• Maintain office supplies and equipment.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse cultural and socio-economic groups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and social media platforms.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Commitment to community engagement and social impact.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in social work, community development, event management, communications, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 2 years of experience in outreach, event coordination, or community engagement roles.
• Experience in administrative support or office management preferred.
• Knowledge of Ethiopian culture, language (Amharic, Oromo, or Tigrinya), and community is an asset.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is an asset.
• Ability to work day time and occasionally evenings and weekends as required for community events.

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with frequent off-site community engagement.
• Evening and weekend work required for events.
• Hybrid work arrangements may be considered.
• Strong presence in Waterloo Region. Preference will be given to applicants from Waterloo Region.

If interested, please email your cover letter stating what makes you the perfect candidate for this position, and your resume directly to ed@eakw.ca by September 20, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. 

The Ethiopian Association of Kitchener-Waterloo (EAKW) is proud to launch the third annual EAKW Community Scholarship for local Ethiopian community members pursuing post-secondary education.

Since its inception, the scholarship has supported seven students—two in 2023, four in 2024, and one this year—reflecting our commitment to educational empowerment within our community.

In 2025, one scholarship award will be granted to an eligible applicant.

Funded by the Community Capacity Building and Upstream well-being and belonging funding from the Region of Waterloo, the scholarship aims to support an individual committed to furthering their education and contributing to Waterloo Region Communities.

Scholarship Details:

Application Form:

• Number of Awards: 1
• Value of the Award: $2,500
• Application Period: August 1, 2025 – September 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
• Award Announcement: September 13, 2025, at the 2018 Annual Ethiopian New Year Enkutatash Banquet
• Please download and complete the application form above if applying.

Application Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen (supporting documentation may be requested)
• Resident of the Waterloo Region for at least two years
• Enrolled in a post secondary program (University/College/Trade School)
• Ethiopian heritage and cultural identity required (or parent/grandparent must be of Ethiopian heritage)
• Proof of enrolment/registration must be provided
• Two references related to community service experience
• Demonstrated financial need
• Most recent transcript required

Evaluation Method:

• Evaluation will be based on a one-page, double-spaced essay (500 words) responding to the following prompts:
  1. What is the importance of Ethiopian culture and community to you?
  2. How have you supported and given back to the community in Waterloo Region in the past?
  3. How do you hope to use your education to contribute to your community?
• Applicants are also encouraged to include additional information regarding their financial need or individual identity that may strengthen their application and provide more context.

Please note that by completing the application form, you consent to the publication of your name, photograph and information.

We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting your educational pursuits.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ato. Sisay Shega as the first Executive Director of the Ethiopian Association of Kitchener Waterloo and Surrounding Areas.

This is an important milestone for our community. Since its founding in 1995, the association has been run and supported entirely by dedicated volunteers. As the community has grown and its work has expanded beyond the initial capacity, the need for professional and sustainable leadership and management has become increasingly clear. Over the past three years, this need has been highlighted through capacity building initiatives and strategic planning studies led by the Board. The newly created part-time position is made possible through the Capacity Building Fund we received from the Region of Waterloo Upstream Fund initiatives in 2024.

Sisay holds multiple academic degrees in Education, Literature, Public Health, and Communication and Culture. He brings over 20 years of leadership and program management experience from both Canada and Ethiopia, working with nonprofit and educational institutions. His work is rooted in deep passion for social change, relationship-building, and empowering communities through leadership, learning, and culture engagement.

Sisay will work in a part-time (21 hours/week), hybrid role with a regular presence in the Waterloo Region. In this position, he will lead programs, manage staff and volunteers, support local initiatives, and help strengthen governance practices and partnerships both within and beyond the community.

With his skills, experience, and dedication, we are confident he will help guide the association into its next chapter of impact and growth — fostering a caring, informed, and connected community.

Please join us in welcoming Sisay to the Ethiopian Association KW.

አዲስ የሥራ አስፈጻሚ ቅጥር

በኢትዮጵያውያን ማህበር ኪችነር-ዋተርሉና አካባቢው፣ የመጀመሪያ ሥራ አስፈጻሚ አቶ ሲሳይ ሸጋ መሾማቸውን በደስታ እንገልጻለን።

ይህ ቅጥር ለኮሚኒቲው ትልቅ እርምጃና ታሪካዊ ምእራፍ ነው:: ማህበረስቡ ከተመሰረተ ጀምሮ በበጎ ፈቃደኞች የተደገፈ እና የተተዳደረ ሲሆን፣ ኮሚኒቲው በማደጉ ስራውም ከአቅም በላይ ሆኖ በመታየቱ የሥራ አስፈጻሚ እና ዘላቂ አመራር እና አስተዳደር አስፈላጊነት ባለፋት ሶስት ዓመታት በተደረገው አቅም ግንባታ እና ጥናት ተገንዝበናል። እንደዚሁም ለሚቀጥሉት ሁለት ዓመት የአቅም ግንባታ የገንዘብ ድጋፍ ከዋተርሉ ክልል ስራ አስፈፃሚ ለመቅጠር ተመድቧል።

አቶ ሲሳይ በትምህርት፣ በስነ-ጽሁፍ፣ በህዝብ ጤና እና የግንኙነት (Communication) ዲግሪዎች ያላቸው ሲሆን፣ ባለፋት 20 ዓመታት በካናዳ እና በኢትዮጵያ በጎ አድርጎት ድርጅቶች በአመራር እና በተለያዩ የትምህርት ፕሮግራሞችን ማስተዳደር ደንብ ውስጥ ሰርተዋል::

እኛም እንደ ማህበረሰብ፣ ይህን አዲስ የአመራር መንገድን ለመጀመር ለአቶ ሲሳይ ሞቅ ያለ አቀባበል፣ የተሟላ ትብብርና ድጋፍ እንዲሰጣቸው በአንድነት እንጠይቃለን።