Overview: Do you love to cook but don't have enough people to cook for? Or do you watch a lot of Food Network and want to try out what you learned there? Here's the solution - provide a homemade dinner for hostel guests! Join our volunteer team, and plan and facilitate a low-cost, homemade group meal. We have easy recipes for all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, make your own burrito night, or you can be inventive and create your own meal. This is a unique experience that helps our hostellers interact with other travelers from around the globe, as well as get to know local volunteers and staff.
Key Responsibilities:
- Plan and facilitate a group meal to prepare with hostellers.
- Shop for ingredients (see activities coordinator for reimbursement).
- Involve hostellers in preparation, discussion & clean-up of meal.
- Coordinate sign-up and collection of participant fees with front desk staff.
Initial Impact:
- Provide an affordable meal for guests.
- Create a forum for intercultural exchange.
- Volunteers provide local perspective on the community.
Sustainable Outcome:
- Create an atmosphere of open communication between cultures.
- Increase the cultural value of all HI-USA overnight stays.
Training and Support:
- Orientation on programs and activities provided by HI-Portland, Northwest Hostel.
- Provided with written materials including suggested meals and budget.
- Shadow one full shift to observe process and techniques of other volunteers.
- Support and mentoring provided by senior volunteers and HI-Portland, Northwest Hostel staff.
- Reports to HI-Portland, Northwest Hostel activities coordinator.
Qualifications:
- Personal or professional experience in the kitchen.
- Interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Comfort with group facilitation in a cross-cultural environment.
Time Commitment:
- Minimum of one activity per month (3-4 hours) for three months.
- Consult with hostel activities coordinator for scheduling.
- Activity generally scheduled for evenings (can be any day of the week).
Benefits:
- Training on intercultural communication.
- Experience working in an international/multicultural environment.
- Resumé building experience including a letter of reference upon completion of designated assignment and or time period.
- Meet people from all over the world.
- Free meal.
