Chaya depends on its volunteers to achieve its goals. Volunteers are invited to participate in any of the committees listed below, or as a general volunteer. This is a good opportunity to contribute with your ideas on how to best serve our communities, to contribute your skills and to interact with other volunteers. Committees meet on a monthly basis.

Interpretation Committee

Goal: To increase language access to survivors of domestic violence by providing interpretation and translation services.
Time Commitment: On call: as needed and as available

Contact: Natasha (natasha@chayaseattle.org)

Description: Interpretation volunteers provide in-person and telephonic interpretation services to limited English speaking survivors of domestic violence to facilitate their work with Chaya Advocates.

Volunteer Profile: This volunteer opportunity is ideal for someone who is multilingual and is interested in providing direct support to Chaya's Direct Services. Volunteers are required to attend Chaya's volunteer training, as well as complete basic training on domestic violence, confidentiality, and the ethics of interpretation.

In-Office Volunteers

Goal: To engage in-office volunteers in creating an efficient administrative working system at Chaya.
Time Commitment: Variable

Contact: Neena (neena@chayaseattle.org)

Description: Chaya requires volunteer support in general administrative and other office duties as needed. This could include administrative tasks such as database maintenance, programmatic support documentation and website maintenance.

Volunteer Profile: This is ideal for individuals interested in organizing office affairs and putting their computer skills to use.

Community Outreach and Awareness Building Committee

Goal: To inform and educate the community on Chaya’s mission to end domestic violence.
Time Commitment: up to 3 hrs a month
Once a month meeting: 2 hrs

Contact: Charu (charu@chayaseattle.org)

Description: The Community Outreach and Awareness Building committee represents Chaya by tabling at relevant community events, providing event support, and distributing informational material. It also seeks to build awareness around domestic violence in the community by providing forums for discussion, presentations and sponsoring relevant films and related activities/events.

Volunteer Profile: Individuals interested in interacting with people, tabling at events, networking, writing, public speaking and community affairs would be an ideal fit for this committee.

Women’s Health Committee/Chaya UW Chapter

Goal: to raise awareness of relevant health issues for South-Asian women and to provide a space to come together to discuss issues that affect them and the community.
Time Commitment: 6 hrs per quarter
Meetings: 1 - 1/2 hrs each, two to three times a quarter

Contact: Neena (neena@chayaseattle.org)

Description: The Women’s Health Committee develops and conducts women’s groups which address issues such as physical and mental health, domestic violence, and cultural adjustment. The Committee holds seminars and forums to engage South-Asian women about health issues and provide space for discussion.

Volunteer Profile: This committee would be ideal for individuals interested in health issues, direct community involvement and group facilitation.

Peaceful Families Task Force

Goal: to engage Islamic communities on issues of domestic violence and the ideals of creating a peaceful family environment.
Time Commitment: up to 5 hrs a month
Once a month meeting: 2 hrs

Contact: Natasha (natasha@chayaseattle.org)

Description: The Peaceful Families Task Force works within the Islamic community to outreach and mobilize around the issues of domestic violence through conferences, trainings and community activism. It also teaches the values of having a peaceful family by building on the concept of eliminating violence at its roots.

Volunteer Profile: This committee would be ideal for individuals interested in direct community involvement, organizing and support.