What is Healthy U?
The Healthy U volunteer program is an opportunity for students to become health educators on campus and gain hands on experience in the field of health promotion and prevention. A Healthy U volunteer is a trained individual who is committed to educating their peers and raising awareness on a variety of health and wellness topics. These topics include mental health, sexual health, physical health, substance use, social and cultural wellness, and finding a balance.
We are excited to encourage students to share their experiences and knowledge with the program. Our training is intended to add on to existing knowledge of health and wellness topics our volunteers may have. We welcome and believe this program improves by considering both new training material and individual skill brought by each student.
What Do Healthy U Volunteers Do?
Healthy U volunteers provide mental health, substance use, sexual health and relationships education through office hours, workshops and presentations to groups, outreach events and online content.
1x per week, each Healthy U volunteer will be required to fill in person office hours for 2 hours to meet with students
Outreach sector: Volunteers will plan, design, create, assist, and host interactive outreach events, presentations, or workshops to educate University of Manitoba students on health-related topics
Social Media sector: Volunteers will contribute to online content through social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok), blogs, and website material on health-related topics
Promote health and wellness resources on and off campus
Collaborate with other student groups or organization/departments on campus to address specific health and wellness topics
COVID-19 Safety:
Decisions regarding how Healthy U services will be offered will be make in compliance with public health orders and university policy will be communicated with volunteers once these decisions are made.
Examples of Healthy U Initiatives:
Tools over Rules: Healthier Eating Workshop
Sex Pub Trivia Nights in the Hub and via Zoom
Stress Management Workshops in the Student Counselling Centre
Interactive tabling events including consent and condom giveaways, self-care stations, and U of M mental health resource maps
Sexual health and Substance Use Instagram takeover on UMStudent account
Self-care and plant care workshop
What is Expected?
Students who are chosen to be part of the program are required to:
Commitment to volunteer with the program for the 2023-2024 academic term
Be enrolled as a full-time University of Manitoba undergraduate or graduate student for the duration of the 2023-2024 academic year
GPA requirement 2.5 or above
2023 – 2024 commitment:
Attend and complete mandatory fall training and team building:
o September 5th from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
o September 8th from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Be available each Friday in September from 2:30 – 4:30 pm for additional topic related training.
Be available each Friday during 2023-2024 the academic year from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm for Healthy U team meetings.
The commitment and expectation of the program is 3.5 - 6 hours weekly (this may be a combination of in person and online)
What are the Benefits of Being Part of Healthy U?
Develop highly sought-after skills transferable to the workforce such as planning and project development, group facilitation, health education, and interpersonal skills.
Gain experience volunteering in the field of health and wellness.
Be involved in a multi-pronged approach to addressing the health education interests of your peers.
Gain a sense of community and belonging.
Receive University of Manitoba Co-Curricular Record (CCR) recognition.
Participate in additional training such as Bringing in the Bystander and Responding to Disclosures.
How to Apply:
A completed application will include: a cover letter, resume, a screenshot of grades in Aurora and completed application form (found below). A completed application can be sent to healthandwellness@umanitoba.ca.
The posting will close on March 31, 2023 at 11:59 pm CST.
Mandatory training dates for successful applicants are:
September 5th, 2023 from 8:300 am – 4:30 pm
September 8th, 2023 from 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Healthy U!