News / Articles - Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration

News / Articles

New Website Connects Immigrants with Volunteer Opportunities

| Published on 1/9/2020

MAVA recently connected with Abdurrahman Mahmud, who has created a website focused on connecting immigrants to jobs and volunteer opportunities. The site, Twinist, is gaining recognition after an article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and is attracting thousands of hits per month. Although the site has a focus on paid employment, Mahmud wants it to have something for everyone, and feels that volunteerism is a great way to make connections in a community that may lead to jobs and other opportunities.

Mahmud immigrated to the U.S. from Somalia, and quickly discovered that his bachelor’s degree and work experience didn’t seem to transfer to American employers. After several years of working entry level jobs, he began volunteering through Hennepin County. Connections he made through that opportunity, he says, led to his current career path in nonprofits and storytelling. He knows that many immigrants face the same challenges he did, and wants to provide a forum to make it easier for them to connect with potential employers.

In addition to being a job and volunteer site, Twinist offers immigrants other services, such as free headshots, mock interview sessions, and resume building.

Mahmud has invited MAVA members to post their volunteer opportunities on Twinist to connect with immigrant volunteers in their communities. The site currently has a basic plan for nonprofits that is free of charge, along with a premium plan for a fee. After posting volunteer opportunities, the site will alert you when someone expresses interest. You can then connect with the applicant individually to determine their fit for your organization.

Check out Twinist.com and consider posting your volunteer opportunities today!