Make some new friends-be a Sponsor

One of the great community programs connected with overseas employment is the "Community Sponsorship Program".


This summer our family have the opportunity to be the First Friends of two families.  Both families are delightful and we have enjoyed serving and getting to know them.  Below is an edited version of the Sponsor Guideline letter we received to help us fulfill our responsibility.  CLO = Community Liaison Office
********************************


 Volunteer Sponsors play an important role in the arrival process by smoothing the way for newcomers and setting the stage for a happy stay in the country. Moving to a new post is a stressful time, even under the best of circumstances. Sponsorship activities will greatly help the employee – and family members – during those first confusing days of arriving overseas! 

Please use this checklist as you prepare for the newcomer’s arrival. This checklist is not meant to be all-inclusive; it is designed to cover general responsibilities. Anything else you can do to make newcomers feel at home depends on your ingenuity and initiative and will surely be appreciated.

Before arrival

• Establish Communication 
• Immediately
• CLO will provide a home and/or work email address for the new arrival. Please establish contact with them to let them know you will be their sponsor and that they can ask you questions. 
• CLO will also provide the office sponsor information. It is important to be in contact with the office sponsor to know when they expect the new employee to arrive at the office. 
• Pick up the welcome packet from CLO
• 1-7 days before arrival
• Social sponsor should print out the most current phone list and drop it off at their residence with the welcome packet
• Airport Transportation
• 7-10 days before arrival 
• Schedule/book a large enough vehicle to take you to the airport to meet the newcomer. And get them and their suitcases to their new residence.
• Confirm Delivery of Hospitality/Welcome Kit
• 3-4 days before arrival
• Confirm delivery of the disposable Hospitality/Welcome Kit when you receive the keys and inspect the quarters.   
• Pick-up keys and print out current Tri-Mission Phone List

• Inspect the quarters
• 2-3 days before arrival
• Check that it is clean (especially appliances), that electricity works, refrigerator is on and ice trays are full.  Check to see that the hot water works, that there are bulbs in the lamps, closets or wardrobes, and that there is toilet paper in the bathrooms. If an item is in poor or unclean condition and needs to be replaced, contact or email housing office.
• Try to find out about garbage/trash pickup days and recycling location.
• Check for internet and telephone connection. 
• Unpack the Hospitality/Welcome Kit 
• Make the beds; take out the following: flatware, dishes, glasses, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, linens, etc and run in dishwasher. (Bring a dishwashing cube to use.)
• Euros and Groceries
• Have some Euros available for the new employee.  This is important if they arrive on a weekend.  You might want to show them how to get money from an ATM machine.
• Groceries and meals
• Try to get some groceries for the first day or until you can take the person/family to a store. You should keep the receipt so that the newcomer can reimburse you. See the list of items below that you might want to purchase or you can purchase items that are requested by the employee. Please check to see if your new arrival has diet restrictions such as, vegetarian, lactose intolerant, etc.
• Someone arriving on a weekend or a holiday period (when stores are closed) might also appreciate a casserole, salad and salad dressing.
• If the newcomer is bringing a pet, please check to see if they need dog/cat food.

Food and Drink		Other
Bread	1 Liter of Soft Drink/ Water	Plastic wrap
Butter	Crackers	Toilet paper
Eggs	Cheese	Paper towels
Coffee	Fresh Fruit,	Kleenex
Sugar	Apples or Bananas	Napkins
Milk	Tea bags	Dishwashing Cubes
Pretzels	Cereal	Aluminum foil
Fruit Juice	Chicken	Hand soap
Ground Beef	Salt and pepper	Wine
Pasta/Sauce

Day of Arrival 

• Meet family at the airport with arranged driver and vehicle from Motor pool or, if you want, using your own vehicle. 
• Escort them to their home and show them around
• Please be sure to hand them the welcome packet
• Take them to the grocery store if necessary
• Please provide for the newcomer’s first evening meal. You could invite them to your home or leave a dinner in the house/apartment (pre-cooked grilled chicken, salad and bread).  
• If the employee must go to the office, please escort them if they do not feel comfortable going on their own. This will require coordination with the office sponsor, because once they arrive at their office, the office sponsor will take over. 
• Please coordinate a check-in appointment for the new arrival to meet with the office staff that does in-processing.

First Weeks

• Introduction to neighborhood and neighbors. 
• Please show the new arrival how to use public transportation and where to buy transportation tickets. You might want to help them buy a tram ticket for the first day or weekend and point out where they can find a TABAK or the closest U-Bahn station to buy more tickets. 
• Offer transportation or assistance in traveling around the city and/or for functions until they are comfortable.
• Show them how to read the city map; location of their house; buses, trams, and U-Bahn locations. 
• If you do not take the new arrival to the grocery store on the first day, offer to take them. Explain that they must take their own bags or purchase bags at the store; show how the carts work; the bottle return system; the weighing of vegetables and fruits; explain that paper products are bought from BIPA.
• Make a special effort to ensure that the newcomer’s family does not feel neglected as they settle in.