Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Jun 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
33
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Details
Description
Our next hosting availability will start in mid-July 2026.
Hello! We're a busy homeschooling family of five — two parents and three kids (ages 13, 11, and 5) — living in the beautiful Westshore area of Greater Victoria, BC. Our household blends Canadian and South Asian culture, and we speak both English and Urdu. Over the past seven years, we've hosted close to 50 volunteers and have learned what makes for a genuinely great match.
We truly value cultural exchanges and enjoy welcoming people who want to be part of real family life - not just passing through.
📌 Quick Snapshot
📍 Location: Greater Victoria, British Columbia (nature + city access)
👨👩👧👦 Family: 2 parents + 3 children (13, 11, 5)
🕒 Help: ~5 hours/day, 5 days/week
🍳 Main Tasks: Cooking, household help, engaging with children, gardening
🛏 Accommodation: Private room in family home
📅 Minimum stay: 3 weeks
🚫 Not suitable for: low-energy, night owls, or very social-focused travelers
✅ Best fit: proactive, tidy, enjoys kids, takes initiative
We are looking for responsible, proactive, and dependable individuals who enjoy being around mature, social children, can take initiative, and are happy to help with everyday household tasks. Our home is structured but relaxed, and we aim to create a respectful, supportive atmosphere for everyone.
✈️ Application & Commitment Expectations
Due to high interest, we prioritize applicants who:
• Have read our full profile
• Are clear about their availability and travel plans
• Can have a WhatsApp video call - it’s a great way to ask questions and see if we are a good match
• Are ready to commit to the agreed dates
Please respond within 2 days of hearing from us, as we are unable to hold dates for applicants who become unresponsive.
Proof of travel arrangements to Canada is required to confirm your stay. Please also ensure you have sufficient funds for your travel before applying. It is extremely time-consuming and frustrating when applicants proceed through the process only to discover later that they cannot afford the trip.
Note: We are not able to host solo male travelers at this time, and are unable to provide invitation letters for visa purposes.
👉 Please include your favorite hobby in your message so we know you’ve read our profile.
Thank you, and happy travels!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Light gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Culture
Books
Beach
Charity work
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
History
Music
Outdoor activities
Nature
Yoga / Wellness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I have several years of English teaching experience and am happy to help with conversation practice or exam prep (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT). We'd also love to learn from you — your language, recipes, crafts, or anything you'd like to share.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
🤝 What We Expect From You
We are looking for someone who:
• Is proactive and can take initiative without needing constant direction
• Is comfortable helping in a busy family environment
• Can cook simple, healthy meals independently
• Helps keep shared spaces clean and organized
• Enjoys spending time with children and engaging with them
• Is reliable, communicative, and respectful of routines
• You're energetic, tidy, responsible, and emotionally mature
• You see volunteering as part of the experience — not just the price of a bed
• You should be able to notice what needs to be done and take action, rather than waiting to be asked.
🧹 Main Tasks
Your help will vary day to day, but generally includes:
• Planning and cooking simple, nutritious meals (more than pasta or sandwiches)
• Kitchen clean-up (dishes, counters, general tidying)
• Household cleaning and organizing, general home upkeep
• Engaging with the kids through activities (think older sibling or mentor, not babysitter)
• Gardening and outdoor maintenance, weeding, mowing, raking, planting
Your daily schedule is flexible and self-managed, as long as the agreed hours (5hrs a day/5 days a week/25hrs week) are completed.
🚫 Not a Good Fit For Our Home
This experience may not be suitable if you:
• Prefer to spend most of your time alone rather than engaging with the family
• Have low energy or struggle with structured routines
• Sleep very late or have difficulty starting the day
• Need constant direction or lack initiative
• Spend excessive time on your phone during help hours
• Prioritize social life or frequently ask for extra time off
• Are not comfortable around children
• Rush through tasks, are careless, or need frequent prompting
• Uncomfortable or inexperienced with children
• Expect to be treated like a guest rather than a contributing household member
📋 House Expectations
• Clean up after yourself and respect shared spaces
• Be mindful, responsible, and considerate
• Communicate openly if any issues arise
• Follow agreed schedules and responsibilities
• Smoke-free, alcohol-free, and pork-free home — please respect this fully
• Limited phone use during volunteer hours
• No overnight guests
• No borrowing of our electronics (laptops, tablets, airpods)
• No use of our vehicle (BC insurance regulations)
• Eat in healthy moderation — Canadian groceries are expensive
• Family-appropriate attire in shared indoor spaces (no bikinis, tube tops, micro shorts)
• You are responsible for the cost of anything broken or damaged during your stay
We value a calm, cooperative home environment where everyone contributes. If issues do arise, however, we’ll have a conversation to address them. If there's no improvement, we will politely ask the volunteer to leave.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Urdu: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I have several years of English teaching experience and am happy to help with conversation practice or exam prep (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT).
Accommodation
🏡 About Our Home & Lifestyle
We live in a peaceful area with access to nature, parks, and nearby city amenities. Our home is busy, family-oriented, and centered around homeschooling, daily routines, and shared responsibilities.
Our days are fairly structured, and we value:
• Cleanliness and organization
• Respect for shared spaces
• Good communication
• A positive, helpful attitude
We enjoy spending time together, but also respect personal space and downtime.
🌟 What You Can Expect From Us
• A welcoming, respectful family environment
• A private bedroom + a private detached bathroom
• Clean linens, towels & basic toiletries provided
• Meals and inclusion in family life
• Shared kitchen access
• Opportunities to practice English and experience Canadian culture
• Shared office / quiet workspace
• Clear communication and guidance when needed
• A base in one of Canada's most beautiful (and expensive!) cities
We aim to make your stay enjoyable, balanced, and meaningful.
Getting Here
Most volunteers travel to Victoria by ferry from Vancouver, though there are also ferry options from Seattle and Port Angeles.
If your flight arrives at or departs from Victoria International Airport, please note that we are unable to provide airport transportation. We kindly ask that you arrange your own transportation by Uber, taxi, or another suitable service.
Getting Around
We live in a quiet residential neighborhood on a moderately inclined hill. The nearest bus stop is approximately a 7-minute walk from our home, and buses run every 30 minutes during the day.
Note: Buses accept credit and debit cards. If paying with cash, you will need exact change. Alternatively, you can use the UMO app to load funds and pay directly from your phone.
What else ...
Victoria is a wonderful city to explore — beaches, trails, markets, festivals, and history, all within a convenient public bus service. With the mildest climate in Canada, Greater Victoria enjoys year-round blooms and abundant natural beauty. Surrounded by ocean and forest, the region offers outdoor adventures in every season.
Longer weekend trips to Tofino, the Gulf Islands, Vancouver, Seattle, and Port Angeles are popular with our volunteers.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a quiet, comfortable office next to your room, or you’re welcome to work in the bright, open living and dining area. The internet is strong and reliable throughout the house.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
We can accept workawayers with cats.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (15)
The work was very varied, which… read more
Sarah was proactive, dependable, and always… read more
I stayed with them for three weeks, and it was honestly one of the most enriching and amazing experiences of my life. I learned so much about their culture, their habits, and who they are as people.
From day one, I was treated as a real member of… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
The work was very varied, which… read more
Sarah was proactive, dependable, and always… read more
I stayed with them for three weeks, and it was honestly one of the most enriching and amazing experiences of my life. I learned so much about their culture, their habits, and who they are as people.
From day one, I was treated as a real member of… read more
I learned to much ! I ‘ll Never forget them!
As soon as I have entered their beautiful house I felt as a member of the family
The kids welcomed me warmly and I quickly became so close with them,they were so funny and kind all the time !!
We did a lot of activities together such as playing… read more
The children and I played with their interesting and… read more
I spent a lot of time with the kids. We backed, did handycrafts, colored, played boardgames,… read more
Saira is a very loving person and takes very good care of the volunteers. She always makes sure you have everything you need. She will also give you some lessons if you want to improve your english.… read more
Emely spent a little less than a month with us but she immersed herself in our family immediately. She bonded with our children in such a caring and thoughtful manner, at times I would have to tell our kids to give Emely some time to relax as they wanted to do… read more
From day one I felt like a part of the family. I helped with homeschooling, in the yard, did some household tasks, cooking and played with the children. The schedule was flexible and Saira always checked if I was comfortable with the tasks. Saira is… read more
I helped to homeschooling, cooking, cleaning and playing with Ryaan and Aanisa. Their house is very beautiful. The private room and bathroom are very clean. The area is quiet. There… read more
She always treats us as their family and cares a lot about how we feel.
During the workaway time, Saira even practiced some English conversations with us on the evening.
It was really helpful for us.
Rayaan and Aanisa are two wonderful children.They are always energetic and easygoing.
When Saira told us what to… read more
The kids are easy going and very respectful. They always tried to give me some tips to improve my english. They were very respectful and always happy to contribute to the housing tasks (I miss so much my little helpers :laughing:!). They… read more
Saira is a nice and attentive person. Her husband and two kids are sweet and funny.
During all the workaway we were part of the family. We didn't just help her with the homeschooling, to sale some clothes online and gardening and doing some household. We also shared… read more
