This is where it gets real. Tech is set up, your Sessions Captain is in place — now it's time to get children and volunteers into a room together.
Session Commencement happens in two phases. Phase 1 reactivates the volunteers who already know MAD. Phase 2 brings new volunteers in. Both phases end at the same place: a child shows up, a volunteer shows up, a session happens.
Every session — from the very first one — runs on this rhythm:
Zero Hour → Session → Debrief
Zero Hour is where the volunteer prepares. Session is where the magic happens. Debrief is where data is logged and the next session gets better. Get this loop going from Day 1 and it becomes habit. Skip it and it gets harder to restart.
🏆 You've won Phase 1 when: 80% continuing volunteers have started priority classes by July Week 1
| 🎯 What you're building | ✅ How to get there |
|---|---|
| Priority classes are running | Identify which classes start first — grade, subject, centre. Confirm with your Circle Fellows. |
| Continuing volunteers are reactivated | Volunteers have been away 2–3 months. They need a nudge, not just a reminder. |
| Data flowing from Day 1 | Every session logged on Campus Cloud same day. No backlogs. |
💡 NYLP — A Reactivation Strategy
NYLP remains one of the most effective ways to re-energise continuing volunteers after a long gap. If your chapter wants to run it, use the [NYLP Planning Document — add link]. If not, find your own way to reactivate. The outcome is what matters.
🔗 Resources for Phase 1
| Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Campus Cloud Guide | How volunteers log session data |
| [Session Kit — add link] | What Circle Fellows need for Zero Hour + Debrief |
| [Weekly Fellow Checklist — add link] | Fellow's weekly reference |
🏆 You've won Phase 2 when: 90% planned classes have kicked off by August Week 4, with at least one volunteer per class
| 🎯 What you're building | ✅ How to get there |
|---|---|
| New volunteers mapped and ready | All volunteers allocated to a class section on Platform Commons before their first session |
| Volunteers onboarded and trained | Sessions Captain supports all new volunteers → [Vol Onboarding Project — add link] |
| CPP signed + sensitization done | Every volunteer must complete this before entering a Child Care Institution or Centre |
| First session done, data logged | Volunteer runs first session. Data on Campus Cloud same day, within the Debrief |
🔗 Resources for Phase 2
| Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Platform Commons Guide | Volunteer allocation + class setup |
| Campus Cloud Guide | Session data logging |
| [Welcome Kit — add link] | New volunteer Campus Cloud training |
| [Pre-class Checklist — add link] | Share with volunteers before first session |
| [Sessions Ops Dashboard — add link] | Track class + child consistency through the year |
Only relevant if your chapter has 11th and 12th grade youth. Skip if not.
TR runs alongside FP and Ed Support but has a different session structure. Head on to Youth Progression to know more on how best to support the youth
Meanwhile, confirm your slots reflect this before Phase 2 begins.
TR requires 3 slots per youth:
| Slot | Role | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 2 × ASV | Academic Support Volunteer | Twice a week |
| 1 × Wingman | Mentor session | Once a week |
Before Phase 2 kicks off, confirm:
| What's happening | What to do |
|---|---|
| Volunteers aren't showing up for first sessions | Reactivation gap — needs a 1:1 conversation, not just a WhatsApp message. Circle Fellow should check in directly. |
| Sessions running but data isn't being logged | Don't let this slide past Week 1. Check if volunteers completed Campus Cloud training + CFU. Debrief is where logging happens. |
| A class still hasn't started by August Week 3 | Flag it now. Is it a volunteer issue, school issue, or allocation issue? Each has a different fix. Ping your team to figure out the way forward |
Next → [Page 4 — Driving Consistency]