Volunteer Positions
The following is a list of volunteer and intern positions available this April at the IRC in Seattle. Our volunteer needs change regularly, so check back often for information about new opportunities. Please attend a volunteer orientation to find out more about the volunteer process and which position might be a good fit for you. Thank you!
Friend of the Family Mentor: As a “Friend of the Family” volunteer, you will have the unique opportunity of developing a relationship with a newly arrived refugee family, helping them adjust to American society. By providing companionship on a consistent, weekly basis at their home or on small “outings” in the Seattle vicinity, you will assist families to become more confident and accustomed with their surroundings. In addition, you will also help family members become more independent by showing them how to access local resources in addition to helping them improve their English.
Location: Tukwila/Burien/SeaTac area
Time Commitment: 2-3 hrs/week and minimum 6 month commitment
Skills and Requirements: Volunteer must be flexible, easy-going, and resourceful. Preferred experience in a similar mentor type situation, working with non-English speakers, or with people living in poverty. Must be comfortable volunteering in SeaTac/Tukwila/Burien area.
Citizenship Tutor and Mock Interviewer: The IRC’s immigration program helps refugees and immigrants become citizens through application assistance and preparation for the naturalization interview. Citizenship volunteers work one-on-one or in a small group to practice English language skills, interview skills and civics content. Volunteers meet with clients 1-2 times per week. Mock Interview volunteers provide interview practice for clients who have a pending naturalization appointment.
Location: Tutoring will take place primarily in Tukwila and SeaTac, with some opportunities in Seattle.
Time Commitment: 1-2 days/week. All volunteers will attend a 4 hour citizenship tutor training.
Skills and Requirements: Volunteer must be flexible, easy-going, and resourceful. Preferred experience working with limited-English speakers and English language instruction. Must be comfortable volunteering in SeaTac/Tukwila/Burien area.
Front Desk Volunteer: Learn about refugees and related issues first-hand! Answer client questions, direct calls and greet visitors to our office during business hours. Practice language skills and interact with people from various cultures. Become familiar with the role of a resettlement agency in the lives of refugees. This position is a great opportunity to see the inner workings of an international non-profit.
Location: Seattle or SeaTac office
Time Commitment: 3-8 hrs/week, position numbers vary.
Skills and Requirements: Must be culturally sensitive and able (or willing to try) to understand limited English. Sufficient English skills to handle a multi-line telephone and basic computer skills. Familiarity with immigration paperwork a plus. Willingness to learn about refugees and refugee/asylee-related issues.
Pre-Employment Class Assistant: Teach refugees how to go through a successful application process, retain jobs and support refugees who have been laid off. IRC employment classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-12:00pm in Tukwila. Our employment classes focus on increasing clients’ confidence and English skills through conversation and oral/visual instruction rather than text-based instruction.
Location: SeaTac office - 16256 Military Road S., SeaTac, WA 98188
Time Commitment: 4 hours/week + planning time and a minimum 3 month commitment.
Skills and Requirements: Must be outgoing, friendly and patient! Previous teaching experience a plus, but not required. Must be independent and self-motivated, culturally sensitive, willing to work with multi-level English speakers, and comfortable planning activities and curriculum.
School Registration Intern: Help register our newly arrived refugee youth for school! Give families orientation to the U.S. school system, fill our registration paperwork, show children around school and work very closely with school districts.
Location: SeaTac office - 16256 Military Road S., SeaTac, WA 98188
Time Commitment: 2-6 hours/week, minimum 2 month commitment.
Skills and Requirements: Must be able to commute by car, be outgoing, patient, and have an enthusiastic and energetic attitude. Must be independent, culturally sensitive and comfortable communicating with low-level English speakers. Some knowledge of the U.S. school system is a plus.
Tukwila Garden Education Intern: In early 2011, the St. Thomas Parish in Tukwila donated some of their land to be used as a community garden. A coalition formed including the IRC, Cascade Land Conservancy and community members who worked to construct the garden and develop programs to benefit the gardeners and the community. The gardeners here are made up of refugees from Burma and Bhutan as well as local residents. Many have agriculture experience, but are unfamiliar with growing food in the Pacific Northwest. Intern will organize and/or teach classes on topics ranging from cooking with garden produce and growing winter vegetables to transplanting starts, making compost and pest control. Intern must communicate with diverse groups of peoples as well as cater lessons to include a range of backgrounds and interests.
Location: The position will be split between on-site activities at the garden in Tukwila and off-site organizing and planning which can be done anywhere.
Time Commitment: 8-10 hrs/week, flexible hours. Many of the gardening activities will be in the evening or on weekends. 6 month commitment.
Skills and Requirements: Must be culturally sensitive and willing to try to understand limited-English speakers. Previous experience with project start-up and coordination, leading activities, and coordinating groups and volunteers. Gardening experience and familiarity with growing and food resources specific to Pacific NW.
For information about Summer Internship opportunities with the IRC in Seattle, click here!
Questions? Contact us at VolunteerSEA@Rescue.org
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