News from Phoenix, AZ

Unload donation deliveries and bring them upstairs, unpack boxes, break down boxes, assist with organization of donations.

Volunteer Transit Trainers travel with refugees on their first bus ride from the refugees’ homes to the Phoenix IRC office, explaining how to read maps and transit schedules, how to use and purchase a bus pass, and culturally appropriate behaviors and rider rules. The volunteer transit trainer will also show the client how to get to the grocery store and back home.

Work with IRC Caseworkers to welcome newcomers to Phoenix and connect families to vital services in the community.

IRC Volunteer Youth Tutors provide tutoring, mainly consisting of English language development support through the instruction of beginning level English lessons for refugee youth, 6-12 grade. Each tutor works with 1-5 students in small group virtual tutoring sessions. Tutors support each student in increasing their English language proficiency using the English language learner (ELL) curriculum provided. Tutors have the opportunity to develop and implement additional activities as appropriate.

The IRC in Phoenix is working alongside refugee communities and other partners to welcome and support Afghans in urgent need of safety. Here's how you can help!

The Phoenix office offers a variety of internships in various departments and educational areas.

The Family Reunification Specialist in the coordination of Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) applications within the Reception and Placement (R&P) program. The volunteer will primarily assist in outreach to refugee clients, ethnic community based organizations, and religious communities to provide information on the newly expanded AOR program. The volunteer will assist in the collection and scanning of the necessary application documentation and client follow up in order to ensure applications are complete for submission to IRC headquarters.

One of our most important jobs is keeping the vans running, stocked, and clean so that staff can provide safe, comfortable, sanitized transportation for our clients. The Fleet Management Support Volunteer does not interact directly with clients but supports the Administration Specialist.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Arizona commemorates the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The United Nations designated June 26th as it marks when the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishments came into effect in 1987. Yet in 2021, over 30 years later, torture continues to permeate societies around the world, despite torture being an international crime.

High rates of unemployment and Covid-19 infection among New American community members has contributed heavily to lack of stable access to adequate amounts of nutritious food . Refugees and immigrants have been some of the hardest hit populations in the country, disproportionately experiencing food and nutritional insecurity due to their high rates of employment in “gig economy” and other job sectors like food, hotel, and health which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Help new American communities combat hunger with a gift to IRC's food security programs in the U.S.