Volunteer Opportunities

The Digital Navigation Volunteer will act as a trusted guide to accessing affordable and appropriate digital devices and building digital literacy skills for vulnerable community members. He/she will provide individualized or small group assistance to refugees and other humanitarian migrants, aging individuals, individuals with a language barrier, and individuals with disabilities who face barriers to digital literacy and access.

This internship position is part of our OIRS (formerly UHP) program. OIRS, or ORR Initial Resettlement Services, provides comprehensive case management including the following services: housing assistance, employment services, health screenings and vaccinations, medical services and emotional wellness services. Also included are public benefits enrollment, referrals to English classes, school enrollment for children, and direct financial assistance. This internship position is essential in bridging communication gaps, ensuring accurate and effective translation between clients and staff. The interpreter plays a key role in supporting the mission of the program by enabling smooth interactions and promoting understanding between individuals who speak different languages.

Our Health Promotion team is collaborating with our Afghan Youth Mentorship team to bring Art Therapy and our "Chai and Chat" programs to the Pashto-speaking female community! We are currently looking for 1-2 female Pashto-speakers to support us in this initiative.

This internship is a key role within our Digital Literacy and Skills Program. The intern will be responsible for outreach and intake processes to identify individuals who qualify for the program’s services. This includes engaging with both our existing client base and the broader community we serve, explaining the program, answering questions, and assisting with enrollment. By supporting our mission to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved communities, the intern will help ensure that eligible participants have access to essential digital literacy resources and skills training. This role is crucial to expanding the reach and impact of our program, enabling individuals to gain the skills necessary for personal, educational, and professional growth.

The Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS) Intern will assist the HSPRS Team with the provision of services to recently arrived unaccompanied children (UCs) as they adjust to their new lives in the US. The intern will have the opportunity to play a key role in providing organizational support to the HSPRS Team by performing a variety of clerical and administrative duties, in addition to helping to build a strong network with community providers who can provide key services to clients.

The ESL Class Volunteers will support the IRC-LA Integration Team with teaching weekly English as a Second Language classes. Our Adult Education team will guide and supervise this role through provided textbooks and materials, and is looking for volunteers to begin ASAP.

The IRC in Los Angeles's Employment Training Panel provides job readiness training, digital literacy, and financial literacy to newcomers and current clients that hold work authorizations in search of job opportunities. The Employment Training Panel aims to help refugees achieve self-sufficiency through paid employment and retain employment for more than 90 days (or a minimum of 500 work hours). The Employment Training Panel volunteer will assist the Workforce Literacy Program Specialist with the management of the Employment Training Panel, as well as assist clients to prepare for and secure their first job in the US on a 1:1 basis.

The Citizenship Class Volunteer will serve refugees and members of the local immigration community by providing information about the civics and US history courses offered by IRC-LA. They will work closely with the IRC-LA Civics & ESL Instructor to help facilitate the various learning activities of Citizenship instruction.

The Financial Coaching Volunteer will support the IRC by working one on one with refugees, asylees, sponsors of unaccompanied children, and other immigrants to learn the basics of building a budget, opening a bank account, building credit, and other aspects of financial literacy.

Welcome Home Volunteers help our Reception and Placement Team to ensure our new arrivals' homes are welcoming. We rely on volunteers to help us source home goods to achieve this. Volunteers can also help store bulkier items at their residences or deliver furniture and appliances directly to our clients. Both individuals and groups are encouraged to apply!

The Economic Empowerment Intern is an intern position to support IRC-LA's financial education program. This program aims to increase the financial literacy of participants, provide them with financial coaching and access to low-interest loans. This program aims to empower participants and boost their confidence to handle their personal finances. The Economic Empowerment intern will support the program by providing financial coaching and counseling services to program participants, while also coordinating monthly financial education workshops for all IRC clients. The intern will also engage in outreach to external organizations as well as putting together loan packages for clients.