Current opportunities
Summer Program Volunteer Activity Facilitator
In August 2018, IRC in New Jersey will host a three- week summer program focusing on English as a Second Language (ESL) enrichment for refugee youth living in Elizabeth and Roselle, New Jersey. The Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) will serve up to 90 students in classes, aged 5 –20, from at least 10 countries. Students will engage in ESL, creative arts, sports, field trips, and other activities. The Activity Facilitator will work closely with the Youth Program Coordinator, Education Specialist, and classroom staff to reinforce English language learning and psychosocial support with refugee youth in a positive and healing environment.
Summer Program Volunteer Assistant Teacher
Since 2011, the IRC has resettled hundreds of refugees youth to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The trauma of being forced from their homes, prolonged separation from loved ones, displacement, language barriers and poor or lapsed education compounds the academic challenges faced by refugee youth. IRC currently works with over 100 refugee students enrolled in 17 Elizabeth Public Schools, as well as 4 Roselle Public Schools, with new students arriving each month. IRC’s youth program works in collaboration with schools and families to overcome barriers and promote the academic and social success of refugee students.
Summer Program Classroom Volunteer
Since 2011, the IRC has resettled hundreds of refugee youth to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The trauma of being forced from their homes, prolonged separation from loved ones, displacement, language barriers and poor or lapsed education compounds the academic challenges faced by refugee youth. IRC currently works with over 100 refugee students enrolled in 17 Elizabeth Public Schools, as well as 4 Roselle Public Schools, with new students arriving each month. IRC’s youth program works in collaboration with schools and families to overcome barriers and promote the academic and social success of refugee students.
Career Development Intern
The career development intern focuses on assisting clients through career counseling to advance beyond entry-level jobs and to resume their professional careers after resettlement.
Refugee Empowerment Casework Intern
The intern will work with refugees and other humanitarian entrants up to five years after they have arrived in the United States.
Intensive Case Management Intern
The intern assists staff in providing intensive case management services to newly arrived refugees with medical/mental health needs, and helps refugee families access health care.
Volunteer Adult ESL Instructor
The IRC in New Jersey seeks volunteer ESL Instructors to facilitate English language learning among recently arrived adult refugees who have fled persecution in their home country and are rebuilding their lives in New Jersey.
Volunteer Adult ESL Tutor
The IRC in New Jersey seeks volunteer tutors to support English language learning among recently arrived adult refugees who have fled persecution in their home country and are rebuilding their lives in New Jersey.
Volunteer Professional Refugee Mentor
The mentee and mentor will meet approximately three hours per week or twice a month, to discuss training opportunities, networking events/contact information for relevant professionals in the industry.
Volunteer Interpreters
Volunteer interpreters will provide interpretation and translation on an on-call basis for clients and staff. Volunteer Interpreters needed (Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Kiswahili, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Tigrinya and Other Languages).
Citizenship and Immigration Intern
The Immigration Program provides fee-based services to refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants and other immigrants in New Jersey. The intern will work closely with IRC staff to provide legal services to clients seeking assistance with various forms of immigration.
Front Desk Intern/Volunteer
The Front Desk Volunteer will provide coverage for the reception desk, greet, direct client walk-ins, and schedule client appointments with appropriate staff.
Refugee Employment Intern
This intern will work closely with our employment specialist to help newly arrived refugees, asylees, and Cuban/Haitian entrants find and retain employment.
Refugee Resettlement Intern
The new arrival casework Intern will assist case management staff in providing reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees as they adjust to their new lives in the US.
Volunteer process
Review our current available volunteer positions and choose 3 that best fit your interests, skills, and schedule.
Complete a volunteer application by following this link. You will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator as needs arise for your chosen position.
After your application is reviewed, you may be selected for an interview.
Once the interview is confirmed and conducted, successful interviewees will complete the necessary background checks. To protect our clients, we require background checks for all our volunteers, and we ask volunteers to make a $49 donation to cover associated costs. Currently, 92% of our funding goes directly to our clients, and your help to cover this cost allows us to continue providing the best service possible. This step can add 1-2 weeks to the process, but is typically very fast.
Once cleared, you will attend a general orientation before training and scheduling the first day.