Current opportunities
Refugee Youth Summer Academy (RYSA) Volunteer
At all grade levels (kindergarten, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12) RYSA volunteers will assist with guiding a self-contained classroom, supporting English literacy and ESL instruction through various subject matter (i.e. US History, Health, etc.), and facilitate other specialized activities such as art or music. Each RYSA volunteer is expected to support the ESL Lead Teacher and psychology doctoral student as they implement a culturally and age-appropriate curriculum for a class of approximately 15 students. Given the varied English levels and formal educational experiences of the student body, the RYSA volunteer must be flexible and comfortable with using various methods for teaching English Language Learners. Throughout their classroom activities, RYSA volunteers will be expected to contribute to the program’s goals of fostering students’ English competence and social-emotional development. All applicants must be older than 17 years old.
Refugee Youth Summer Academy Volunteer Activity Facilitator
At all grade levels (kindergarten, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12) Activity Facilitators will develop, implement, and supervise activities such as art, music, dance, theater, etc. The specialty area will be determined based upon the candidate’ area of expertise. Each Activity Facilitator is expected to implement a culturally and age appropriate activity for a class of approximately 15 students for approximately 30-50 minutes, infusing principles from the IRC Safe Healing and Learning Spaces model. Given the varied English levels and formal education experiences of the student body, the Activity Facilitator must be flexible and comfortable with using various methods for engaging with English Language Learners (ELLs). Throughout their specialized activity, facilitators will be expected to contribute to the program’s goals of fostering students’ English competence and social-emotional development. Candidates will be working with a variety of class levels. All applicants must be experienced in their specialty area.
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 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 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.
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.