LOCATION
Think College Now Elementary School | 2825 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601 | map link

COMMITMENT
Shift 1: Setup + Event Volunteer - 8 AM to 12 NOON on June 13
Shift 2: Event Volunteer + Cleanup - 12 NOON to 4 PM on June 13
Shift 3: Pre-event Setup Volunteer - 6-8pm on June 12 (day prior)

Lunch will be provided to all volunteers free of charge on June 13.

 

Scope of Work

World Refugee Day (observed globally every June 20) is celebrated locally by IRC Oakland and the East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum (EBRIF) through their annual World Refugee and Immigrant Day Festival. While WRD is observed globally on June 20, this year's WRD festival will take place on June 13, 2026 (Saturday).

The festival/event honors the resilience of displaced communities and highlights their vital cultural and economic contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area. Volunteers will assist with a range of responsibilities on the day of the festival itself, helping ensure smooth running logistics as well as a positive event and attendee experience for all. Responsibilities will be communicated by the event organizers upon signing up as a volunteer.
 

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 45 countries and 29 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 29 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.

The East Bay Refugee and Immigrant Forum (EBRIF) is a coalition of over 35 agencies serving refugees, asylees, and immigrants in the San Francisco East Bay. We work to address gaps in knowledge, identify barriers to service, and strengthen overall service provision on an inter-agency level. We are dedicated to advocating on behalf of displaced persons and immigrants who now reside in the East Bay, and to raising public awareness of refugees and immigrants on all governmental levels.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES (varies depending on your assigned shift):

  • Help with setting up for the event
  • Greet and register attendees
  • Set up and help distribute lunch to eligible attendees and other participants
  • Help monitor the event for overall smooth logistics and a positive experience
  • Help with cleaning up after the event
  • Assist attendees with operating the photo booth

REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be able to commit to your assigned shift
  • Must be able to attend a role orientation meeting before the event, either in-person or virtually
  • Strong communication skills (both interpersonal and with event organizers)
  • Great attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Experience working with multi-cultural populations
  • Ability to adjust as needed to changing circumstances
  • Fluency in Dari/Farsi, Spanish, Amharic, Tigrinya, or Vietnamese preferred but not required
     

STANDARD OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
 

Application Process

Please complete this signup sheet and be sure to list IRC Oakland as the referring organization. If you are a good fit for this opportunity someone from EBRIF will be in touch with you soon. Thank you for your interest and support!