Background: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. IRC teams provide health, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in 50+ countries worldwide. The IRC also provides support to thousands of refugees resettling in 29 U.S. cities each year through initial housing assistance; case management and referral services; job readiness and placement; community and cultural orientation; health and wellness programs; immigration services; and youth programs.

Scope of Volunteer Work: The Survivor Services team works with immigrants and refugees in our community who have survived extreme harm, such as but not limited to human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment and trauma that is associated with our immigration process. Our program has identified a gap within our community between ESL resources for clients and individuals to learn and work in a new environment and documentation required for those clients to participate. In response to this need, we are opening a new class, supporting youth in our community in learning ESL in an experiential learning format for six weeks at KCLS locations in the greater Seattle area. For the summer, there is always a need to continue the learning momentum for new readers and continue to maintain their engagement with their education, a common place for youth to find community. After onboarding, tutors will be paired with a group of students on a weekly basis through the end of the summer to practice ESL through various socio-emotional learning activities. After passing a background check, tutors will participate in safeguarding trainings before being assigned to a youth.

Location: Various King County Library locations

Time Commitment: Approximately five-hour weekly commitment during a six-week period summer 2024, starting July 9th. We ask that prospective volunteers be certain that they can commit through the entire summer. Volunteer inconsistency inhibits learning and trust between youth and volunteer.

Essential Position Functions:

 

  • Provide engaging group material to a group of youth focusing in ESL, reading, essential social-emotional skills
  • Participate in engaging activities provided through pre assigned curriculum and provide feedback and insight to the curriculum based on feedback from
  • Maintain an education environment that is open and accessible to all students regardless of culture, access, and educational background
  • Ability to manage and facilitate large and small working groups with pre-existing criteria
  • Work with team to create lesson plans based on pre-existing criteria
  • Serve as a reliable and weekly support for youth and foster a safe and holistic learning environment

Requirements:

  • Must be culturally sensitive, respectful of diverse backgrounds, and willing to work with English language learners, previous cross-cultural communication experience a plus
  • Ability to handle sensitive client information confidentially.
  • Ability to read, write, and communicate in English;  ability to communicate in a refugee language (ex. Pashto, Dari, Spanish, Persian, French, Ukrainian/Russian, Swahili, Arabic, Tigrinya) helpful, but not required
  • TESL/TEFL certification encouraged but not required
  • Past teaching experience encouraged but not required
  • Ability to pass background check required
  • Willingness to adhere to IRC volunteer and workplace policies
  • An encouraging and positive attitude is a must!

How to apply:

1. Email [email protected]and[email protected] with a copy of a CV and cover letter.

2. Volunteer Coordinator or IRC staff will follow up.

 

Reports to: WARN bilingual advocate for minor survivors of labor trafficking

Updated: May 2024