Needs From: United Way of Greater Charlottesville

TITLE:  ESL Tutor Volunteer

LOCATION:  Charlottesville

START DATE: October 2019

DURATION: ongoing

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict.  Domestically, our 22 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.

Location: Client's home or another agreed-upon loaction.

Time Commitment: Minimum 6 month commitment. Minimum 2 hours per week. 

Responsbilities: Help newly arrived refugees learn English, and practice verbal and written communication. Serve as a friendly face and resource for clients to help them more easily integrate into the community.

Skills/Qualifications: Volunteers must have an excellent command of the English language, be culturally sensitive and respectful of diverse backgrounds, self-motivated and comfortable working with little supervision, and able to handle sensitive client information confidentially. Patience and creativity go a long way in this vital, independent role. Previous tutoring experience or knowledge of a second language is helpful, but not required. The IRC offers ESL training and optional curriculum as well as a limited number of additional resources.

This position reports to Katie Heroux.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.  

 ESL Class Assistants provide support with English language lessons, cultural orientation, and friendship to newly arrived refugee individuals or families in a classroom setting. Class Assistants will concentrate on improving the client’s employability and ability to communicate and succeed in their new life by building practical vocabulary, answering their questions, and encouraging them with social interaction and support.

The IRC in Charlottesville provides Cultural Orientation to newly-arrived refugees on Fridays at the IRC office. Additionally, ESL and Digital Literacy Classes are held daily where clients may bring their children with them. Child Watch volunteers help entertain children in a child-friendly corner of our classroom, while their parents attend class. Children and volunteers will always be in the presence of the parent(s) and the English instructor. 

The IRC houses a "Resettlement Store" where refugees can place an order for donated items. Volunteers will fulfil orders and then deliver items to clients. This volunteer role involves the delivery of items to clients.

The Medical Transportation Volunteer will work closely with the Health Liaison and Healthy Futures AmeriCorps member to assist with addressing clients’ transportation needs to medical appointments, as well as other tasks that ensure that clients’ health needs are being met.

Provide round-trip transportation to Youth events.

New Roots Charlottesville supports refugee food security and aids in their transition to the community through gardening, nutrition education, local food access initiatives and small business farming. IRC currently manages New Roots Farm and a few community gardens around town, in addition to providing training and support to numerous additional locations. Help staff and farmers out with ongoing projects (e.g. planting, cleaning, harvesting, organizing, etc).