WMRECC Volunteer/Internship Positions

The West Michigan Refugee Education and Cultural Center is, in large part, dependent on volunteer help. We are always recruiting for the following volunteer and intern positions. If you or anyone you know are interested in any of these, please feel free to contact our volunteer coordinator Salome Campbell – salome @westmirefugee.org

Tutor (Volunteer)

West Michigan Refugee Education and Cultural center tutors are responsible for tutoring students attending the after school program at least once a week. Tutors will communicate progress and/or issues to be addressed to family coordinators of student(s) worked with.

Site Administrative Intern

The intern will assist with administering reading tests, collection and maintenance of student data (report cards, school feedback), as well as assisting the WMRECC staff on program needs that help maximize the students’ educational experience.

Research and Development Intern

Research and Development Interns work directly with the Executive Director to develop cultural profiles on refugee groups in the Grand Rapids community. Interns are responsible for the development of information, resources, and trainings pertinent to the needs of West Michigan Refugee Education and Cultural Center’s outreach and volunteer development work.

School Liaison Intern

The School Liaison Interns will develop, facilitate, and report on Peer Support Group meetings of middle- and/or high-school refugee students. Peer Support Groups are 2-hour after school meetings that meet weekly for 8-week sessions. Interns will be trained in the curriculum, and will work with each other and the Program Coordinator to ensure student engagement, learning, and comfort with the group and the material. They will also be responsible for helping to manage the relationship between WMRECC and the host school, as well for providing a safe, relaxed, and educational space for members of the group. In addition, the School Liaison Interns will assist with the collection and maintenance of student data in order to facilitate accurate and timely reporting for the School Impact Grant.

Parent Mentoring Intern

The Parent Mentor assists with facilitating small group parent workshops for recently arrived refugee parents of school-aged children. The workshops will run for 6 weeks at a time. Through these workshops, the mentor will develop relationships with parents and serve as a friend and a resource, empowering parents within their families, communities, and schools. The Parent Mentor will be expected to be accessible to members of the workshop by phone, within boundaries established by the Parent Mentor and Program Coordinator. Areas covered include parent-teacher roles, supporting your students’ academic success, behavior and discipline, Internet safety, and nutrition. The mentor is also encouraged to maintain an informal relationship with the parents after the workshops are completed

Peer Support Intern

The Peer Support Group Facilitation Intern will work with the Program Coordinator to organize and conduct an 8-week peer support course for middle and high school refugee students. The course will place emphasis on educational and cultural tools, as well as peer support relationships.

Volunteer Interpreter

WMRECC interpreters will assist the center with providing interpretation and translation services to refugee students and their parents in a variety of contexts including school orientations and program enrollments, parent workshops, transcript translation, and phone communication as needed.

Volunteer ESL Instructors

The ESL instructor will play the crucial role of educating our non-English speaking adults the fundamentals of language necessary to live and work efficiently in contemporary American society. The curriculum will focus on the Basic English skills relating to day-to-day living, as well as a special focus on US culture, history and government.