The Volunteer Program at the Refugee Women’s
Alliance
The Volunteer Program
 Volunteers represent the spirit of individual philanthropy by
the generous giving of their time and skills.
At Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA), volunteers contribute significantly
towards the achievement of the agency's mission and goals. The
majority of ReWA's volunteers participate as teachers in the Evening
Tutoring Program, which is a combination of
English
as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes for adults. ReWA
volunteers also participate in the following programs:
-
Youth Program, assisting
with activities in the after-school tutoring program for
children and youth.
-
Early Childhood Education Program, providing care and learning
experiences to 1 to 6 year olds during morning, afternoon, and
evening classes.
ReWA has more than 100 volunteers each year who provide two to
four hours of volunteer service per week in support of ReWA's programs.
Volunteers at ReWA acquire skills in teaching ESL, citizenship,
tutoring school-aged children and interacting with preschoolers. They
also gain knowledge about the issues facing newcomer families,
and help refugee and immigrant adults gain familiarity with United
States culture and resources. Volunteers are invited to attend
all special events at ReWA (including our famous potlucks) as well
as staff and Board events. Most importantly, they participate
in an exciting, community-based effort to make a difference in
the lives of refugee and immigrant women and families.
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"These Strangers,
in a foreign World,
Protection asked of me,
Befriend them lest Yourself in Heaven
Be found a Refugee"
-- Emily
Dickinson, c. 1866 |
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Qualifications: The most important qualification is a desire
to work with and help people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
In all our volunteer positions, past experience is helpful, but
not necessary.
Minimum time commitment:
Due to the training and orientation
required, we ask that volunteers make a commitment of at least
six months. Unless they make other arrangements, volunteers are
scheduled for a 2- to 3-hour period, one day per week. In addition
to this, there may be prep time and, as an ESL or citizenship teacher,
contact/planning time with a teacher partner. We estimate volunteer
teachers need 3 to 4 hours per week to fulfill these responsibilities.
Training: ESL and citizenship volunteers receive a 12-hour
training in cross-cultural information and ESL teaching methods.
The cost to the volunteer is $10. The training is offered monthly
by the Tacoma Community House and is usually held at Seattle Central
Community College on two consecutive Saturdays.
 Orientation: All volunteers (morning, afternoon and evening)
are required to attend a volunteer orientation before the start
of each quarter. Volunteer teachers will meet their teaching partner,
learn how to develop student-centered lessons, look through appropriate
materials and resources for their students, and have a chance to
look at their students’ learning files.
Benefits: As a volunteer at ReWA you will acquire skills
in teaching ESL/citizenship or tutoring school-aged children, gain
knowledge about the issues facing newcomer families, learn about
the social services available to refugees and immigrants, and work
to help refugee and immigrant adults gain familiarity with United
States culture and resources. Volunteers are invited to attend
all special events at ReWA (including our famous potlucks) as well
as staff and board events. Most importantly, you can participate
in an exciting, community-based effort to make a difference in
the lives of refugee and immigrant women and their families.
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On-going Volunteer Opportunities
ReWA has the following volunteer opportunities available:
Individuals who are bilingual in the following language groups
are especially encouraged to apply: Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao, Hmong,
Mien, Cantonese, Mandarin, Amharic, Tigrigna, Oromo and Somali.
If you are interested in volunteering at ReWA in any program other
than the youth program, please contact: Shaun Rose at (206)
721-8441 or by
email.
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