Volunteer Opportunities at the Refugee Women’s Alliance

Teaching Assistant – Youth Program

ReWA’s youth program is an after-school and summer program serving 7-14 year old children of refugees and immigrants by offering homework tutoring, cross-cultural & literacy activities and developing leadership and team-building skills. Children are given an opportunity to explore their cultural identity and family history through oral histories, folktales and drama. Volunteer teaching assistants will facilitate small groups of children in reading, writing, and drama exercises. They will also follow and document children’s progress.

Qualifications:

• Desire to work with and help people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Patience, flexibility, and a sense of humor
• Ability to work at least one evening per week in the following time-spots:
  • Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
  • Monday and Wednesday, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
• Willingness to make a six-month commitment to the program
• Background in education and/or drama a plus
• Prefer volunteers belonging to the cultures and speaking the languages of the children, who are primarily Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, Mien, Chinese, Somali, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Eastern European
• Ability to pass a Washington State Patrol background check

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate small groups of four or five children in reading, writing, and drama exercises
• Tutor one-on-one any students who need extra help
• Work with youth coordinator and other volunteers to communicate with children’s teachers and provide feedback to students and parents
• Record students’ progress, attendance, and the number of hours spent volunteering
• Help organize cultural presentations and special events
• Attend quarterly orientations, in-service trainings and feedback sessions
• Evaluate the program quarterly

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