Volunteering at Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

Volunteers play an important role in extending and augmenting IRCO’s services to immigrants and refugees. Most of our volunteers work directly with clients, establishing working relationships and developing skills in teaching, mentoring, and intercultural communication.

 

Select from the following areas for volunteer opprotunities:

• Refugee ESL Tutoring

  Refugee ESL Tutors work one-on-one with adult refugees to teach survival and vocational English. This is an excellent opportunity to improve teaching skills, practice cross-cultural communication, and be exposed to Portland's refugee communities. Tutors are provided with an orientation, observation classes, a teaching manual, and ongoing support. Tutors are provided with general teaching materials, but also expected to plan lessons specific to their students' needs.

  Volunteers commit to at least 3 ½ hours per week (two hours of tutoring, an hour of lesson planning, plus transportation) for 4 months. Program hours are flexible and locations are available throughout the community. Having access to flexible transportation may be necessary from some locations.

• Refugee Computer Lab Assisting

  Refugee Computer Lab Assistants guide students in practice of computer basics, such as opening files, printing, saving, and formatting, and demonstrate teacher-led activities such as mouse use keyboarding placement, opening programs, and searching the Internet.
  Volunteers should posses intermediate computer skills, including keyboarding at 30 wpm.

  Volunteer hours will be irregular and ‘on call,’ but will always be weekdays, Monday – Thursday, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.  The computer lab is at the IRCO main building, 10301 NE Glisan Street.

• Youth Tutoring and Mentoring

  After School Program for Immigrant and Refugee Education

  IRCO’s After School Program for Immigrant and Refugee Education (ASPIRE) seeks reliable and flexible volunteers to tutor and potentially mentor its youth.  ASPIRE serves the Latino, Slavic and Asian Pacific Islander students at three southeast Portland schools -- Binnsmead, Marysville and Lent.  We work with students in grades 4 through 8 and their families by providing bi-lingual/bi-cultural case management services to children and their families to enhance the educational abilities of the students and increase parent involvement and understanding of the school system. 

  IRCO's Successful School Transition Program

  The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) seeks reliable and responsible volunteers to assist two 8th grade males at a middle school in SE Portland from 3:30-5pm on either Tuesdays or Thursday. The person should be flexible, patient, reliable, and comfortable working with youth. Interview and background check required.

  IRCO’s David Douglas Mentoring Project

  David Douglas Mentoring Project (DDMP) is seeking energetic volunteer mentors interested in supporting  elementary and middle school students who would benefit from interactions with a caring adult.

  DDMP is a one-on-one mentoring program that matches a student from the David Douglas School District with an adult mentor from the community.  Students selected for the program are those with highest needs (low academic performance, behavior issues, language and cultural barriers) and could benefit from having a positive role model.
  The students we serve are from Lincoln Park Elementary, Mill Park Elementary, and Ron Russell Middle School, and are in grades 4 through 8.  Mentors will meet with their mentees at least one hour a week at their school after the school day.

  Tutor Immigrant and Refugee Youth for ASPIRE
  The After School Program for Immigrant and Refugee Education seeks dedicated and responsible volunteers to tutor individuals or small groups on Tuesdays at Marysville School from 3:45-4:45, and/or Wednesdays from 3:00-4:30 at Lent School. Tutoring experience not required, but desire to work with children, interview, and background check are.

  Tutor Immigrant and Refugee Youth for African and Slavic SSSES
  The African Social and Support Services for Educational Success program seeks tutors and instructor assistants to help teach ESL, math and US acculturation to African refugees at David Douglas High School on Wednesdays from 2:40-5pm.
  The Slavic Social and Support Services for Educational Success program seek tutors and  program staff assistants to help tutor in ESL, math and literacy to Slavic immigrants and refugees at David Douglas High School on Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm. SSSES is also looking for tutors to help elementary students with ESL and literacy—dates can be flexible. Tutoring experience not required, but desire to work with children, interview, and background check are.  

• RIFS Program Mentor

  Make a difference in the life of a refugee or immigrant survivor of domestic violence in IRCO's Refugee and Immigrant Family Strengthening (RIFS) program. The RIFS Mentor program is designed to assist case managers with support services to clients. Mentors work one-on-one with clients and/or their children to help them access community resources, improve their life skills, and negotiate the social and legal systems. Mentors/Volunteers with bilingual skills frequently act as interpreters.

  Duties will vary according to the volunteer's skills and interests, but we ask for a commitment of at least 5 hours per month for a minimum of 6 months. Hours are available Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm. IRCO staff will provide an orientation, an intensive training, and support. Volunteers work primarily on-site at IRCO, but may need access to independent transportation to reach other locations.

• RIFS Program ESL Teacher

  This is a unique opportunity to help survivors of domestic violence achieve self-sufficiency by helping them build the English language skills they need to communicate with police, health care workers, and case managers. Classes also cover women's rights under state and federal law and provide information about resources and safety. RIFS staff will provide orientation, training, curriculum, materials and support.

  Volunteers commit to training time plus approximately 4 hours per week for eight weeks. Classes are held at sites throughout the Portland Metro Area.

• Childcare Activity Specialist

  Interact with children from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in IRCO’s Refugee and Immigrant Family Strengthening (RIFS) Childcare Program. Volunteer roles include organizing activities, reading stories, playing games and more with children between the ages of 1- 6. This allows the children’s mothers to attend ESL classes, which is an important step in their transition to their new life in the United States. The RIFS Program will provide an orientation and support.

  Commit to 3 hours a week for 2 months. Program hours and location vary.

General Volunteer Information

Volunteer Coordinator
Contact (503) 234-1541 x 219
Download - Volunteer Application