Volunteer Coordinator for Refugee Families

Digest topic: Jobs & Internships

Information

organization:Lutheran Community Services Northwest
position summary:

Volunteer 15 hours per week through LINKS AmeriCorps Member program for 9 months (Start Date January 5th, 2010) working directly with refugees and immigrants arriving to the Portland Metro area from Iraq, Burma, Bhutan and several African countries. The Refugee and Immigrant Success and Education (RISE) program provides adults and children from diverse communities with culturally and linguistically appropriate English lessons and activities that empower them to address housing, food, educational and health needs upon arrival in the United States. You will work closely with Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s (LCSNW) Multicultural Services staff to recruit, interview, train and support approximately 20 Family Literacy volunteers who provide in-home English language (ESL) instruction for up to 20 refugee or immigrant families. You will work primarily with adult female Family Literacy volunteers who are more easily accepted into refugee families and homes given cultural, religious and family norms of the target communities. Application deadline December 17, 2009. Please complete your application on line at the Americorps website and send your resume to [email protected]

Salary / Pay Rate:This is an Americorps Volunteer position. · A taxable living allowance of $3,150 divided into 9 monthly increments of $350. · Upon successful completion of a term of service, eligible members receive an education award of $1,800. The education award can be used to repay qualified student loans, for further education in an accredited institution of higher learning, vocational or for trade schools. The education award is taxed in the year that it is used. · Loan forbearance (after successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps will pay a portion of the accrued interest on qualified loans, which is taxable).
Required Skills and Abilities:Applicants should be Self-directed, organized and mature in work and social attitude. Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills. Must be able to provide ESL training (with support) and recruit and manage adult literacy volunteers. Must have basic computer (Word, Excel) and internet researching skills. Demonstrated cross-cultural competency, preferably familiar with African, Middle Eastern and Asian cultures.
Qualifications:We are looking for applicants who are self-directed, organized and mature with a passion for empowering women and their families across cultural groups. Applicants should be prepared to grow into greater job responsibilities throughout the 9 month commitment. Knowledge of ESL or ELL teaching and/or literacy teaching experience a strong plus. Personal desire to engage both adults and children in language acquisition/learning process. Applicants must be US citizens, 21 years of age or older and able to commit to the full 9 month term (January-September 2010)as an Americorps Volunteer/LINKS member.
Education Required:College degree
Other:Equal Opportunity Employer
website link:Apply to [email protected] and for information about LCSNW 's Refugee Resettlment Programs go to www.lcsnw.org