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 middleand/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.