Congregation and Interfaith Group Volunteer Opportunities
HIAS New York's Host Organization Model of Engagement (HOME) Program:
HIAS New York uses a collaborative model that includes a partnership between professional refugee resettlement services and volunteer groups called host organizations. HIAS New York’s partnership with host organizations was first developed in response to an outpouring of support for refugees by Jewish congregations in Westchester County and New York City. This model builds on HIAS’ extensive experience in resettlement and integration, as well as connections with a deeply engaged volunteer network that offers financial and human capital to support our refugee clients. Host organizations, which can be a single congregation or a coalition of congregations, organizations, and/or institutions working together, including interfaith groups, assume the responsibility to welcome newly arrived refugees and SIVs the way a family member would do so. To do so, host organizations support the basic needs of refugee or SIV individuals/families as well as help facilitate integration and self-sufficiency.
In general, host organizations commit to the following:
- Time commitment (6-12 months)
- Varying levels of service commitment (based on capacity)
o Support with initial resettlement core services (during the first 30-90 days upon a refugee's arrival)
o Financial commitment (depending on client situation, between $15,000-$40,000)
o 'Core' group under 10 people
o 1-2 point people to organize
o Must have at least 10 volunteers overall
If you are interested in applying to become a host organization with HIAS New York, please submit an application here. You can also view our manual here.
Interpretation and Translation Opportunities
Volunteer Interpreters and Translators
Volunteer Interpreters and Translators assist with remote interpretation and translation needs to provide ongoing support to refugees, asylees, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders. Under the direction of HIAS staff, the primary responsibility of the interpreter/translator volunteer is to facilitate accurate, culturally competent, and sensitive communication between non-English speaking clients and HIAS staff. All HIAS interpreters and translators are required to undergo HIAS' Volunteer Interpreter/Translator training once accepted.
This role directly impacts the lives, resettlement and legal processes of our clients as they navigate the U.S. refugee resettlement, asylum, and integration process.
*Translators and interpreters spend, on average, two hours per week volunteering their time and language expertise to HIAS’ asylum seeking and resettlement clients in person, over the phone or through remote written translation.
*Languages needed: Russian, Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto, Farsi, Sri Lankan Tamil, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Mentorship Volunteer Opportunities
ENL (English as a New Language) Tutor
ENL Tutors are matched with refugees and asylum seekers with varying levels of English. Students may have little to no English language skills, or may have greater conversational abilities. Through weekly sessions, concentrating on each client’s specific and unique goals, ENL tutors help refugees communicate with their neighbors, employers and service providers. This program is critical for HIAS clients’ long-term success. As an ENL tutor you would create your own engaging lesson plans, or use our tutoring materials to promote learning and cultural sharing. ENL tutors must have prior experience teaching English to non-native English speakers.
*ENL Volunteers meet with their students for two hours per week for a duration of five months.
Career Mentor
Career Mentors help refugees and asylum seekers navigate employment in the United States. Finding a job is one of the first and most critical steps for our clients, putting them on the road to financial independence and a future career. Career Mentors may assist refugees and asylum seekers by:
Reviewing or creating a resume
Preparing a cover letter
Finding job opportunities via websites such as Indeed.com, Idealist.org, and LinkedIn
Professionals from diverse backgrounds are essential to help guide refugees to find an entry-level job, re-enter former professions, and upgrade current employment!
*Career Mentors meet with their students for two hours per week for a duration of five months.
Corporate/Group Volunteer Opportunities
HIAS New York provides direct services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable immigrants to help them meet basic needs, integrate into their new communities and achieve self-sufficiency. As part of this work, HIAS NY is organizing a series of virtual employment workshops for refugees and asylum seekers who are work authorized. These workshops help clients prepare for job interviews through mock interviewing and resume reviews with volunteers, which will be critical to help them get back on their feet as the economy recovers from COVID-19. These workshops are ideal ways for corporations or groups to engage in direct service volunteering with HIAS.
Employment workshops are made up of three main parts:
- A presentation by HIAS staff on how to get a job, interviewing, negotiating, and more
- One-on-one mock interview practice
- One-on-one resume reviews
For the latter two parts, this is where volunteers share their specialized knowledge and skills to help HIAS clients prepare their resumes and practice interviewing for jobs in their field.
Typically, Employment Workshops occur from 5:30-8 pm ET on a weekday. The workshops can include from 10-12 volunteers. There is a budget requirement to cover HIAS staff time for the planning and implementation of these workshops.
To inquire about planning an Employment Workshop for your organization, please reach out to SJ Renfroe at sarajane.renfroe@hias.org.
