Youth Programs Intern

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 24 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: The Youth Programs at IRC aims to support local refugee and newly arrived immigrant youth through after school programming, family events, and financial/educational workshops. Young children, middle school students, high school students, and whole families are served. The Peacemakers program aims to support high school students in sharing their stories through art, public speaking and civic engagement as well as building leadership and communication skills. The Girls Academy program aims to support high school girls by expanding their scope of experiences, building confidence levels, and creating a safe, supportive social network. Family events range from recreational activities (hiking, game nights, beach trips, etc.)to wellness activities (yoga, coping strategies workshops, etc.). As an intern, the work will be focused on fostering a welcoming multi-cultural environment, and providing support to prepare, implement, and document after school programming, family events, and financial/educational workshops.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The intern will help facilitate high school and/or middle school programs, family events and workshops. The intern will also conduct outreach for events, drive and attend engagements with students and families, and help document program outcomes. With the current state of Covid-19, many programs and family events have transferred smoothly onto digital platforms. Depending on the health guidelines at the time of the internship, intern responsibilities may exist solely, or partially, on a digital platform.

•Help prepare curriculum, facilitate programming, and document outcomes for refugee youth& family events/programs

•Conduct outreach for upcoming programs/events

•Drive clients on field trips or other outings (given that health guidelines allow)

•Assist clients in applying for college/scholarships/FAFSA/jobs, and assist with other client concerns

•Regularly maintain client files, including client correspondence and data entry

•Support cross-department colleagues and collaborations

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

•Interns will practice interpersonal communication skills while engaging with a client population of diverse backgrounds in an educational setting.

•Interns will learn how to provide trauma informed and culturally responsive services to a client population of diverse backgrounds.

•Interns will learn how to coordinate engaging, skill-building activities that serve refugee and immigrant youth and families.