Volunteer with the Refugee Education Center
Dedicating your valuable resource of time will create a more welcoming West Michigan and positively impact the lives of local refugee students.
“These children straddle multiple cultures and identities. With that, they bring so much beauty and excitement into this program. My role as a volunteer is to follow the Refugee Education Center programming designed to give these children a strong foundation to succeed as they grow in the United States.”
Join us in supporting our new American neighbors on their journeys to become fully participating community members and by being friends in this time of change!
Please review our current volunteer positions below and complete the form at the bottom of the page to indicate your interest.
To volunteer, you must be at least 16 years old and pass a background check. Hands Connected volunteers must also be tested for TB.
Volunteer Positions
Volunteer Office Assistant (Occasional Opportunities)
Volunteer office assistants help program and department staff at our main office with organization and administrative tasks, such as filling backpacks with school supplies for refugee students and lending a hand with mailing campaigns.
Early Childhood Education Classroom Aid (Monday - Friday)
Volunteer classroom aids assist teachers at our early childhood education center, Hands Connected. Volunteer aids interact with the children and are involved in scheduled activities, including snack time, art, music and dance, and outdoor play. Aids are supervised by Refugee Education Center staff at all times. Volunteers do not assist children in the bathroom or change diapers. Commonly, volunteer classroom aids help in the mornings (9:00 - 11:30 am) and the afternoons (3:00 - 5:00 pm).
Project Faulu Facilitator
Project Faulu Facilitators are responsible for welcoming students in the afterschool program, facilitating games, snack time & discussions, thematic activities designed by program staff, and reading to and with students. Volunteers must volunteer two days a week for one or desirably two semesters. Learn more here.
Project Faulu Intern
Project Faulu Interns work closely with the K-12 Programs Coordinator and team of other volunteers to provide a supportive and engaging learning environment for students with a refugee background. Tasks include assisting the K-12 Programs Coordinator on program needs such as collecting volunteer reports and student records from schools, conducting analysis of various program feedback and assessments, while assisting in the day-to-day responsibilities. Learn more here.
Project Faulu Driver
Drivers work closely with the K-12 Program Coordinator and are responsible for safely transporting the students to and from their homes and the Project Faulu program location. Pick up times will be around 4:00pm to ensure student arrival by 4:30pm. Volunteers must volunteer two days a week for one or desirably two semesters. Learn more here.
Once we receive your information, a Refugee Education Center team member will contact you regarding next steps.
If you have questions, please email anna@refugeeeducationcenter.org.
“When I first started as a volunteer, it didn’t take long for me to realize that this was going to be a mutually beneficial relationship. Right away, I was learning and growing along with the students I encountered. They had so much to teach me about themselves and their experience, as well as about myself and my community.”