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 a friend 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.
You must be at least 16 years old to volunteer 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).
BRIDGES Summer Lead Teacher
Work closely with the K-12 Program Coordinator and classroom support volunteers to lead the classroom with relevant and effective basic literacy, numeracy lessons, and other activities for refugee students. Lead Teachers are responsible for welcoming students in the mornings, teaching lessons, leading classroom activities, games, snack and lunch times, and supporting any needs that arise for program efficiency. Learn more here.
BRIDGES Summer Classroom Support
Work closely with the K-12 Program Coordinator and lead teachers to support and provide relevant and effective teachings for refugee students at a beginner literacy level. Classroom support volunteers are responsible for welcoming students in the mornings, assisting with basic literacy and numeracy lessons, being involved with activities, games, snack and lunch times, and supporting any needs that arise for program efficiency. Learn more here.
BRIDGES Summer Intern
Interns are responsible for welcoming students in the mornings, assisting with the Summer BRIDGES program, being involved with activities, games, snack and lunch times, and supporting any needs that arise. Interns must also go on field trips and assist with various tasks and responsibilities necessary for maintaining and supporting effective services for the students. Tasks include assisting the K-12 Program Coordinator with program needs like collecting attendance, data entry, and other responsibilities. Learn more here.
BRIDGES Summer 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 summer BRIDGES program location. Volunteers in this role can choose to drive and not be a part of the program’s day-to-day and ONLY support with transportation. Field trips will occur on some, but not all, Thursdays, so if you choose to volunteer on Thursdays, volunteer drivers may need to help transport students and other volunteers. We ask drivers to transport the same number of students each day. Learn more here.
BRIDGES Summer Outdoor Activity Aid
Volunteers work closely with the K-12 Program Coordinator and other BRIDGES volunteers to support fun and engaging activities for students. Outdoor Activity Aid volunteers are responsible for welcoming students in the mornings, being involved with recess, activities, games, snack and lunch times, and supporting any needs that arise for program efficiency. 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.”