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Refugee and Asylee Mentor Volunteer
ORGANIZATION: Liberty Lutheran Services
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- A group opportunity. Invite your friends.
-
DONATE TO THIS
ORGANIZATION -
21 people are interested
Refugee and Asylee Mentor Volunteer
Position Overview
The Lutheran Children and Family Service Refugee Resettlement Program is a local affiliate of the National Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which assists refugees and asylees through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State. When a refugee family arrives to the area, Lutheran Children and Family Service is responsible for gathering available resources, finding housing and employment, and providing general cultural orientation. Our refugee resettlement services are designed to create a smooth transition to life in the local community and to promote economic self-sufficiency.
The purpose of the Refugee Mentor Program is to create an opportunity for refugees and asylees to interact with community members in a way that helps them integrate effectively into their new community and become self-sufficient. You and your mentee will explore goals and how to work towards them. What is most important in this process is working together. The purpose of the program is not necessarily to achieve these goals by the end of the mentorship but to support mentees as they gain the knowledge and skills needed to work towards these goals.
Key Responsibilities
Mentors help in a variety of ways according to the needs or interests of their refugee mentee(s) as well as by the guidelines set out in the Needs Assessment.
- Be a Friend. Mentors develop a friendship with the family by ensuring that you are someone to go out and do things within the community and American traditions.
- Be a teacher.As a teacher it is important to work collaboratively with your mentee to reinforce topics learned in their English classes or go over different topics from cultural orientation.
- Be an advocate. Help refugees with specific problems reported to you that might require some advocacy or knowledge of "how the system works."
Impact on Organization
Volunteers will support refugee families' transition to the U.S by helping them feel connected and integrated in their new community. Volunteers will be a key person of rapport and trust whenever refugees have concerns or questions.
Training
All volunteers will receive an official volunteer orientation with Lutheran Children and Family Service in addition to an on-site training with the site coordinator.
Commitment
- Mentors are expected to spend at least 10 to 20 hours with their family per month. Each Mentor is expected to work with the family for at least 6 months.
- Mentors are expected to be in contact with their mentees at least once a week and to meet their mentees face to face at least every two weeks.
- Inform the Case Manager as soon as possible of commitment changes.
Qualifications
- Ability to listen nonjudgmentally
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Cross-cultural experience preferred
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Fluency in Arabic, Burmese, Nepali, Tigrinya, Kinyarwanda, Dari, Pashto, and/or Swahili highly desired but NOT mandatory
- Our refugee families mainly live in Northeast Philadelphia with a few families in South Philadelphia. You MUST be able to commute by car or SEPTA to these areas.
Benefits
Volunteers are likely to gain a sense of personal fulfillment from the close relationships they will form with refugee families.
PA Criminal Background Check and Child Abuse clearances are required.
If interested, fill out a volunteer application at: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=1298247562 If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Amanda Beardall at amandab@lcfsinpa.org.
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About Liberty Lutheran Services
Location:
7002 Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002, US
Mission Statement
Liberty Lutheran faithfully accompanies and empowers individuals and families by honoring choices and promoting well-being. We do this through our unique approach to housing, healthcare, and wellness services that address every stage of the advancing years.
Description
Liberty’s faith-based, non-profit organization impacts the health and well-being of more than 10,000 senior adults through a dynamic range of services and lifestyle options including senior living communities, in-home senior care, senior wellness programs, and community and congregational programs, outreach, and support.
We remain dedicated to accommodating each individual’s unique preferences through the variety of different avenues we provide to age successfully, maintain health, nurture inspiration, build resiliency, and/or renew hope.
The Liberty Lutheran family of services includes: Artman, Paul's Run, The Hearth at Drexel, The Village at Penn State, The Becoming Center, Liberty at Home, Liberty Hospice, LCFS’ West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, Lutheran Congregational Services, and Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA. Liberty is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and recognized by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
5401 Rising Sun AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19120
DATE POSTED
September 23, 2015
SKILLS
- Cross-cultural Communication
GOOD FOR
- People 55+
- Group
REQUIREMENTS
- Background Check
- Orientation or Training
- 10-20 hours per month for at least six months