Volunteer Mentors
ORGANIZATION: EMBARC: Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center
Please visit the new page to apply.
EMBARC has an immediate need for Mentors for our Refugee Health Navigator Project. The Refugee Health Navigator Project reduces barriers for Refugees in accessing quality healthcare. The Health Navigators are members of the Burma refugee community who receive lessons on basic healthcare topics for dissemination in small, language-appropriate learning circles.
Mentors will assist Refugee Health Navigators with the development and delivery of learning circle lessons on basic healthcare topics. Healthcare experience is beneficial, but not necessary. EMBARC requests a general commitment of two hours a week; time which is flexible, varied and largely determined by Mentor and Mentee.
To apply, please fill out Volunteer Application- (enter website address) and submit to: rachel@embarciowa.org
More opportunities with EMBARC: Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About EMBARC: Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center
Location:
4801 Franklin Ave., Suite 1159, Des Moines, IA 50310, US
Mission Statement
The Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC) was originally founded in 2012 to help new refugees from Burma successfully settle in Iowa. In 2016, our reach expanded to empower other newly arriving refugee groups through our RISE AmeriCorps program. As Iowa’s first and only refugee-led service provider, our approach is different. EMBARC better understands not only the challenges, but also the dreams and potential of refugee families. We believe that in order to help a community, the individuals within must feel empowered to help themselves. By serving as the collective voice of different ethnic groups, EMBARC strives to address shared issues and uplift all refugee communities. Our ultimate goal is to create opportunities for all refugees in Iowa by removing barriers and fostering equity and inclusion. EMBARC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Des Moines, Iowa, with a satellite office in Waterloo, and programs statewide.
Description
In 2008 and 2009, Karenni, Karen, Chin, Shan, Mon and Rakhine refugees from Burma started resettling to Iowa after fleeing Burma’s 70-year civil war, the longest running civil-war in the world. Since then, over 1 million people have been forced to flee Burma - and nearly 10,000 refugees from Burma have made Iowa home.
Upon arrival in the United States, refugee families receive about 90 days of assistance from a caseworker to help them learn about their new home. That’s not much time when there’s so much to learn. As refugees continued to arrive from Burma, leaders from the refugee community did all they could to help - but they soon realized that many families were still struggling with day-to-day tasks such as understanding mail, writing checks, getting children to school and learning English.
That’s when seven community advocates from three different ethnic organizations (the Karen Association of Iowa, The Chin Baptist Church and the Karenni association) and Henny Ohr, a Korean-American advocate and longtime friend and volunteer, gathered to discuss their vision of a united refugee organization that understands the strengths and challenges of the community and leads in creating solutions. Together they formed EMBARC in 2012 to provide support from refugees and for refugees through advocacy, education and community development. In January 2013, EMBARC obtained 501(c)(3) status.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
2309 Euclid AvenueDes Moines, IA 50310
DATE POSTED
May 21, 2015
SKILLS
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- 2 hours per week