Volunteer Title: Project Faulu Facilitator
Status: Volunteer position, unpaid
Hours: 2 hours a day, 2 days a week Days: Mondays and Wednesdays OR Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Reports To: K-12 Programs Coordinator Commitment Period: September 30-December 12, 2024
Location: 2130 Enterprise St SE Kentwood, MI
Summary:
Project Faulu volunteers work closely with the K-12Programs Coordinator and a team of other volunteers to provide a supportive and engaging learning environment for students with a refugee background. Project Faulu is our K-8 program designed specifically for children with a refugee background, focusing on language and culture, creativity and inquiry, academic engagement, and positive social skills. Our goal is to provide students with opportunities to learn in a community of peers and volunteers.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. The Project Faulu Program runs on Monday and Wednesdays and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30pm-6:30pm. Volunteers must volunteer twodays per week (either Monday and Wednesday OR Tuesday and Thursday), for one, and ideally two, semester(s).Initial and ongoing training/check-ins are required.
REC Misson Statement: We support refugees in their journey to become fully participating members of the West Michigan community. We envision a thriving, multicultural West Michigan community where all have an opportunity to pursue a better future!
Volunteer Duties
Commit to volunteering consistently on a weekly basis, for the duration of at least one full semester
Review activity plans of session to ensure comprehension of activities and materials in advance
Facilitate activities with up to three students per session.
Support and engage K-8 students attending the Refugee Education Center by:
Engaging fully in all elements of the daily schedule, such as games, snack & discussion, thematic activities, reading time, clean up and reporting
Facilitating thematic activities designed by program staff
Reading diverse, multicultural books with students
Engaging students in additional activities such as puzzles, homework support, projects, creative assignments, or any other appropriate activities to support their learning needs
Willingness and interest in learning about student home languages and cultures
Complete daily reporting immediately after conclusion of each volunteering session
Demonstrate teamwork and integrity with staff, fellow volunteers, students, and their families
Ensure a safe and clean learning environment through assisting with after-program clean up.
Attending all required training courses.
Report issues of concern to Program Coordinator
Desired Qualifications:
Must be age 16 or older
Must be a Michigan Resident or have temporary residency in Michigan
Willingness and ability to pass State and Federal background checks
Some leadership or support experience
Preferred Skills & Competencies:
Ability to work with diverse populations and make students feel welcomed and safe
Self-motivation to identify and support students in their educational and social emotional needs
Documenting the activities of their assigned level through picture taking and sharing pictures with the Program Coordinator
Ability to communicate to Program Coordinator on successes and challenges faced (including what went well and didn’t go well with the various activities)
If interested, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Anna Bundy at: anna@refugeeeducationcenter.org
Or go to our website (refugeeeducationcenter.org) and fill out the volunteer form online.
2130 ENTERPRISE ST SE, KENTWOOD, MI 49508, US
We support refugees in their journey to become fully participating members of the West Michigan community. We envision a thriving, multicultural West Michigan community where all have an opportunity to pursue a better future!
The Refugee Education Center is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Grand Rapids, MI. The organization was founded in 2006 by a passionate group of Somali Bantu refugees who, as an ethnic group in their native country, were persecuted and prohibited to receive formal education. Upon arrival to the United States, community leaders recognized the incredible new opportunity to receive education and participate in the community as equals. They organized and created the The Somali Bantu Community of West Michigan to support their children as they began their new education in a foreign land. The organization grew to support all refugees in 2008 as the West Michigan Refugee Education and Cultural Center - and changed once again to the Refugee Education Center in 2016. While our name has changed, our vision has not. It has been, and is, central to the organization to share the knowledge learned from a first-person perspective of navigating the education system and refugee services and ultimately supporting the estimated 25,000 refugees in West Michigan to become fully participating members of the community (via these program services.)
2130 Enterprise St SEKentwood, MI 49508
August 12, 2024
