Mentor a Young Adult Refugee

About

Want to help young adult refugees thrive? In the last year, RefugeeOne has welcomed over 700 refugees from all over the world to Chicago - and we need your support to help them adjust to life in their new home!

Volunteers in our In-Home Young Adult Mentorship program will be matched 1:1 with a recently arrived refugee (15-24) to be a friend and role model as they transition to life in Chicago. Mentors help with a range of things, including:

• Working towards education and career goals
• Attending workshops and social events together
• Practicing English
• Sharing culture and hobbies
• ...and more!

Most importantly, you'll serve as a resource and guide to a newcomer.

Interested? Connect with us on VolunteerMatch or email Volunteer Coordinator Cate at volunteer@refugeeone.org!

Skills

• English as a Secondary Language (ESL)
• Literacy / Reading
• Mentoring
• People Skills
• Problem Solving
• Relationship Building

Requirements

• Orientation or Training
• Background Check
• Time Commitment:1-2 hours per week for a minimum of 6 months
• Other Requirements:Ability to regularly commute to Chicago's far north-side neighborhoods (West Ridge, Rogers Park) to meet mentee in their home
• Minimum Age:18

About the Organization

Every year, RefugeeOne serves more than 2,500 refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants of all ages, ethnic groups, faiths, and backgrounds. Our primary focus is to assist these resilient individuals in becoming independent, self-supporting members of their new Chicagoland community. We provide holistic services (housing support, English language training, mental health care, employment coaching, youth programs, dental care, and more - at no cost to program participants!) to help newcomers build flourishing lives in Chicago.