NJ Empower Tutoring Volunteer

LOCATION: Union, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Hudson Counties NJ

START DATE: October 2025

END DATE: February 2026

DURATION: 90 Minutes Twice a Week for 16 Weeks including Training

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. In Elizabeth, the IRC resettles newly arrived refugee families and distributes assistance to eligible humanitarian parolees residing in Union and Somerset counties. The Youth Program at IRC Elizabeth seeks to alleviate systemic and educational barriers by providing school enrollment services, case management and youth-focused programming to forcibly displaced youth in the community.

SCOPE OF VOLUNTEER WORK: The IRC in New Jersey seeks volunteer tutors to support English language learners among newcomer refugee youth who have been settled in New Jersey for nearly 6 months within Union, Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Hudson Counties starting the FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER. Volunteers will work with refugee youth individually WITHIN THE HOMEto improve English language aquisition/learning.Tutors are academic coaches and positive role models who want to help IRC youth succeed in school.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Training & Learning Responsibilities:

• Attend an onsite orientation and training at the IRC Elizabeth office and complete associated IRC online training, surveys, and background check.

Skills & Service Responsibilities:

• Individualized in-home tutoring.

• Tutors should be able to create a welcoming environment that fosters community and learning among student tutees.

• Interact with diverse populations effectively.

• Tutor works with assigned tutees for an hour twice a week for the duration of 14 consecutive weeks.

• Perform/administer knowledge checks/assessments with assigned tutee.

• Utilizing interpretation services when needed.

Accountability & Responsibilities:

• Communicate regularly with the Youth Program Specialist, Youth Program Supervisor, and parents/guardians regarding the tutees progress, tutor support, challenges, etc.

• Comply with office policies and program procedures.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Proven ability to build community within individualized sessions and cultivate the tutees commitment to academic learning.

• Thorough, detailed knowledge and understanding of English grammar with the ability to clearly explain all verbs, tenses, and parts of speech.

• Ability to interact with diverse populations and empathize with people unfamiliar with local culture.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a multicultural environment.

• Ethical and professional conduct that facilitates the building of a respectful, trusting, and collaborative relationship with program staff and tutees.

• Passionate about helping tutees accomplish established learning goals/objectives.

• Demonstrate flexibility, patience, critical thinking/problem solving skills, as well as active listening skills.

• Committed, dependable, and punctual.

• Creative - has a sense of fun!

• Competent technological abilities to use programs such as Google Forms, virtual educational materials/sites effectively, and Google Translate.

• Culturally competent while comfortable and aware of supporting the tutees needs.

• Proficiency in a second language preferred: Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, and/or Swahili.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Have reliable transportation to and from the assigned tutees home twice a week for 14 consecutive weeks and rescheduling when necessary.

• Attend all dates of the required orientation/training - Projected for the first two weeks of October.

• Complete Salesforce Application and pass a background check.

• Sign all policy paperwork.

• Attend virtual individual support hours with Youth Program Staff

• Submit tutor logs weekly for 14 consecutive weeks.