Mentor to Refugee Individual or Family

Purpose and description: When refugees first arrive in Chicago, often with nothing more than a single

suitcase, they are overwhelmed by a new language, culture and environment. Together, we can help

them understand and adjust to all that is around them and provide critical support. Welcome a newly

arrived family or individual by visiting with them for at least six months and introducing them to the

community. You can invite your family, friends and co-workers to join you, or we can match you with

other volunteers. This is a great team building opportunity and can change the lives of the refugees –

and positively impact you too in the process!

Responsibilities:

• Training is provided by HIAS staff.

• Commitment to once-a-week visits with the family for six months is preferred.

• Mentoring goals include offering friendship and welcome, enabling self-sufficiency, and to

support learning about the community, for example, assisting with simple English everyday

conversation, grocery shopping, laundry, financial literacy, technology and accessing public

transport and community resources.

• Create an on-going, preset schedule for visits with the family and fellow team members.

• Communication and coordination as needed with HIAS’ Community Engagement Specialist is

also important.

• Volunteer hours and visits need to be tracked.

• Optional: You may greet the family or individual on arrival at O’Hare Airport. Consider welcome

signs, flowers and balloons.

• Optional: Raise money in support of a family and the HIAS Welcome Campaign. Contact Fatima

Rasoul for more details.

Location and Time Commitment:

• Most visits (but not all) take place in person in a refugee’s home. Apartments are typically in far

north Chicago - e.g., Rogers Park. A visit lasting two hours is recommended. This is flexible

according to schedules and the family’s preferences.

• Visitation times vary - daytime or evening.

• We recommend that a family receive one visit a week, and those can be divided amongst the

volunteer group.

Volunteer Traits Needed:

• Able to display an energetic and positive attitude, and be flexible to go with the flow as needed

• Personable with the ability to exhibit strong interpersonal communication skills

• Comfortable working with individuals of diverse faiths and backgrounds

• Patience to work with an interpreter, if needed

Eligibility:

• Volunteers are required to submit a volunteer application, provide a copy of driver’s license and

proof of vehicle insurance (if driving clients), clear a series of background checks, get

fingerprints taken, get a tuberculosis test. Under 18 may volunteer if accompanied by a cleared

adult.

Questions?

• Contact Fatima Rasoul, HIAS Immigration & Citizenship Community Engagement Specialist,

at FatimaRasoul@JCFS.org or 847-745-5431