World Relief Minnesota

You can utilize the “Volunteer – click here” button now to start the process of volunteering through World Relief Minnesota. [See the right-hand column]  For more information on the on-line application process, visit the “Volunteer Application Process” page.

Click on this link to see job descriptions for volunteer opportunities listed below.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact our Volunteer Coordinator:  mnvolunteers@wr.org  or 612-798-4332

Current Volunteer Needs:

last updated 8/25/10

Job Search Mentors
Opportunity: Work with our employment counselor to assist one refugee throughout the job search process.
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Insured vehicle and driver’s license; Commitment to meet with family approximately 1x/week for at least 3 months;  Comfortable working cross-culturally, flexible, and patient

On-Call Home Orientation Volunteer
Opportunity: Provide training to new refugee families re: tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities, cleaning and maintaining a home, safety, hygiene, etc.
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Feel comfortable communicating cross-culturally; Flexibility; Somali or Karen language preferred but not required

Volunteers Needed for Karen family of 5 arrived 8/24/10, E. St. Paul
Opportunity 1: Provide 1 month of groceries
Requirements: Financial commitment for 30 days; If you wish to visit with the family and/or take them to the store, attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office

Opportunity 2: Befriend family
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Commitment to meet with family approximately 2x/month and engage them socially for first 6 months in MN; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Opportunity 3: Transportation Assistant
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Availability during normal work hours; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Volunteers Needed for Karen family of 4 arrived 8/24/10, E. St. Paul
Opportunity 1: Collect and deliver welcome kit
Requirements: See our website for the “Give Household Items” page of our website for the list of welcome kit items.  This family will need the items around September 1.

Opportunity 2: Provide 1 month of groceries
Requirements: Financial commitment for 30 days; If you wish to visit with the family and/or take them to the store, attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office

Opportunity 3: Befriend family
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Commitment to meet with family approximately 2x/month and engage them socially for first 6 months in MN; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Opportunity 4: Transportation Assistant
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Availability during normal work hours; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Volunteers Needed for Karen family of 3 arrived 8/26/10, E. St. Paul
Opportunity 1: Befriend family
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Commitment to meet with family approximately 2x/month and engage them socially for first 6 months in MN; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Opportunity 2: Transportation Assistant
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Availability during normal work hours; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

In Home Tutor (English and/or homework) for Children of Bhutanese Family arrived 7/15/10, S. Minneapolis
Opportunity: A Bhutanese family who arrived last month is asking for tutors for their two sons, ages 6 and 8.  They need help with homework and with English.
Requirements: Attend volunteer orientation at World Relief office; For ELL tutoring, attend Minnesota Literacy Council Pre-Service Training; Meet with client approximately 1x/week on an ongoing basis; Comfortable working and communicating cross-culturally and with language barrier; Flexible

Female Volunteer Needed for Somali mother and baby arrived 7/29/10, S. Minneapolis
Opportunity: Befriend family
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Commitment to meet with family approximately 2x/month and engage them socially for first 6 months in MN; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Female Volunteer(s) Needed for Somali sisters and children arrived 7/20/10, S. Minneapolis
Opportunity: Befriend family
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Commitment to meet with family approximately 2x/month and engage them socially for first 6 months in MN; Comfortable in situations with a high language barrier

Transportation Volunteer for Extended Somali Family arriving 8/25-8/30/10, NE Minneapolis
Opportunity: Assist this family’s U.S. tie and World Relief case managers in providing transportation to and English capabilities during appointments for school registration, public assistance, social security, etc.
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Insured vehicle and driver’s license; Daytime hours during the week; Willingness to travel throughout Metro area; Comfortable working cross-culturally and interacting with non-English speakers; Flexibility

Volunteers for Bhutanese Mother and Adult Son, arrived 8/17/10, S. Minneapolis
Opportunity 1: In-home English tutor
Requirements: Attend volunteer orientation at World Relief office; For ELL tutoring, attend Minnesota Literacy Council Pre-Service Training; Meet with client approximately 1x/week on an ongoing basis; Comfortable working and communicating cross-culturally and with language barrier; Flexible

Opportunity 2: Job Search Mentor
Requirements: Attend volunteer training at World Relief Minnesota office; Insured vehicle and driver’s license; Commitment to meet with family approximately 1x/week for at least 3 months;  Comfortable working cross-culturally, flexible, and patient