Volunteer


To become a PARA volunteer call 616.224.7523

PARA’s one-on-one volunteer opportunities offer opportunities to help refugees with:

  • Friendship = New Neighbor mentoring
  • English = English Tutoring
  • Employment = Job Coaching



Refugees flee their homelands because of persecution and terror. They leave everything behind - family, friends and possessions. When they arrive in the US they must begin a new life.
They need
  • Practice speaking English.
  • Information about life in the US.
  • Friends to help them adjust.
PARA's New Neighbor program builds bridges of understanding, learning and friendship between people of different cultures. New neighbor volunteers reach out to refugees by:
  • Meeting once a weeks for three months with a refugee partner.
  • Answering questions about life in the USA.
  • Spending time together with refugees.


An English Tutor assist a refugee partner to improve their English competency through lessons which target his or her immediate goals for functioning in American society.
Tutor Qualifications:
  • Teaching experience is not required.
  • Training and Materials are provided.
  • Respect for partners’ experience and knowledge.
  • Willingness to try different approaches.
  • Openness to designing lessons based on student goals.
  • Flexibility to adjust to changes in the partner’s schedule.
Tutor Responsibilities:
  • Attend a tutor training session.
  • Meet weekly with refugee partner for four to six months.
  • Report activities, time, and mileage monthly.
  • Debrief at the end of commitment.


Job Coaches use Language for Job Success which is a six to eight week focus on finding work in Michigan. Job Coaches are matched with a refugee partner to walk him or her through the job hunting process.
Why?
  • The goal for your refugee partner is to reach financial self-sufficiency through employment within a few months after they’ve arrived.
What do Job Coaches do?
  • Job Coaches commit three hours a week for two months to help their partners learn how to find work: 1½ hours focus on Workplace Language Acquisition and 1½ hours in actual Job Hunting.
  • Job Coaches keep in close contact with job placement staff, who scout out fresh job opportunities for refugees. Job Coaches regularly report a form each week to placement staff listing where their partners applied for work.
  • Job Coaches receive training, support, materials, and debrief with the Job Coach Coordinator after their commitment is complete.

Help a Refugee Partner get off to a good start!