Volunteer With Us
Refugee Assistance Alliance’s mission is delivered by our passionate volunteers. By training and supporting everyday people to make a difference, we create a community of care that empowers refugees to rebuild their lives.
Volunteer support can be provided online or in person, and to refugee households in either Miami Dade or Broward counties.
Our primary volunteer opportunity is through the Community Support program. Volunteers build meaningful relationships with refugee families, offering guidance, friendship, and practical assistance. For those looking for lighter-touch involvement, other volunteer opportunities include teaching English as a Second Language, GED tutoring, joining our events committee, offering specialized help like technological support, or volunteering as an RAA brand ambassador.
Every role contributes to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for refugees.
There are four different ways to volunteer with RAA
Join a Community Support Team
Teach English as a second language
join an events committee
provide specialized assistance
Why Volunteer?
RAA’s volunteers have told us that they gain as much from the experience as they give.
Cultural Exchange
Volunteers act as cultural ambassadors, introducing refugees to American culture and values while modeling independence and mutual respect, fostering a two-way exchange of understanding.
A Sense of Impact
Volunteers feel fulfilled by witnessing how their work has a meaningful effect on the lives of refugee families, empowering them to rebuild their lives with confidence and independence.
Building Relationships
Volunteering creates connections and friendships—not only with refugee families but also with like-minded peers.
What to Expect
Committed but fulfilling work
RAA’s approach is to provide assistance to refugees by showing, guiding or walking with refugees as they learn the skills they need to manage their own lives autonomously. It may take longer to work with refugees on challenges—like filing food stamp applications—than it would for volunteers to simply complete the task on their own. But in addition to the teamwork contributing to refugees’ self-sufficiency, our refugee clients often tell us just how much they value the time our volunteers spend with them, helping them to figure out how to do things on their own.
General Requirements
We have multiple volunteer opportunities available, ranging from very involved positions to lighter-touch positions. In general, volunteer requirements are as follows:
A commitment of 6 months or more. Refugees have experienced considerable change and need consistency.
Completed general training designed to familiarize you with refugees and give you the tools you will need to support them successfully.
A successful background check. This is typically very fast and results are confirmed within a week.
RAA Support
RAA is committed to our volunteers, and provides ongoing coaching and support. Our team is available 7 days a week to answer your questions, and coaching support sessions can be booked to help you with any issues that come up. Additionally, RAA can certify community service hours for volunteers after 6 months of consistent volunteer work and provide references after 12 months.
Volunteer Opportunities
1. Join a Community Support Team
Be matched with a refugee or refugee family for 6-12 months
Time Commitment:
6-12 months
Requirements:
Reside in or near Broward or Miami Dade counties
Attend an interest session
Fundraise for some of your assigned family’s needs
Obtain background clearance
How You Help Refugees:
This is a dynamic position and the exact day-to-day situations will vary depending on you and the needs of your refugee or refugee family. Examples of what you will help your new neighbors with include:
How to be engaged with their children’s teachers
Cultural orientation to places like libraries, banks, and even the local coffee shop
How to make doctor appointments
and so much more!
RAA offers continual support to community support teams
RAA pairs Community Support volunteer teams with newly arrived refugees to help them adjust to life in the U.S. and we support teams throughout the whole process.
In this program, teams walk alongside former refugees in their resettlement journey as friends, mentors, and helpers. We set up your team and your assigned refugee family for success through training, resources, ongoing check-ins, monthly coaching and our Navigating the USA curriculum.
Get Started Forming Your Community support Team!
Do you need help fundraising? We've created this Fundraising Toolkit to help you and your team!"
2. Teach english as a second language
In-Person or Virtual Instruction
Time Commitment:
12 weeks (40-60 minutes sessions, twice per week)
Requirements:
Reside in or near Broward or Miami Dade counties OR have reliable internet connection for virtual instruction
Obtain background clearance (if teaching in person)
Teaching background, ESL certification or other experience with English language instruction
How You Help Refugees:
Dedicated English Language teachers work with adult refugee students to help develop their English communication skills in order to express themselves and progress towards self-sufficiency.
We need passionate educators to join our team and our cause to help newly arrived refugee families successfully integrate into our welcoming communities.
Our volunteer ESL teachers meet with a student or a group of students on a weekly basis for 40-60 minutes of instructional teaching, twice a week. Classes are held both in-person and virtually, and we need teachers for both. RAA provides teachers with training, an online ESL curriculum for virtual teaching, and support along the way.
3. Join One of Our events Committees
Our committees support our in-person events in Miami and Broward
Time commitment:
Dependent on the event and availability.
Requirements:
Reside in or near Broward or Miami Dade counties (most events). Occasional remote events assistance options are available.
How You Help:
Assist RAA fundraising efforts and help refugees connect with others through events. Take a look at upcoming and previous RAA activities on our Events Page.
4. BECOME A SPECIALIZED VOLUNTEER
Provide a specialized skill to refugee families in person or remotely
Refugees are often in need of specific technical support. For example, setting up home internet or enrolling their children in school or programs. If you have experience in these areas, we would love to hear from you.
Time Commitment:
Flexible.
Requirements:
Dependent on the situation. Requirements will vary but in general will include what is necessary for you to assist refugees.
How You Help:
Examples of specialized volunteer positions include:
A volunteer accountant assisting refugees with navigating their taxes
Helping refugees learn to file benefits applications like health insurance or food assistance
Guiding a refugee family through processes like school enrollment or home internet setup
Volunteer Shoutouts
Hear from our volunteers about their experiences
