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.
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.
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.
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 single or family for 6-12 months.)
RAA pairs Community Support volunteer teams with newly arrived refugees to help them adjust to life in the U.S. Community Support teams serve as dedicated mentors and guides for 6-12 months. RAA supports 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.
Examples of topics you’ll teach your new neighbors 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!
Preliminary criteria for forming a team include:
Residing in Broward or Miami Dade County
Attending an interest session
Fundraising for some of your assigned family’s needs
Obtaining background clearance.
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
Navigating English is a program that matches dedicated English Language teachers with adult refugee students to help develop their English communication skills in order to express themselves and progress towards self-sufficiency. We kindly ask that volunteers are able to commit for a 12-week duration.
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. Please note that teachers who volunteer in person will be required to complete a background check. Virtual teachers from all over the globe are encouraged to apply. Thank you for your consideration.
3. Join One of Our events Committees
(Our committees support our in-person events in Miami and Broward.)
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