Needs From: United Way of Metro Chicago

Learning the English language is one of the most crucial skills for refugees and immigrants to thrive in America. As an English Classroom Aide, you’ll provide support in an adult English class for refugees and immigrants.

Responsibilities include leading small group conversation or practice, monitoring student progress, one-on-one tutoring during class time, and assisting the teacher with other classroom duties.

Volunteers commit to at least one day per week for 4 to 6 months. Classes are 2 - 2.5 hours in length with the majority occurring weekday mornings, some weekday evenings, and a small number on Saturday mornings. Most classes are happening virtually at this time.

Training is provided. No previous English teaching experience is necessary. Knowledge of another language is not necessary. **Volunteers must be Illinois residents**

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

For refugees and immigrants, being denied healthcare and/or having little to no access prior to resettling in a country like the U.S. is a harsh reality. As a Health Advocate, you’ll come alongside an adult refugee or immigrant with friendship and practical support that empowers them to navigate the American healthcare system and receive the care they need.

Health Advocates support World Relief’s most vulnerable refugee clients like those with chronic medical conditions, those with disabilities, and single moms. Volunteer responsibilities can include assisting with transportation to appointments, helping with paperwork, advocating to ensure clients receive proper medical care despite cultural and language barriers, and more universal activities like practicing English, etc.

Health Advocates commit to meeting regularly (about 8 hours a month) for 6 months. Having daytime availability is ideal but not always required. Training is provided. 

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

Changing schools is difficult enough; now imagine your new school is in a completely different country, culture, and language. This is the reality for refugee and immigrant youth when they first start school in America. As a Youth Tutor, you can help ease this transition by coming alongside them and their parent(s) as they begin the process of adjusting to school and pursuing academic success.

You’ll have the opportunity to help with homework, build a friendship, practice English, provide social-emotional support, and—in some settings—enjoy fun activities together like soccer, art, etc. Tutors are normally paired with a student of the same gender in one of our after-school clubs or outside of our clubs at a mutually determined time, meeting in-person or virtually in some locations.

A typical commitment is about 1 - 2 hours once a week over a school semester. Training is provided.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

​​​​​​Put your organizational skills to use and help with crucial administrative duties that keep the World Relief office running smoothly.

Office Assistants serve alongside WR staff to help with database work, filing, filling in at the front desk, sorting donations, and other special projects. Depending on interests, comfort level with different tasks, and availability, we can help find projects that are a good fit for you. Many projects involve the use of computers.

Scheduling, including the frequency and length of commitment, are flexible. Our office hours are 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

For those born with U.S. citizenship, it’s easy to overlook all the benefits it provides. But these benefits, including the right to vote and hold public office, are immense. World Relief Chicagoland hosts citizenship clinics to provide a low-cost opportunity for immigrant community members to apply for U.S. citizenship.

As a Citizenship Assistant, you’ll help eliminate barriers for those applying and enable our clinics to serve more individuals. Volunteers assist clients with completing their citizenship application (Form N-400) before it is reviewed by a legal representative and eventually submitted.

Clinics take place once a month from about 9 AM to 4 PM, alternating between Fridays at our DuPage office and Saturdays at partner sites in DuPage County and Aurora. Volunteers often serve half or full days on a monthly or semi-regular basis. Training is provided.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Citizenship Clinics take place in DuPage County and Aurora.

Learning the English language is one of the most crucial skills for refugees and immigrants to thrive in America. As an English Language Tutor, you’ll practice conversational English and language skills with an adult refugee or immigrant and become friends in the process!

Tutors meet their student(s) in-person or virtually for about 1 - 2 hours once a week for 6 months, typically walking through a short lesson that focuses on speaking and listening.

Training and materials are provided. No previous English teaching experience is necessary. Knowledge of another language is not necessary. **Volunteers must be Illinois residents**

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

Loneliness is one of the greatest challenges refugees and immigrants face in America, so good friends are greatly needed. As a Friendship Partner, you’ll get to know an individual/family and help them navigate life in America.

This may involve activities like practicing English, exploring your community together, reading through mail and papers that come home from school, and so much more. Volunteers provide friendship with an emphasis on cultural awareness and practical support focused on empowerment and self-sufficiency. This is a great opportunity to learn about the cultural adjustment process firsthand and experience transformation in your life as well.

Friendship Partners commit to meeting regularly for 6 months, spending about four hours or more together each month. Training is provided.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.

Are you looking for a way to get hands-on experience working for a nonprofit? World Relief offers internships in many different areas including Case Management, Employment, Education, Children & Youth, Legal Services, and more.

As an intern, you will work alongside our staff to support our refugee and immigrant neighbors in accessing critical services as they seek stability and to thrive in the U.S. Interns also have the option to work in Operations, Volunteer and Church Mobilization, and other capacity-building areas.

Generally, interns must complete 100 hours over the course of their internship. Internships typically take place during school semesters/summer and range in the number of hours per week depending on an intern’s availability.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Interns can choose the office closest to them.

Without a vehicle and often with limited public transit options, refugees and immigrants who recently arrived in America experience significant transportation challenges. Step into this gap and become a Transportation Assistant, providing refugees and immigrants rides to important classes, trainings, interviews, and appointments!

As a Transportation Assistant, you’ll also have the opportunity to be the first person to greet refugees at the airport after a long journey, welcome them to America, and provide transportation to their new home. Volunteers help as often as their schedule allows—typically ranging from multiple times a week to a few times a year.

Transportation needs are often on weekdays during normal work hours (though evening needs also exist), so having daytime availability is ideal. Training is provided.

World Relief Chicagoland has three offices across the region in Aurora, DuPage County, and Chicago (Albany Park). Volunteers can choose the office closest to them.