VOLUNTEER


Volunteering with RIT is an opportunity for you to welcome refugees and immigrants to the Bay Area and partner with them on their transition to their new lives in the U.S. Through long-term volunteer engagement, you will be able to build meaningful friendships with newcomers, teach English, support youth with academic needs, and share about US systems and cultures. You will meet other RIT volunteers and newcomer community members at our quarterly volunteer tea time and gatherings. We hope you can join us in creating more welcoming and safe spaces of solidarity for newcomers in the U.S.

Kindly note:

  • Volunteers must be 18 or older

  • All RIT volunteer opportunities are long-term (at least 6 months)

  • We require all volunteers to go through our onboarding process.

Steps for our onboarding process:

  • Volunteer application

  • Self-paced online orientation

  • Live Online Orientation (Meet our team, learn about RIT, newcomers community, and RIT programs)

  • Interview chat with one of RIT’s staff members (you will receive an email with available dates and times)

  • Training session (knowledge and skill to tutor newcomer students)

  • Background check (you will need to do this step specifically for RIT, your previous background check cannot be transferred over)

  • TB test (for school-based volunteers)

  • Volunteer match/placement

  • Join RIT’s volunteer group

RIT CURRENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND COMMITMENTS:

Home-based Tutoring (In person or Virtual): 

  • San Francisco, East Bay, South Bay

  • 6 months (adult student) or 9 months (youth student), for 2-4 hours/week (1 day a week)

  • At a time that is convenient for you and the student (including evenings or weekends)

After-School Tutoring (In person): 

  • Fremont High School (Oakland)

  • 1 semester, for 2-4 hours/week (approximately 50 hours)

  • Programs generally operate from 3 to 5 pm, depending on location

Daytime Classroom Support (In person): 

  • Two high schools (Oakland and San Francisco)

  • 1 semester, for 2 -4 hours/week (approximately 50 hours)

  • School hours run from ~8 am to 3:10 pm, with 55-minute class periods 

Daytime Adult English Classroom Support (In person or virtually): 

  • Work with students during or outside classroom hours to support with one or more of the following:

  • U.S. workforce readiness

  • Field trips 

  • Specific or additional English language support (related to a goal or preliterate English language learners) 

FAQ


Home-Based Tutoring

Geographic Areas: San Francisco, East Bay, South Bay

Students: Youth and Adults (all ages)

Location: Students' homes or community sites 

    • 6 months for tutoring adults and 9 months for tutoring youth. Tutors meet with students for 2-4 hours every week.

    • There is no set schedule. Tutors and students meet at the time that is most convenient for both parties, which makes this program perfect for those who would like to volunteer evenings and weekends. Even if you have a busy schedule, as long as you meet the minimum commitments, you can make a difference.

    • While we encourage our volunteers to break down cultural barriers and reach students in their home and local community, you are welcome to meet at a library or another public space if it works for your student. (Or virtually).

    • Yes--our volunteer application has areas where you can state your preferences. We will do our best to take these into consideration, but our first priority is serving the students most in need on our waitlist.

    • Yes. Home-based tutors fill in short monthly progress logs to update RIT about their work. Knowing how tutoring is going is crucial for the continued funding of this program.

    • Cultural sensitivity/humility; respects for students' boundaries and personal space.

    • No proselytization or solicitation allowed.

    • Please complete our online application HERE 

    • RIT Orientation and Training

    • Attend an interview with an RIT staff member

    • Complete background check (Livescan fingerprinting)

    • Meet with your student

School-Based Programs

Geographic Areas: San Francisco, Oakland

Students: Youth (High school)

Location: School site

School-based volunteers work with high school age youth at: 

Under the supervision of RIT staff or daytime teachers, volunteers support students in classrooms, or assist in the tutoring centers and help students with homework. 

    • After-school tutors assist students with homework in the tutoring center. Tutors work with large numbers of students throughout the program, and can also assist with educational games and activities.

    • Under the supervision of a teacher, volunteers are placed in classrooms at San Francisco International High School and support students with their classwork. Many teachers have volunteers work in small groups or one-on-one with students who may be in need of targeted assistance. Volunteers are placed in classes of all subjects.

    • For our after-school programs (Oakland), tutors commit to a semester of volunteering, at least one afternoon a week.

      • The after-school tutoring schedule at Fremont High School is: Tu, Th - 3:30pm-5pm

      • For our daytime classroom support program (San Francisco and Oakland), volunteers support a minimum of one class period, M-F, any time from 8:30am to 3:05pm. Classes and schedule are determinant on volunteer preference.

    • As a school-based volunteer, you will get the chance to work with a wide array of students from many different countries, and across all grades in high school.

    • No. While students will be asking for homework or classwork help across all of their subjects, we don’t expect you to be an expert in all areas. If there are assignments that you don’t feel comfortable assisting with, there will always be other assistants and volunteers who will be able to help.

    • Cultural sensitivity/humility; respects for students' boundaries and personal space.

    • No proselytization or solicitation allowed.

    • Please complete our online application HERE

    • RIT Orientation and Training

    • Attend a one-on-one interview with an RIT staff member

    • Complete background check (Livescan fingerprinting)

    • Provide proof of negative TB

    • Set up your schedule and begin volunteering!

“I am constantly inspired by my students’ courage, determination, and hope for a better future. Their presence here gives me hope for all of us.”

— Ann, RIT Home-based Volunteer Tutor & Classroom Assistant

Volunteer Stories

  • “My heart is at least two sizes bigger now”: A Family Story

  • Tea and Tutoring: Friendship Without Borders

Questions

Write us at volunteers@reftrans.org!