Volunteer Opportunities
Check out the many opportunities to volunteer with immigrant and resettled refugee children and adults at VT, southwest Virginia, and across the US! We have spots for over 150 student volunteers – if you want to give back to the community, this is your chance!
We are seeking 10-20 tutors for in-home tutoring with students from elementary through high school. Depending on the student, tutors work on general literacy or homework help, although we do have specific need for 1 tutor in each of Calc+trig and chemistry. Tutors must commit to two sessions per week, one hour per session. Sessions take place in students’ homes in Blacksburg, normally between 4:00 and 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Volunteers must pass a background check and an online training module. You can learn more about BRP here. Volunteers can be from any major, and no knowledge of a second language is required. If you are interested in this opportunity please email Brett Shadle (shadle@vt.edu) with the subject line “BRP”.
A partnership between BRP and VT’s Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies
Through the Montgomery County Public Schools Tutoring Project volunteers meet with K-12 students in local schools. Working one on one or in small groups, tutors help students with English language acquisition or classroom assignments. Each tutor must commit to at least two visits per week, 30 to 60 minutes per visit, between 8 am and 4 pm, through the end of the semester. Volunteers can be from any major, and no knowledge of a second language is required. For details and to apply, attend one of the following information sessions (covering both MCPS and the Afghan Conversation Project):
Friday Aug. 30 @ 3 pm
Tuesday Sep. 3 @ 4 pm
Wednesday Sep. 4 @ 9 am
Thursday Sep. 5 @ 2 pm
For a zoom link please email Brett Shadle (shadle@vt.edu) noting the session you would like to attend.
Contact: Brett Shadle (shadle@vt.edu) or Zoe Fenner (zoefenner@vt.edu)
A partnership between MCPS and VT’s Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies
With the fall of Kabul in August, 2021, several dozen members of the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon managed to flee to the US. The FTPs constituted an elite army force made up of Afghan women who trained and went on missions with US soldiers. They now live across the United States where many have difficulty getting sufficient assistance in learning English. This, in turn, limits their educational and career goals. Through the Afghan Conversation Project (ACP), volunteers zoom once weekly for one hour with former members of the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon to help them develop their conversational English. Volunteers can be from any major, and no knowledge of a second language is required. You can read more about this project here. For details and to apply, attend one of the following information sessions (covering both MCPS Tutoring Project and ACP):
Friday Aug. 30 @ 3 pm
Tuesday Sep. 3 @ 4 pm
Wednesday Sep. 4 @ 9 am
Thursday Sep. 5 @ 2 pm
For a zoom link please email Brett Shadle (shadle@vt.edu) noting the session you would like to attend.
Contact: Brett Shadle (shadle@vt.edu)
A partnership between leaders of the FTPs and VT’s Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies
The student org Primeros Pasos (formerly Galax Mentorship Program) is seeking students to serve as mentors for Latinx high schoolers in Galax, Virginia. Mentors zoom weekly with their mentees, and meet in person monthly either at VT or Galax. Proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred. You can read more about this project here. There will be information sessions in September – for further information check out Primeros Pasos on GobblerConnect or email primerospasos@vt.edu
A partnership between Primeros Pasos, Galax City Public Schools, VT’s Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies, and Center for Rural Education
The YMCA at Virginia Tech is offering volunteering opportunities at the new Y-Welcome Center. Join us in welcoming and helping newcomers connect with local resources. Volunteers greet and engage with newcomers and their families who are inquiring about local resources and helping them identify currently available ones. Shifts are two hours long (Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Sun: 12:00 - 5:00 PM) at YMCA on Main Street. Applicants should be able to establish rapport and communicate with non-English speakers (speaking another language and having multi-cultural exposure and experience is a plus); have good communication skills; be computer and internet proficient; and be at least 18 years old by September 2024.
Contact: international@vtymca.org
A program of VT’s YMCA
The Language & Culture Institute Conversation Partners is a volunteer program offering international students spaces for intercultural exchange and opportunities to practice English. Conversation Partners participate in one-on-one or small group conversations for approximately 1 hour per week with a goal of at least 8 meetings throughout the semester. If you would like to participate please use this link to register: https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/Fall2024
Contact: Meredith Hutton mhutton1@vt.edu
A program of VT’s Language and Culture Institute
What are the linguistic challenges encountered by refugee and immigrant groups?
How do language ideologies and policies affect the integration and marginalization of these groups?
How can we promote greater linguistic inclusion and cultural sensitivity?
By focusing on personal narratives, case studies, and community voices, the course aims to deepen students’ understanding of the experiences of refugees and immigrants and the ways language acquisition shapes their lives.
The course will be of interest to students who engage in service learning with immigrant and refugee populations, are considering a career in K-12 teaching, seek to better relate to new community members, or who want to better understand their own or their families journeys as non-native English speakers
This is a 1 credit course that will meet in person approximately every other week on Tuesdays, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
LAHS 1984: SS: Language and Immigration, CRN 92372 Instructor: Ms. Shaba
Contact: Annie Shaba (shannie23@vt.edu)
Sponsored by VT’s Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies, and Center for Rural Education