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.

Here are the 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)

“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