Refugee Tutoring Volunteer Fellowship

ABOUT: Founded in 2018 in response to the Rohingya refugee crisis and now expanding to meet an influx of Afghan refugees, FORA's mission is to ensure that refugee families in Chicago are provided access to an education sufficient to prepare them to become economically self-sufficient and robustly engaged in American civic life. Our approach is to provide over 2600 hours each month of one-on-one, individually customized high dosage tutoring to SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education) refugee children in grades K-12. Although we serve refugees of all nationalities, our classes are currently overflowing with recently-arrived Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, who are making the area their new home. Although many of these students speak multiple languages, they tend to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills and have minimal English. However, they have great dedication to education and capacity to learn.

COMMITMENT FOR ON-SITE INTERNSHIP: The available tutoring time slots are 7-9pm and 4:30-6:30pm. We need volunteers who can commit to tutoring either Tuesday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from January 10 - June 14 (except for holidays such as Eid). It is the only way we have found to promise a dependable supportive environment for children.

COMMITMENT FOR REMOTE INTERNSHIP: The available virtual tutoring time slots are 4:30-5:30pm, 5:30-6:30pm, 7-8pm, 8-9pm, and 9:30-10:30pm (all are in Central time zone). You can select which to apply for based on your availability. We need volunteers who can commit to tutoring Monday - Thursday, January 10 - June 14 (except for holidays such as Eid); it is the only way we have found to promise a dependable supportive environment for children. With that said, tutors will at times not be asked to commit to certain days of the week as some students will have other weekly commitments.

REQUIREMENTS: live in and are a legal resident of the United States, speak English, are willing to undergo a background check, and are patient and kind. Virtual tutors must have an internet connection and a computer or iPad. **Please note that if you are a volunteer under age 18, both you AND your parent will need to submit an application with the below link, as your parent will also need to undergo a background check.​

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Unless tutoring together with a parent, tutors must be 16 or older.

Also note that all volunteers who reach the number of volunteer hours required for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be nominated for this prestigious award, as FORA is a certifying organization!