Internships
Applications now open for Summer Internships!
(May - August 2022)
Application Deadline: Friday, April 8
World Relief Spokane benefits from the hard work of dedicated interns who are equally rewarded with rich, cross-cultural experiences serving refugees and other immigrants alongside us. Interns come from universities in Spokane, other states and even other countries. World Relief offers numerous intern opportunities throughout our agency to interns pursuing a variety of programs of study.
Fall Internships
Sept-Dec
Applications Due First Friday in July
Spring Internships
Feb-May
Applications Due Last Friday in Nov
Summer Internships
June-August
Applications Due 1st Friday in April
Intern Positions
Position Title: Employment Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Employment
Job Title of Supervisor: Employment Programs Manager
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: Assist employment specialists with pre-employment and job placement tasks
Specific Job Duties:
Assist clients with job search and completing and submitting online
applications, as well as additional employment forms
Teach and mentor clients on basic computer and typing skills
Develop and present entry level employment workshop curriculum
Assist client with development of resumes and job search skills
Assist client during employer’s orientation
Interview preparation with clients
Vocational English skill building
Shop with client for work/interview clothing
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize,
while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems
and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Physical Demands:
Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Position Title: Events Coordinator and Donor Engagement Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Church and Community Engagement
Job Title of Supervisor: Events Coordinator and Donor Engagement
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: Assist Event Coordinator in upcoming events, projects, and services that will
promote World Relief’s presence in the community.
Specific Job Duties:
Scheduling rotations of workshops with Presenters
Finding new and beneficial topics & presenters
Informing caseworkers
Finding the right clients to invite & reminders
Updating EZ texting with new contacts/groups
Scheduling interpreters
Fridays: greeting presenters, sign-in sheets, classroom ready,
snacks/tea
Creating an incentive program- certificates or graduation
Greeting clients at the front desk
Entering donations into computer
Knowledge, Skills, &
Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize,
while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems
and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Position Title: Immigration and Legal Services (ILS) Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Immigration and Legal Services
Job Title of Supervisor: ILS Managing Attorney
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: Assist ILS staff with….
Specific Job Duties:
Help prepare for and welcome new arrivals
Assist with applications for health insurance and other social services
Assist with needs assessment and advocacy
Transportation of clients to service provider appointments; bus training
Home visits and other duties as assigned
Case notes, phone calls, documentation, updates to case files
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize,
while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems
and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Ability to speak another language
Physical Demands:
Ability to climb and descend stairs unassiste
Position Title:
Reception and Placement Volunteer Intern
Position Location:
Spokane, WA
Department/Division:
Reception and Placement
Job Title of Supervisor:
Resettlement Program Manager
Length of Opportunity:
Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function:
Work with the resettlement (reception and placement and other related support staff) team to prepare for the arrival of new refugee individuals and families, assist with arrivals, and provide support and services in the 90 days after their arrival as they learn to access the basic needs and resources in the community.
Specific Job Duties:
Attend meetings with the resettlement department
Help prepare for and welcome new arrivals, which means helping gather household and personal items and deliver items to arrival housing or to the family during the course of the arrival and initial visit
Assist with applications for social services and intake appointments
Conduct welfare assessments and establish with the family and staff the steps and record those in service plans
Advocacy on behalf of clients
Transportation of clients to service provider appointments; bus training
Home visits, move-ins, follow-up calls and meetings and other relevant duties as assigned
Case notes, phone calls, documentation, data entry, updates to case files, and other administrative duties that are essential in social services
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize, while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Ability to speak another language
Physical Demands:
Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Ability to lift 40 pounds
Position Title: Resettlement Donations and Warehouse Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Resettlement
Job Title of Supervisor: Resettlement Program Manager
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 weeks Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: To provide admin and organizational support services that will ensure timely and
effective delivery of material needs to refugees and ensure proper documentation
in compliance with World Relief’s Mission, Vision and Values and policies.
Specific Job Duties:
Regular collaboration and communication with the resettlement team through
meetings, emails, calendar and database usage
Maintain good communication with donors supporting clients with material
needs, returning calls when requested, keeping good records of items picked up or
delivered, entering those in databases within 48 hours.
Coordination of volunteer help for donations management, giving special
attention to thanking GIK donors and capturing stories
Maintain organization at the warehouse for ease of tracking what items we have
and what items will be needed through purchase for new arrivals or MG clients.
Participate in services that support MG Program through GIK delivery or events
at the warehouse.
Work with colleagues, resettlement partners, volunteers and Churches in the local community to ensure that all core services are provided in a planned, effective,
and timely manner to clients.
Support and collaborate with the church and community engagement team
through the duties listed above, and participate in relevant activities and events as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, &Abilities:
Attention to detail with record keeping and data entry skills
Able to lift and move around up to 50 pounds
Ability to drive a box truck in summer and winter driving conditions
Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel and Word)
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Fluency in another language
Position Title: Preferred Communities (PC) Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Preferred Communities
Job Title of Supervisor: PC Case Manager
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function:
The Preferred Communities Program is one that serves clients with medical case management, assistance with learning to navigate the medical system in America and getting connected to medical and mental health services to meet their needs. This program seeks to provide a holistic approach through providing other wrap-around support either directly or through assistance connecting to other providers and programs.
Specific Job Duties:
Participate in needs assessment, goal setting and tracking, and coaching clients as they learn to access medical, mental health, and other support services in the community
Advocacy on behalf of clients with providers
Assist new families with transportation to appointments;
Bus training and other transportation support and planning, such as learning to access services for disabled and elderly clients
Assist with applications for health insurance, scheduling appointments with various providers, following up with providers and clients until needed services are secured
Healthy Home visits and other duties as assigned
Case notes, phone calls, copies, documentation, updates to case files, and related administrative duties that are essential to social service delivery and reporting
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize, while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Ability to speak another language
Physical Demands:
Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Ability to lift 40 pounds
Position Title: Refugee Simulation Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Church and Community Engagement (CCE)
Job Title of Supervisor: Refugee Simulation Coordinator
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 weeks, 10 hours a week Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: Assist with development, delivery and improvement of Refugee Simulations
Specific Job Duties:
• Attend as many simulations as possible, helping with set-up, take-down and processing evaluations.
• Learn to conduct the opening presentation and closing debriefing of simulations.
• Read and edit volunteer binders of information used during the simulations, and edit “family” binders as needed to more directly tie the information in the volunteers’ and the family binders to the participants’ experience during simulations.
• Go through a refugee simulation as a participant, and then help lead each of the four stations as needed, evaluating and assisting with the debriefing of groups, contacting and scheduling volunteers. (Helping with the Language Acquisition station involves being able to teach a 20 minute lesson in a language other than English, preferably a language with unfamiliar characters. While not an essential qualification, it is very helpful.)
• Update and improve paperwork and forms associated with the simulations.
• Attend at least one airport arrival of new refugees and participate in their initial resettling process.
• Attend naturalization ceremonies that occur during the semester that include refugees initially resettled by World Relief Spokane.
• Assist with database development tracking simulations, billing, volunteer hours, and evaluations.
• Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Creative problem-solving ability
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
Experience Preferred:
• Ability to write and speak a language other than English
• Cross-cultural experience
• Ability to effectively present to groups of 15 - 40
Physical Demands:
• Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Position: Refugee Youth Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Job Title of Supervisor: Youth Program Coordinator
General Function: This is an opportunity to hang with and love on refugee youth.
Refugee youth are between cultures, have unique needs and feel they don’t fit into typical youth programs. World Relief Spokane wants to see them thrive and become leaders in their communities, and not casualties that make bad choices that mark the rest of their lives. These youth will be the first generation in their families to mostly grow up in America.
Your role will be to build relationships with and disciple youth.
This will not be a role that fits typical work hours. You will need to be there when kids are available. Currently, this includes:
- Soccer outreach Wednesday evenings
- Youth choir practice Friday evenings
- If the choir performs, there is often another practice on Saturday. Performances can be anytime, including Sunday mornings.
- A soccer camp in July
Besides the above, you will spend time with kids – in their homes and taking them places. You will be a mentor and model to them as a Christ-follower.
You will work closely with Jackson Lino, a former refugee himself who is well-known in the refugee community. You will meet weekly with and be supervised by Jordan Bemis, a manager at World Relief and a former youth pastor.
This role is best suited for those who are outgoing and love to work with youth. Ideally, you would also like sports or music or both.
You would need a car so you can visit youth and pick up kids who need rides to various events. World Relief will reimburse you for mileage.
This will be a terrific learning opportunity to meet families who fled violence and persecution and have put all their hopes on a new chance for their families in America. You will learn about the unprecedented refugee crisis our world is experiencing today through the very personal stories of people who will become your friends. You will also learn about the calling of the church to serve the vulnerable.
Position Tile: Volunteer Coordinator Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Church and Community Engagement (CCE)
Job Title of Supervisor: Volunteer Coordinator
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 weeks
Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: Assist volunteer coordinator in matching refugee families with volunteers
from the community and within churches.
Specific Job Duties:
Respond to inquiries wanting more information about volunteering
at World Relief, including the various volunteer roles and the
onboard process.
Read volunteer applications to assess those whose skills and
availability match client needs.
Facilitate and record background check information.
Relay information to volunteers about logging hours and record
hours logged.
Organize folders, create and update Excel spreadsheets, and assist in
matching volunteers with clients.
Meet clients in their homes to facilitate introductions between
volunteers and clients as needed.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train,
organize, while working within difficult cultural and physical
environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with
problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Position Title: PRIME Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Integration and Wellness
Job Title of Supervisor: PRIME Case Manager
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function:
The PRIME Program is one that serves clients with case management after the initial resettlement period. This program seeks to provide a holistic approach through providing wrap-around support either directly or through assistance connecting to other providers and programs.
Specific Job Duties:
Participate in needs assessment, goal setting and tracking, and coaching clients as they learn to access medical, mental health, and other support services in the community
Advocacy on behalf of clients with providers
Assist new families with transportation to appointments;
Bus training and other transportation support and planning, such as learning to access services for disabled and elderly clients
Assist with applications, scheduling appointments with various providers, following up with providers and clients until needed services are secured
Home visits and other duties as assigned
Case notes, phone calls, copies, documentation, updates to case files, and related administrative duties that are essential to social service delivery and reporting
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize, while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
Cross-cultural experience
Ability to speak another language
Physical Demands:
Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Ability to lift 40 pounds
Position Title: Match Grant Intern
Position Location: Spokane, WA
Department/Division: Match Grant
Job Title of Supervisor: Match Grant Job Developer
Length of Opportunity: Minimum time commitment: 10 wks. Maximum time commitment: none
General Function: The Matching Grant program is designed to support newcomers with a fast track to economic self-sufficiency, while supporting the entire family/case with case management and support services and goods to build stability and move toward integration.
Specific Job Duties:
• Conduct initial assessments with clients and help clients and staff build resumes and job search plans
• Work with clients and staff to develop goals and track client progress
• Data entry, case notes, case file maintenance, and other administrative duties that are essential in social services
• Follow-up with clients and staff through regular contact with clients and staff
• Assist MG job developer with a variety of job readiness activities and post-placement support activities
• Other relevant duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Valid driver’s license preferred
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office 2010
• Initiative, high sense of responsibility and ability to plan, train, organize, while working within difficult cultural and physical environments
• Ability to work with minimum supervision and to deal with problems and issues both promptly and efficiently
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
• Flexible / motivated team player
Experience Preferred:
• Cross-cultural experience
• Ability to speak another language
Physical Demands:
• Ability to climb and descend stairs unassisted
Internship Requirements
- -Commitment of 15-20 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks.
- -Required hours must be logged during World Relief's office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
- -Anyone can apply for an internship (per Title 7), however a qualified applicant is one who acknowledges and affirms the mission, vision and values of World Relief.
- -If selected, applicants should be prepared to complete a criminal and motor vehicle background check (free of charge) through World Relief. At this time a social security number is needed for this to be processed.
- -Applicants must also have a valid driver's license for positions that require direct contact with refugees and immigrants.
- -Must have enthusiasm for empowering local churches, serving refugees in the Spokane area and an understanding of multi-cultural settings.
- -Must understand that all World Relief internships are unpaid.
- -Must understand that working in a multi-cultural setting requires patience, problem-solving skills and ability to adjust to change.
- -Must be reliable, timely, independent, organized, creative, and flexible.
- -Must have a willingness to work in refugees’ homes and spend time in medical provider facilities (for some positions).
- -Must dress in appropriate business casual clothing.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: The start date can be flexible. It is also possible to have 2 different orientation dates depending on how many interns are being onboarded, but having a group orientation is what we aim for. End dates aim to be considerate of when students have their finals week, but can also be flexible with schedules.
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