Refugee Cultural Orientation Intern, Spring 2025

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.

Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.

S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.

If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

SCOPE OF INTERN SERVICE :

The Cultural Orientation (CO) program is part of the IRC's holistic and integrated approach to resettlement, providing training to newly arrived refugees to foster a better understanding of their new environment and the services available to them in the Louisville area.

The Spring 2025 Cultural Orientation Intern works in close coordination with the Resettlement Manager to design, develop, and deliver structured training sessions on topics such as financial management, U.

S. laws, housing, transportation, safety, healthcare, and cultural adjustment in order to aid refugees on their journey towards self-sufficiency.

Please note this is an unpaid internship position.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Intern will develop an understanding of the local resources available to refugee and immigrant clients in the Louisville area.

Intern will deepen their understanding of the unique barriers, challenges, and assets of the refugee and immigrant communities.

Intern will gain experience in teaching, program coordination, and curriculum design.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide equal treatment to all client groups in accordance with the agency's commitment to the dignity of all persons.

Coordinate with staff and clients to schedule Cultural Orientation.

Support in the facilitation of Cultural Orientation to clients.

Schedule interpreters for Cultural Orientation classes as needed.

Support in the administration of Cultural Orientation assessments.

Assist resettlement staff in development of revised curriculum for Cultural Orientation.

Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

Must be a current undergraduate student, graduate student, or less than 12 months past graduation.

Access to a personal vehicle / reliable transportation; IRC Louisville cannot support securing transportation or housing for interns.

Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or must have active and compliant visas and work authorization status in the United States (the IRC must not be represented as a sponsor or host in any application, filing, or other context for an intern).

Primary availability during IRC business hours (M-F; 9 : 00 AM - 5 : 00 PM).

Ability to handle sensitive client information confidentially.

Strong intercultural communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across language barriers.

Ability to work independently and as a part of a team

Previous experience working with vulnerable populations preferred, but not required.

Education and / or experience working in social work / social services preferred, but not required.

Comfortable with Microsoft Excel and willingness to learn to use new software for data entry.

Adherence to IRC volunteer / intern and workplace policies

Fluency / proficiency in English, both spoken and written, are required; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired, but not required.

TRAINING & GUIDANCE

In-depth training will be provided for interns to understand IRC programming and the various needs of clients accessing IRC services.

Interns will receive training on IRC's federal R&P and APA service agreements and their programmatic requirements for resettlement services.

Interns with client languages who could serve as an interpreter will receive guidance on policies when interpreting. Other activity specific training will be provided as needed.

Flexibility, initiative, and a desire to collaborate are essential qualities for this intern opportunity. A high-level of confidentiality is required when working with IRC clients.

Equal Opportunity Employer : We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Please contact us to request accommodation.

Standard of Professional Conduct : The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - our Code of Conduct.

These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion : The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting.

We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.