Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of our organisation. All of ARDC’s projects are supported by more than 120 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers―helping transform our vision for the refugee and asylum seeker community in Israel into a reality.
There are countless volunteering opportunities depending upon the number of hours per week and duration you can commit. However, we particularly encourage volunteers who have teaching experience or a background in early childhood education to teach Hebrew or English in our Refugee Education Center and to assist children through the difficult transition stage into the Israeli school system.
The ARDC is in need of fluent Hebrew speakers to help with translation and interpretation from English to Hebrew. This service helps ensure that the Israeli public are kept informed of changing government policies and ARDC programming. Volunteers are asked to commit one hour per week, on average, and are welcome to work from home.
Interested in volunteering with the ARDC?
A general interest meeting is held during the first week of every month. For dates and times please contact Joanna Mantello at joanna@ardc-israel.org.
Current Volunteering Opportunities
Special Projects and Positions (require at least a two-three month commitment)
Education Center Site-Manager
ARDC seeks two Refugee Education Center site-managers. Responsibilities include overseeing all education center activities; registering and answering question from new students; and coordinating a team of volunteer teachers and tutors. Each site-manager must be available for two-three evenings per week from 18:00 – 21:00.
A site-manager should be able to communicate effectively and interact positively with refugees, asylum seekers and volunteers of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Strong organizational and managerial skills are ideal. English fluency is required and fluency in other languages (e.g. Hebrew, Arabic, French) is an asset.
Library Creation
The ARDC hopes to open a community library at our Refugee Education Center on Peretz Street with English and Hebrew novels, non-fiction, dictionaries and other reference materials. Unfortunately we currently lack the funds and capacity to take on the task. Therefore, we seek an enterprising self-starter to get the ball rolling. It involves contacting libraries, universities, charitable foundations, book stores, furniture stores and a range of individuals to solicit donations.
Needless to say, reading is an extremely important facet of the REC's work and ARDC is constantly fielding requests from refugees and asylum seekers looking to supplement their studies with reading material. Depending on the pace of progress this project could take up to approximately 8 hours per week.
Website Content Manager
The ARDC's new website is in need of a content manager. We are looking for someone with strong editing skills to manage our monthly website updates. Responsibilities include condensing and revising information and reports and preparing them for publication on the website. This position will require a commitment of approximately one or two days per month.
Academic Counselor
The ARDC seeks a dedicated individual to assist refugees and asylum seekers obtain admission to and scholarships for Israeli universities. The ARDC needs someone with exceptional writing and editing skills to review entrance and scholarship applications and revise resumes. Additionally, an Academic Counselor will be responsible for locating potential scholarships and educational grants well suited for refugees and asylum seekers. Help refugees and asylum seekers achieve the dream of higher education.
Depending on the demand, this position could require a commitment of up to 4-6 hours per week.
Refugee Status Determination Unit
The ARDC is launching a Refugee Status Determination Unit. This unit will assist asylum seekers in their quest to attain refugee status. In addition to collecting personal and country specific evidence to support asylum seeker claims as submitted to the Israeli Ministry of the Interior, members of the RSD team will help complete asylum applications and, in special cases, provide expert testimony. Team members must be able to dedicate at least 6-8 hours per week for a minimum of six months. Individuals that speak Arabic, French, Amharic or Tigrigna are in very high demand.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Language Teachers
The Refugee Education Center needs dedicated volunteers to help African refugee adults learn English and Hebrew! If you are available for two hours one or two evenings per week for two months and interested in taking ownership over a class please contact ARDC. Teaching experience is preferred but not essential.
Individual Tutoring
For those with more limited schedules we would like to suggest individual tutoring. You can work with one or two individuals per week at a time of mutual convenience. Tutors must be reliable and motivated. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know a refugee on a more personal basis. Please contact ARDC for more information.
One-off events
Occasionally, ARDC hosts/participates in one or two day awareness raising or humanitarian events (such as Refugee Day!). If you are unable to commit to a regular volunteer position and would instead like to help out on an ad hoc basis please respond and indicate “One-Off Events Only.” We will then add you to a periodic mailing list announcing events.
Professional volunteering
If you are a professional in the fields of psychotherapy, law, finance or many others interested in contributing your expertise then we need you! For example, we offer psychotherapy for a number of refugees but the demand far outpaces our capacity. Similarly, many refugees would benefit from legal counseling. If you have a professional skill to offer please respond with your curriculum vitae and indicate how you would like to be involved.
Translators
Assist in the translation of written and website materials from English into Hebrew, French, Arabic, Tigrigna, Amharic and many other languages . We are currently in urgent need of volunteers able to translate from English into Hebrew. This service helps ensure that the various refugee communities and the Israeli public are kept informed of changing government policies, educational opportunities, etc.
