*Please note: this is an unpaid internship. The in-person position is anticipated to start in August - September 2024.* 

IRC BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading organization providing relief, protection, and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression throughout the U.S. IRC in San Diego has resettled over 31,000 refugees to San Diego County over the past 48 years and provides numerous program services. In San Diego, the IRC opened its doors in 1975 and has grown to serve approximately 7,000 refugee and immigrant individuals from 115 countries of origin each year through 5 different departments.

SCOPE OF INTERNSHIP:IRC San Diego has operated Youth Programs in San Diego County since 1996, helping more than 300 refugee youth every year successfully stay in school, graduate, and transition to college or a career. The Youth Department’s focus is on newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth who may have experienced trauma and continue to navigate a great deal of stress through the process of acculturation and language acquisition. Throughout the year, IRC’s Youth Department facilitates a variety of programs to support students academically in school and with the development of social emotional assets. Youth Development Interns will support all programing at one of four school sites or clusters: Hoover High School, Crawford High School, El Cajon Valley High School, and Grossmont High School. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:Youth Development Interns will be assigned to one of five positions depending on interest, skillset, and availability. All interns will be responsible for supporting school-based programming for semester two of the 2023-2024 academic year. Interns will assist Youth Program Department staff with academic tutoring, in-class support, student outreach, program development, program implementation, administration, and field trip support as relevant. All Youth Program Department work is focused on the development of academic skills, using a Social Emotional Learning lens. Interns will learn how to facilitate academic programming in a trauma informed, culturally responsive manner; and learn how to cultivate an equitable, welcoming environment. Interns are expected to work 1:1 or with small groups of students to guide learning and academic growth. Interns may be asked to support additional programming including Higher Education Financial Aid workshops and family engagement programs.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1. Interns will assist in implementing weekly after-school tutoring to support academic growth in a variety of subjects.
2. Interns will learn how to coordinate engaging, skill-building leadership activities for high school students using trauma-informed and culturally/linguistically responsive practices.
3. Intern will be able to provide basic program management support including but not limited to outreach and recruitment, intake, data entry, lesson planning and group program facilitation.
4. Interns will be able to provide academic support tailored to the needs of English Language Learners.