• Refugee Barrier Reduction Intern - Summer

    International Rescue Committee (Silver Spring, MD)


    Requisition ID: req56882

     

    Job Title: Refugee Barrier Reduction Intern - Summer 2025

     

    Sector: Gender

     

    Employment Category: Intern

     

    Employment Type: Part-Time

     

    Open to Expatriates: Not Applicable

    Job Description

    BACKGROUND : The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. Domestically, our 28 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.

     

    SCOPE OF WORK: IRC programming assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient and supports acclimatization within the United States by providing access to casework services. This role will support the IRC’s economic empowerment program in effectively reducing the barriers of humanitarian clients to achieve self-sufficiency in the United States.

    RESPONSIBILITIES :

    + Provide clients with support in the completion and submission of various applications to assist the reduction of barriers to employment in the United States (childcare voucher applications, SafeLink phone applications, etc.).

    + Conduct training on the topics of public transportation, childcare options, digital literacy, and understanding public benefits to reduce barriers to employment.

    + Participate in supporting clients in Job Application Hours to understand the process of applying for jobs in the United States and submit needed employment applications to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

    + Coordinate with economic empowerment service teams to support clients over the course of their service provision at the IRC in issues of barrier reduction.

    + Engage respectfully with all clients, staff and partners.

    + Facilitate and conduct client outings (contingent upon office status) to financial institutions, libraries and various other venues to support client engagement with needed resources.

    + Other duties as identified by RTCP Program Coordinator.

    LEARNING OBJECTIVES :

    + Intern will gain insights into IRC casework and workforce programs and the process of refugee and asylee integration within the United States.

    + Intern will learn to communicate effectively with clients in a global environment and with using interpreters.

    + Intern will learn individual coaching techniques to engage and empower adults.

    Qualifications

    + Self-motiva ted and able to work independently

    + Excellent c ommunication and writing skills

    + Works well in a fast-paced environme nt and adapts quickly to change

    + Strong interest in refugee and asylee issues

    + Language skills in Spanish, Amharic , Dari, Pashto , French, Kinyarwanda or Swahili are a plus

    + Preference to curren t students and recent graduates *

    TO APPLY

    Click Apply Now at the top of this page. Please attach a resume, cover letter and list of (at least) three references to your application. The deadline to apply is May 23rd, 2025.

     

    This position is for Summer 2025 and requires a minimum commitment of 3 months and at least 15-30 hours per week. Ability to work at least one day in-person required.

     

    Summer 2025 Interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on June 9th, 2025 from 9:15AM-3:30PM.

    We currently offer internships during the following semesters:

    Spring: January – May

     

    Summer: June– August

     

    Fall: September – December

     

    Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date.

     

    Note: Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Summer 2025 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Specialist at [email protected] .

     

    *Candidates applying who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or are outside 12 months of their graduation will be processed as volunteers.

     

    To protect our clients, the IRC requires all selected applicants to complete background checks. We ask that you make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer.

     

    IRC leading the way from harm to home.

     

    IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

     

    If you need assistance in the application or hiring process to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact Talent Acquisitions [email protected]. As required by law, the IRC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with a known disability.