THANK YOU for your interest in volunteering to welcome new neighbors!

Recent executive actions that have halted refugee admissions and frozen federal funding to support refugees in our community have forced CWS Durham to furlough 2/3 of our staff. (See situation analysis here.)

We may be slow to respond to volunteer inquiries.

Volunteer

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Support for the Journey

Hundreds of refugees are resettled each year in the Triangle of North Carolina after fleeing persecution in their own home countries. Refugees often arrive with little to no English, limited familiarity with U.S. culture, and no financial resources. Because of recent, drastic cuts in critical federally funded services, their resettlement journey will be especially challenging.

You can make that journey easier.

Volunteer to support newcomers as they rebuild their lives, and help us continue the over 40-year tradition of welcoming refugees to North Carolina

Apply to Volunteer
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Ways to support

Administrative assistance - Immigration Office

Current time availability includes Mondays and/or Wednesdays 9am - 1pm

Administrative assistance - main office

 Current time availability includes Monday through Thursday between 10AM-4PM (any 2-hour window)

Provide transportation to clients 

Help refugees get to where they need to be!

Accompanying clients to appointments

Support refugees by joining them on new appointments as they navigate our community.

Friendship After Kabul

A little over a year ago in August 2021, I deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne as part of Operation Allies Refuge. Our goal was to evacuate American citizens as well as Afghan allies fleeing the Taliban and seeking safety in the U.S. My experiences during the evacuation stuck with me. Even after returning to North Carolina, the memories continued to occupy my mind. I wanted to find a way to help here at home.
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Volunteer Requirements

If you would like to volunteer directly with clients, we ask that volunteers are:

  • Attend a volunteer orientation
  • Complete a background check (prior to orientation)
  • 18 years or older

Some volunteer opportunities may vary from these requirements.

Apply to Volunteer

Contact the Volunteer Team

Resources

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Case Notes

Case Notes are an important documentation of the services our staff and volunteers provide to our new neighbors. Case notes increase coordination and communication across the team while also offering clients a transparent and accessible record of the services and team support received since their arrival.

Submit
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CORE Resource Exchange

The Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE), a technical assistance program, connects and supports refugee resettlement staff globally to deliver effective Cultural Orientation which helps refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders achieve self-sufficiency in the United States.

Website