Volunteer

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. Their resettlement journey is long and full of challenges.

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

Individual Volunteer Opportunities

Practice English With Refugees

In-person or Virtual — 1-2 hrs/week

Provide refugees with the English Language skills they need to be successful. 1 on 1 English support is greatly needed to help refugees feel more comfortable in their new environment and increases their ability to find employment. Working 1 on 1 with a refugee can help give them the confidence to practice speaking English and help you meet one of your new neighbors!

Apply to Volunteer

Home Supply Volunteer

Burlington, NC

Help us gather and set up home supplies for newly arriving refugee families in Burlington. We have many families arriving and need your help to get their homes ready!

Apply to Volunteer

After you submit the Google Form, we will add you to a list of volunteers and we will reach out to see if you are available to help in our next set up! We will then connect you with 1-2 other volunteers who are also available to help with the set up. We will probably need your help within two-three weeks of signing up, however if you are not available for a particular set up no worries, there will be more!

We will give your group a three-day timeframe to complete the set up. The timeframe is usually from Friday-Monday afternoons. All items must be placed in the unit by the deadline. You will receive instructions on how to access the apartment and a list specific to the family you will be helping with including basic information on the family composition to help guide you.

Basic Home Supply List

Coffee Conversations

Welcome Teams set up and furnish apartments so that newly-arrived refugees have a prepared home for them when they arrive in Durham. Check out the Home Supply List to see what items are included in a home setup!

Learn More

Cultural Orientation Support

Individuals can support the mission of welcoming refugees in so many ways: practicing English with newcomers, teaching computer literacy, helping to fill out job applications, working with our immigration legal office, or supporting our ESL classes!

Apply to Volunteer

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome Teams

Learn More

Community Sponsorship

Welcome newly arrived refugees to Durham through community sponsorship. As a community sponsor, your group of 7-10 becomes a partner with CWS Durham to greet a refugee family at the airport, assist them in securing and furnishing initial housing, connect them with local services, and show them all of the things that make our community so special!

Learn More

Volunteer Requirements

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

Able to commit to at least 6 months of direct service
Able to commit to approximately 1-3 hours a week of direct service
18 years old or older
attend a volunteer orientation/training
complete a background check

Some volunteer opportunities may vary from these requirements.

If you have questions about the available opportunities or these basic requirements, Gracie, our Volunteer Coordinator is ready to help.

Apply to Volunteer

Resources

Gracie Pietz

Volunteer Coordinator | CWS Durham

Case Notes

Current volunteer case notes submission form.

Submit

Give

Your gift empowers the work of welcoming refugees, immigrants, and asylum-seekers into lives of freedom, hope, and opportunity.

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Stay Connected

Contact

Resettlement Office

+1.919.680.4310 | durhaminfo@cwsglobal.org
504 W Chapel Hill St STE 106, Durham, NC 27701

Legal Office

+1.919.680.3585
1410 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701

Appointment Only: Our offices are currently operating by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment by contacting your primary staff contact or our office.