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!
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!
Coffee Conversations
Coffee Conversationalists offer career guidance to former refugees enrolled in our new Communities Acting for Refugee Empowerment (CARE) program established to support refugees toward their educational and employment goals.
Volunteers are matched with clients with an interest in the volunteer's area of expertise and meet with the client for a one-time conversation to share more about their field of work. With your support, clients can gain a better understanding of the educational/training requirements and job responsibilities of their field of interest.
Contact Rye Campbell (mcampbell@cwsglobal.org), CARE Program Coordinator, to volunteer.
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome Teams
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!
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!
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.
