Youth Intern

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview :The IRC’s Refugee School Impact Program (RSIG) and Refugee Youth Mentoring Program (RYMP) support the integration and holistic wellbeing of school-aged students who hold a humanitarian immigration status. The programs work to reinforce a sense of belonging and security within schools and surrounding communities, build students’ confidence in their English and academic abilities, and help students develop graduation and career plans tailored to their unique interests and skills. Throughout the year, students take part in after-school programming, college and career discovery workshops, field trips, and our Summer Academy each designed to address the expressed needs of our clients. 

An additional component of the internship is youth case management, which includes enrolling new clients in the youth program and completing individual service plans for each client. Interns work closely with Youth Team staff and clients to provide direct case management support and follow-up. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build supportive, culturally responsive relationships with refugee and immigrant youth in the after-school program. Deliver engaging, differentiated small-group and one-on-one sessions that reflect the IRC’s Social Emotional Asset Development (SEAD) framework. Design and adapt culturally relevant instructional materials and activity guides for multilingual learners. Contribute to a shared team library of resources and instructional tools accessible to all program staff. Help administer and record attendance, pre- and post-assessments, and participant progress data. Co-facilitate or participate in volunteer and staff orientation and training, modeling effective facilitation and instructional techniques. Support continuous quality improvement by identifying programmatic gaps and opportunities and raising them to the Youth Supervisor and Coordinator. Maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment. 

Tutor Track:

Academic & English Language Development 

• Provide academic tutoring and homework support across content areas. Deliver English Language Development (ELD) instruction and language practice aligned to Maryland WIDA standards. Design, adapt, and differentiate ELD lesson plans and supplementary materials for multilingual and English Language Learner (ELL) youth. Administer IRC’s pre- and post-ELD assessments and contribute to reviewing results to inform instruction.

 Mentor Track:

College & Career Readiness 

• Mentor youth in college exploration, post-secondary planning, and career awareness, connecting learning to real-world pathways. Design and adapt college- and career-readiness curriculum, units, and workshops (e.g., goal-setting and study skills, college options and the application process, financial aid and FAFSA awareness, resume building, interview practice, and workplace readiness). Support youth in identifying their interests, strengths, and goals, and in building the habits and confidence to pursue them. Integrate English language support as needed, while keeping college and career growth the primary focus. Help track mentee goals and progress and contribute to program data and reporting. 

Job Requirements Education 

• Currently enrolled in, or holding, a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience considered. Tutor track: preferably in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, Education, Linguistics, or a closely related field; candidates pursuing a TESOL certificate or specialization are strongly encouraged to apply. Mentor track: preferably in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Youth Development, Career Counseling, or a closely related field. 

Work Experience 

Experience teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or coaching children and youth (in a formal or informal setting such as public schools, after-school programs, or community programs) preferred. Tutor track: experience teaching English Language Development (ELD) and/or incorporating ELD principles into sessions desired. Mentor track: experience in college access, career readiness, youth mentoring, or post-secondary advising preferred. Experience working with English Language Learners preferred; experience with refugee youth and/or in U.S. public school settings desired. 

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies 

Ability to create and deliver engaging, differentiated lessons and workshops for multilingual and ELL youth. Tutor track: knowledge of ESL/ELD instructional practices and strategies; familiarity with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework preferred. 

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 for applying is 01/04/2027.

This position is for the Fall semester and requires a minimum commitment of 24 hours per week. Ability to work in-person at the Silver Spring office and at a minimum of 15 hours per week is required.

Spring 2027 interns are expected to begin their internship term by attending an in-person intern orientation on Jan 25th, 2027, 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. Spring 2027 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 Coordinator Lalah Ehrari [email protected].

*Candidates applying not enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and outside of 12 months from graduation are welcome to apply. These candidates 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 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.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.