Summer Mentor Jobs in Ridgewood, NJ (NOW HIRING)

Are you interested in a career in education? Do you want to gain professional skills? As a Mentor at South Asian Youth Action (SAYA), you can gain valuable experience in youth development while developing professional skills transferable to any setting. SAYA is committed to providing its employees opportunities for growth and room for creativity in a supportive community environment.

SAYA: Belong. Grow. Thrive.

Organization Description:

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is an inclusive, South Asian-focused 501(c)3 youth development organization. Through our innovative, holistic approach, we work toward educational equity by providing opportunities and resources to less privileged New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members.

Established in 1996, SAYA provides valuable life skills and holistic, impactful programming to underserved New York City youth. As one of the first South Asian organizations created in the United States, SAYA is the only organization of its kind in the NYC metropolitan area providing inclusive and secular comprehensive youth development services while centering our community’s experiences. Today, SAYA provides programming at eight elementary, middle, and high schools in Queens and Brooklyn, along with our Elmhurst-based community center - serving a growing number of youths across all sites each year.

A key tenet of our work is cultivating vital social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as belonging, confidence, and self-efficacy through intentionally designed, research-based curricula. Across our organization, services tailored for different age groups include leadership and identity development, academic support that bridges learning gaps, comprehensive college preparation, and activities that nurture creativity and build positive peer connections.

Position Summary:

As a Mentor for Elementary School Programs, you will design an engaging and intellectually stimulating experience for students while supervising and ensuring the safety of the youth under your care. You will develop a rapport, provide guidance, and serve as a role model for youth.

Reports to: Program Director

Compensation: $22-$24 an hour, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a temporary in-person position for the summer break from July 3 - August 14, 2026 with potential rehire the upcoming school year.

Responsibilities:

• Create a fun, safe, and structured environment for youth which is inclusive to all youth, parents, staff, and key stakeholders.
• Plan, develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum including interactive challenging activities and games that enable the youth to develop core competencies and social emotional skills.
• Manage classroom and maintain positive learning environment
• Provide assistance with homework and encourage academic progress; feel comfortable providing homework help
• Actively monitor and engage youth during all program activities including meals, transitions, field trips, clubs, program activities, recreation and dismissal.
• Provide guidance, problem-solving facilitation, and behavior modification direction.
• Serve as a role model for youth by demonstrating professional language and behavior.
• Develop positive, caring relationships with young people and their families.
• Use youth development principles to improve program quality and support youth’s growth.
• Collaborate and communicate constructively with supervisory staff and team members.
• Ensure proper care of all spaces and materials, organize room and report any misused or damaged materials to the Program Director.
• Complete and submit in a timely manner all program reports relative to this position, including but not limited to: supply request, lesson plans, incident reports, attendance, snack count and timesheets.
• A genuine enthusiasm for developing professional skills through training opportunities and field practice.
• Comply with School Age Child Care (SACC) requirements including background check and medical clearance.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree or current college students preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required.
• Prior experience working with school age children required.
• Interest and experience in youth development, academic enrichment and creating interactive, educational/artistic activities.
• A genuine enthusiasm for developing professional skills through training opportunities and field practice.
• Comply with School Age Child Care (SACC) requirements including background check and medical clearance.
• Bilingual is considered a plus.

Key Competencies

Ideal candidate will excel in the following areas:

1. Communication: The candidate will have the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people including youth, teachers, school administrations, parents, and other staff. They will be able to work as part of a team with the school community and other SAYA programs. They will be able to consider situations from multiple perspectives in order to avoid and manage conflict.
2. Flexibility: The candidate will be comfortable adapting to changing circumstances. They will be able to work with youth of various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

SAYA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.