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.
Position: Newcomer Youth Summer Academy Peer Mentor (Unpaid)
Reports to: Youth Education and Program Specialists, Classroom Teachers
Position Term: Orientation: June 26, 2026, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Training: June 29- July 2, 2026, 9:00am - 5:00pm;
Program Dates: July 6, 2026 - August 14, 2026
Shifts: Monday and Wednesday and Friday 8:00am-4:00pm OR Tuesday and Thursday and Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.
Background:
Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee and immigrant youth and their communities in New York City. The Youth Education Program provides year-round programming working directly with refugee and immigrant youth, their parents and families, and their schools.
The Newcomer Youth Summer Academy is a six-week program focusing on preparing newly arrived immigrant youth to succeed at their grade level in the New York City public school system. Up to 135 students ages 5 - 21 from over 20 countries will participate in academics, creative arts, physical education, social emotional learning activities, and additional educational classes. Field Trips are held on Fridays.
Peer Mentors support the students' academic and social emotional growth during the Academy. Peer Mentorswill be placed with a single class of students for the six-week duration of the Academy, supporting all Classroom Teachers to ensure productive and enriching lessons and to serve aspositive role models for students.
Peer Mentors are expected to work three days total per week either Monday, Wednesday, and Friday OR Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Fridays, all Peer Mentors work the full day (8:00am to 4:00pm) to support students and staff on field trips. There are a limited number of spaces for peer mentors to assist with NYSA after school programming until 5:00pm Monday-Thursday. All Peer Mentors must be available for all training days and for the entire duration of the program. Both staff training and the program are in-person in New York City with no remote option.
Fluency in written and spoken English required. Second language proficiency in relevant language highly desirable (including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Fulani, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Wolof)
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.
Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings