Be the bridge from hope to home.

Your time can open doors and change lives.

Starting over in a new country isn’t easy. That’s why we match volunteers to help refugee families. Volunteers step in as mentors, teachers and friends. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about showing up, listening, and being part of someone’s journey. At RAA, volunteers aren’t just helpers, they’re part of the family. Whether you’re meeting with a refugee family in person, teaching English online, or serving on a committee, your time matters more than you know.

Why Volunteer with RAA?

Volunteering with RAA is about more than giving your time—it’s about changing lives. You’ll help refugees gain confidence and independence, and you’ll gain skills, networks and new perspectives.

As a volunteer you will:

Make a lasting impact by walking alongside refugee families as they rebuild their lives
Grow your professional skills and experience in teaching, mentoring, and cross-cultural communication
Build new friendships and social connections with like-minded peers
Experience cultural exchange—learning as much from families as they learn from you

Cultural Exchange

Volunteers act as cultural ambassadors, introducing refugees to American culture and values while modeling independence and mutual respect, fostering a two-way exchange of understanding.

A Sense of Impact

Volunteers feel fulfilled by witnessing how their work has a meaningful effect on the lives of refugee families, empowering them to rebuild their lives with confidence and independence.

Building Relationships

Volunteering creates connections and friendships—not only with refugee families but also with like-minded peers.

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Support Volunteer

Community Support Volunteers are paired with newly arrived refugee families to help them navigate life in South Florida. Volunteers serve as friends and mentors. This could mean practicing English with a refugee, showing how to make doctor’s appointment, or simply introducing families to everyday places like schools, libraries, or local shops.RAA sets you up for success with training, resources, monthly check-ins and ongoing support. The role is a real commitment, but also one of the most rewarding ways to make an impact.

What's Involved

Spend 6–12 months supporting a refugee family in their adjustment process
Provide practical guidance, cultural orientation, and encouragement
Work closely with RAA staff, who offer ongoing coaching and support

Requirements

Live in Broward or Miami-Dade County
Attend a specialized virtual training session
Complete background clearance
Access to What’s App and virtual meeting platforms

Your Commitment

6-12 months volunteer service
1-3 hours per week
Biweekly food bank delivery drop-off
2 activities with refugee household per month

Volunteer Application Learn about Volunteering

English as a Second Language Volunteer Teachers

Our ESL Volunteer Teachers volunteer virtually to help refugees build the language skills they need to connect with others, thrive at work or study, and move towards sufficiency. From practicing conversation to guiding a lesson, you’ll give learners the confidence to speak English in real situations, and integrate in their new community.RAA provides training, an online ESL curriculum for virtual classes, and ongoing staff support to equip you to teach.

What's Involved

Teach English to adult refugee students one-on-one or in small groups
Lead structured lessons using RAA’s curriculum and resources
Support learners with conversation, reading, and workplace vocabulary
Provide encouragement and practical communication skills for daily life and work
Work closely with RAA staff for guidance and resources

Requirements

Background clearance required (for in-person teaching)
Teaching background, ESL certification, or experience with English instruction preferred
Reliable internet connectivity

Your Commitment

12 weeks of volunteer service
40–60 minute sessions, twice per week
Option to teach virtually or in person

Volunteer Application Learn about Volunteering

Events Committee Volunteers

Our Events Volunteers bring our community together to warmly welcome refugees in South Florida. From setting up tables to welcoming guests, your efforts make each gathering meaningful, successful - and fun! RAA hosts five major events each year—Spring Clearout (April), World Refugee Day party (June), and our Holiday Party (December) and refugee fundraisers in the spring and fall. Events volunteers help organize, promote and staff each event to ensure things run smoothly. This is RAA’s main volunteer opportunity for teenagers who wish to earn community service hours.

What's Involved

You’ll assist with planning, promoting, and running RAA’s community events
You’ll support logistics on event days: set-up, guest support, and clean-up
You’ll help create welcoming, joyful community celebrations

Requirements

Live in or near Broward or Miami-Dade counties as all events are in person
Teen volunteers welcome & community service hours are provided

Your Commitment

Flexible, depending on the event and your availability.
You can volunteer for one event per year or to assist with several
Most events are 1 day with several hours of participation ahead

Volunteer Application Learn about Volunteering

Specialized Volunteers

Specialized Volunteers bring their unique skills to support refugee families in practical, hands-on ways. Whether delivering food boxes, mentoring students through the college application process, or setting up home internet and laptops, these roles fill urgent gaps and make daily life easier for newly arrived families.RAA matches volunteers based on their expertise and our families’ needs. If you have a professional skill or specialized experience - legal, financial, technical or practical - this is a chance to put it to meaningful use.

What's Involved

Deliver food to refugee families facing food insecurity
Mentor refugee students through the college application process
Provide technical support with laptops, internet setup, or digital literacy
Other opportunities may include:
- Helping families navigate school enrollment
- Assisting with resumes, job applications, or interview prep
- Offering interpretation or language support
- Assisting with filing tax returns or legal documents

Requirements

Skills and requirements vary by volunteer role
RAA will provide guidance and training to ensure you’re prepared

Your Commitment

Flexible—varies depending on the volunteer role and family’s needs

Volunteer Application Learn about Volunteering

“It’s made me more aware of the difficulties that not just refugees face but I think people who are living below the poverty line in America face. .I saw basically how hard it is to be poor in America and how, like, these challenges that lots of people face in this country– obviously it's even harder for a refugee from a different country. I'm in South Florida and you know, there's really massive inequality here. I kind of felt like I was actually seeing the reality for so many of my neighbors.“

RAA Volunteer

“It was a challenge for us, all college graduates, to navigate our way through medical care, so I can’t imagine how a refugee family could ever figure this out alone.”

RAA Volunteer

“We put out requests on Next Door, and complete strangers have been jumping at the chance to help. The community at large I think wants to also be on that journey with us and involve themselves in any way they can contribute, any way they can make a difference.”

RAA Volunteer

RAA values your commitment

After 6 months of consistent volunteer work, we certify community service hours
After 12 months, we are happy to provide a reference for your professional or academic journey

The work can be challenging at times—teaching skills instead of simply doing tasks—but it is deeply rewarding. Refugee families often tell us how much it means to have someone by their side, encouraging them to succeed on their own.

Volunteer Christine

"I've been teaching English with Refugee Assistance Alliance for the past year. I was nervous because although I've taught in the past, I've never taught English. What I found is that some weeks we do lessons, other weeks we just talk. When you're in a new country you need to talk about a whole variety of things on the spot, so when we talk, we're practising being understood. I'm communicating "I'm so happy you're here". We talk about our lives, our work, and along the way, we've developed a friendship. I feel very lucky to watch her progress, to watch how incredibly hard she's worked. It's been a real joy."

Suzanne's Story

Suzanne Delehanty has been with Refugee Assistance Alliance from the very beginning—as one of our first donors, earliest champions, and most dedicated ambassadors. Over the years, she introduced many people to our mission, amplifying our work by sharing RAA stories across her network and bringing new supporters into our community. Suzanne’s unwavering support boosts our visibility—and our morale. “I am in utter and total admiration of the resilience, courage, and accomplishments of the families RAA supports,” she says. “It fills me with joy to help RAA.” Her voice, her belief in our mission, and her ongoing advocacy continue to inspire our team and expand our impact.

Volunteer Bethina

"Sometimes what refugees need is not only guidance about practical things, they simply need someone to hear their dreams, to hear how overwhelmed they are, how tired they are... so we give emotional support, we are their best friend."