Get Involved

Thank you for your interest in the Hyde Park Refugee Project. In these tumultuous times, it has been heartening to witness the outpouring of support for the most vulnerable among us. It’s that spirit of goodwill and community that so many of us cherish about Hyde Park.

Below are some things you can do to support the mission of the Hyde Park Refugee Project.

If you are interested in working directly with members of the families who resettled in the Hyde Park area, you can volunteer in one of the following capacities (background check required).

Family mentors help the family learn about and adjust to the routines of daily life in the US and Chicago. The mentors help the family complete tasks such as going over the mail, paying utility bills, scheduling appointments, communicating with children’s schools, finding inexpensive stores for household needs, and other similar, seemingly mundane but absolutely essential routine activities.

Commitment:

• Mentors meet with families two-three times per month (or as needed), usually at the family home.
• Mentors sometimes accompany members of families to appointments
• Mentors sometimes plan social and cultural activities with the families.
• Being a mentor is a long-term commitment—9-12 months

ESL (English as a Second Language) Tutors – Adults

As an ESL tutor you will meet your assigned learners once a week at the family home to teach and practice all aspects of communication in English—conversation, reading and writing.

Tutors — Children

Tutors working with children, meet the child at the family home once a week to help the child with homework, talking and playing in English.

Commitment:

• One hour once a week at the family home
• Prior experience in ESL not necessary
• Free ESL tutor training is available through Literacy Works Chicago
• Tutors are connected online and regularly share resources and help each other with ideas and problem solving

Help English Learners at local public schools with homework and all aspects of communication and learning in English.

• Tutors work with students for 1 to 2 hours once a week during ESL class
• Tutors assist the ESL Teacher and help any of the students in the classroom who require help

Provide childcare to toddlers and young children while their mothers are participating in an English class.

• This volunteer position is appropriate for adults, including parents of young children
• Bring your little one once a week for a 2-hour play group
• Use toys and supplies in the play room to facilitate play and activities with all children.

Be a part of an on-call pool of interpreters, who help the families during official meetings and other occasions.

Currently required languages: Pashto, Dari and Swahili

Join Our Administrative Team

• Volunteer to help with organizational tasks and logistics.
• Coordinate donations—Community members offer donations. Find out if the items are needed and if yes, coordinate delivery to the families. Recruit owners of mini-vans to help with the occasional pickup and delivery of donated items.
• Help with website design and content.
• Join our fundraising team and help us research and respond to grants.
• Event coordination—Help plan and implement events for volunteers, families and the community.

Get Started

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Hyde Park Refugee Project.

We have had such an overwhelming response that we have had to pause applications while we process current applicants and find the best placements for them.

Rest assured that we will need new volunteers in the near future, so please check back with us in early 2025.

Meanwhile, if you can help financially, please consider making a donation to the Hyde Park Refugee Project.

For more information, or if you have other questions, please send us an email at info@hprpchicago.org.

Spread the Word

Please consider sharing information about the Hyde Park Refugee Project with the members of your network and invite them to contribute. No gift is too small!

Thank you!

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