Mentor Immigrant and Refugee Youth

The Go-Betweener Mentoring Program 

Unique Philosophy:  “Go-Betweeners” 

Immigrant and refugee youth have the experience of "going between" their culture at home and American
culture at school and in the community. This can prove to be especially confusing and challenging. Often,
these youth are able to learn English and adapt to American culture faster than their parents, but with
little support and guidance present as their parents are usually working multiple jobs to make ends
meet. They are at particularly high risk for falling behind in school, dropping out, or becoming involved with
drugs and gangs.

We match both 1st and 2nd generation youth (ages 7-17) very specifically with mentors who are:
• also immigrants and refugees;
• who speak the same home language; and
• are from the same (or very similar) home culture, and if they were born outside of the U.S. they
have been in the U.S. for several years.
This way, they are able to relate to and support their mentees in a way that no one else could. They
understand the unique challenges that their mentees face, and they are able to communicate effectively
with their families - connecting them with resources in the community and helping them to learn to be
successful in American culture while maintaining their roots with their own culture.  

A mentor can:  
• be a caring and supportive adult presence
• help with school work
• help with English skills
• help their mentee to set and work towards goals
• connect their mentee (and sometimes his/her family) with resources in the community
• foster an attitude of succes
Other information about the program:
• We thoroughly screen our mentors through in-person interviews, background and reference checks.
• The program is community based. This means that mentors and mentees schedule activities together
independent of Culture Connect. They may participate in community service projects; attend cultural
festivals, or visit museums, theatres, and venues such as the Zoo. Sometimes, they just hang out and
talk while cooking a meal or walking in the park.
• The program requires mentors and mentees to spend at least 4 hours per month with each other for 1
year.
There is an application process and training required for both mentors and mentees.
Contact us for more information today!


Culture Connect, Inc.

P.O. Box 250          
Clarkston, GA  30021       
tel. (404) 292-8457 x 4 
fax (404) 292-8458 
www.cultureconnectinc.org

The Bridging the Gap Project

ESL/Citizenship Literacy Assistance

Tutoring Opportunities

• Volunteer to help out adult immigrants who qualify for U.S. citizenship but need additional help with their English
• Build experience teaching reading, writing, and conversational skills.
• Enhance your intercultural communication abilities
• Gain insight into immigration procedures.
• Flexible scheduling and location

For more information please contact:

Seilavong Doeung

Email: info@btg-online.org

Phone: 770-938-1112

Culture Connect Mentor

The Go-Betweener® Mentoring Program

Immigrants and refugees, especially children and adolescents, have the experience of "going between" their culture at home and American culture at school and in the community. This can prove to be especially confusing and challenging as these youth are often able to learn English and adapt to American culture faster than their parents. Sometimes, there may be little support and guidance present as their parents are working long hours at multiple jobs to survive. These children and adolescents are at particularly high risk for falling behind in school, dropping out, and becoming involved with drug abuse and gangs.

We match these youth very specifically with adult mentors who share 3 important characteristics with them:

1. They are also immigrants or refugees.
2. They are from the same (or similar) cultural background.
3. They speak the same home language.

This way, they are able to relate to and support their mentee in a way that no one else could. They understand the unique challenges that their mentees face, and they are able to communicate effectively with their families - connecting them with resources in the community and helping them to learn to be successful in the United States while maintaining their roots with their home culture.

What are the requirements? You must:

• Be between 18-50 years old
• Be 1st/1.5/2nd generation immigrant or refugee
• Have reliable transportation
• Speak English fluently
• Speak the target language fluently
• Commit to spend time with your mentee at least twice per month for a minimum of 1 year

Want more information about being a mentor? Download our informative PDF. If you cannot read the PDF, download Adobe Reader for free.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please download and fill out this application and email it to volunteer.coordinator@cultureconnectinc.org, fax it to 404-292-8458, or send it by mail to P.O. Box 250, Clarkston, GA 30021. If you have questions about this program please contact us.

Clarkston Community Center

Toy/Food/Clothing Drives

Accepting toy, food, and clothing donations to benefit the refugee population in Clarkston for the holidays.  Call 404-508-1050 for more information. 

International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee is a non-profit resettlement agency helping refugees to rebuild their life in the United States.  They have volunteer opportunities for students interested in gaining experience working with diverse groups of clients, meeting new people from other cultures, and helping others. 

There are two opportunities available:
1)  Family mentor

• Want to make a difference?  Experience a new culture?  Help refugees rebuilding their lives in Atlanta?
• Minimum requirements:  2-3 hours a week for 3 months
• Share what you love about Atlanta with a refugee family!
• Contact Amber Mull, Volunteer Coordinator at 678.636.8928 or VolunteerATL@theirc.org

2)  Resettlement shop

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
• Contact Bekelech Wodajo at 678.636.8952 or bekelech.wodajo@theirc.org

International Rescue Committee

A few of the available opportunities with the International Rescue Committee (IRC):

• Be a family mentor
• You can "adopt" and work one-on-one with a newly arrived refugee family to help them adjust to their new lives in the United States.  This may include English conversation practice, discussions of cultural differences, city orientation and other things involved in getting to know the new community.  Family mentors volunteer for at least 2 hours a week, for a period of at least 3 months.
• ESL Assistant
• Our English as a Second Language (ESL) Program helps newly arrived refugees learn English so that they can secure early employment and perform the daily tasks necessary for their family's well-being.  Volunteers assist our teachers to teach ESL.  The adult ESL classes take place from 9-11 am and 11:30-1:30 pm Monday through Thursday.  We also have Vocational English classes that target on vocabulary and contexts critical to finding employment and succeeding in the workplace.  These take place Monday through Thursday 11:30 to 1:30 pm and Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm  A commitment of 2-3 hours a week is required.
• First Things First Assistant
• IRC's First Things First Program is a woman's literacy class that provides English instruction to refugee mothers while providing educational childcare.  We need volunteers to help care for the children and also to help their mothers learn.  The classes are held from 9 to 11:30 am, Monday through Thursday.  A commitment of 2-3 hours a week is required.
• Help out at the Resettlement Shop
• Spend a few hours working in this thrift-shop environment helping refugees choose clothing and house wares appropriate for their new homes.  You can also help with the presentation of the shop to make it a welcoming place for refugee clients and community donors.  The shop is open from 10 am to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  Volunteers are needed off hours as well.
• Teach in the Computer Lab
• IRC needs volunteers to help clients utilize computer equipment and to provide them with necessary guidance.  Computer lab monitors will help refugee clients learn how to navigate the Internet, set up email accounts, improve their typing skills, create resumes, and learn basic functions of MS Office.  The computer lab is open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.  A commitment of 2-3 hours a week is required.
• Tutor refugee youth
• IRC's After School Program is designed for refugee and American students in grades 7 to 12.  The program provides academic assistance, helps youth transition into their new homes and schools, and builds leadership skills.  Volunteers provide homework help, mentoring, and support for students.  The program takes place every school day between 3:00 and 5:00 pm at two locations:  Clarkston High School and the International Student Center, and also during the summer.

For more information, please contact 678.636.8928 of VolunteerATL@Rescue.org

Clarkston Community Center Volunteer Opportunity

Mckenzie Wren - Executive Director

Director@clarkstoncommunitycenter.org

Website - clarkstoncommunitycenter.org

Mainline: 404-508-1050

Purpose: - The CCC is a place for people to come for art, education, recreation and community building. Has open-play and team sports, after school program, senior refugee program and community garden.