Internships

Interns who work with our Refugee Employment Services team assist program participants with job applications, follow up with employers regarding training and start dates, contribute to case notes and administrative documentation, and assist with group classes, among other responsibilities. Detail-oriented, positive applicants with strong cross-cultural communication skills will excel in this role. Interns who plan to pursue careers in business administration, management, and human resources will learn transferrable skills, especially around diversity and equity in recruiting and retention.

Case management interns hit the ground running and spend their intern days taking their supervisor's cases to appointments (~60% of their time) and doing administrative tasks that support the resettlement of these cases (~40% of their time). This includes a substantial amount of refugee transportation, waiting rooms, and non-stop days. You will work alongside other case management interns and be supported and invested in by your supervisor. All of our case management interns finish their internship saying they have grown in independence, advocacy, organization, and an impressive ability to problem solve in a job that never goes as planned. The administrative side of this internship requires the ability to be detail-oriented, organized, and efficient. We are willing to help you grow in these skills if you are willing to show up every day with a good, open attitude.

Refugee health intern will assist with managing medical appointments (primary care, specialists, dental, urgent care, etc.) for newly arrived refugees and other program participants with medical vulnerabilities. They will assist with scheduling, communicating appointments to clients (refugees), and transporting cases to appointments. They will also assist with bill payment, medical insurance follow-up, and helping refugees apply for health insurance when their 8 months of Refugee Medical Assistance (Medicaid) has expired. Since our clients are spread throughout the Triangle area, this is a fantastic opportunity for a pre-med student or any person interested in healthcare to familiarize her/himself with a wide range of providers and to get an up close view at what health in the U.S. looks like for populations often marginalized (non-English speakers, low-income, limited health insurance, no knowledge of U.S. health systems, etc.). This intern will also assist his/her supervisor in non-health related client services, as determined by the individual needs and service goals of clients being served.

Youth Services Interns will be integral in creating and facilitating positive integration experiences for refugee and immigrant youth through the Refugee & Immigrant Youth Services (RIYS) program. Interns will facilitate and organize tutoring sessions for youth enrolled in specific Durham Public School (DPS) sites by partnering with volunteers and bilingual assistants to deliver linguistically and culturally supportive academic content for K-12 learners. Youth Services Interns will be part of efforts to conduct social-emotional and mental health assessments, give presentations on various relevant topics for social success such as bullying prevention and goal setting, and advocate for learners within DPS. Interns will also have the opportunity to support programming for WRD’s Youth Mentoring Services. This program will involve coordinating youth groups of 15- to 24-year-old refugee youth while providing intensive case management services to a subset of these youth. Ideal interns for these programs are passionate, dynamic, and good at improvising. Prior experience working with youth is preferred, especially in cross-cultural contexts.

The Immigration Legal Services (ILS) Intern will serve as a key support to the ILS team in organizing case files, answering client inquiries, and keeping up-to-date with changes in immigration law. This intern must be organized, be skilled at project juggling and prioritization, and be a clear communicator. He or she is welcome to suggest ideas for projects and systems, and must be a self-starter, possessing skills in both independent and team work. This intern must have experience in using Microsoft Office. Cross-cultural experience working with immigrants or international populations is recommended. Please note that this internship is an opportunity to be introduced to immigration law for those who are planning to pursue a legal career. Individuals who are not an attorney or a Department of Justice accredited representative will not be providing any immigration legal advice. Applicants for this internship must be enrolled in law school or attending a four-year university and looking to apply to law school in the future. Bilingual applicants (English-Spanish) are preferred.

The ILS intern may also assist with community outreach events and legal workshops in the Triangle. He or she must have flexibility for occasionally attending or hosting events on weeknights or weekends. This internship will increase an intern’s knowledge of non-profit operation, time management and task prioritization, immigration, and community engagement.

The community engagement intern serves as an asset to our volunteer coordination, church mobilization, fundraising, and advocacy efforts. This intern will engage community leaders, pastors, and volunteers in the Triangle as we work together to mobilize the community to partner with the refugees and immigrants. This intern is free to voice his or her creative ideas for improving systems, church communication, organizational systems, materials, etc. He or she must have a great eye for detail, be quick to learn new databases and skilled at project juggling and prioritization. Additionally, he or she is welcome to suggest projects based on possessed skillsets and passions. He or she must be a self-starter, possessing skills in both independent and team work. A heart for the refugee community and commitment to seeing it served through relationship with the local community is core to this position. The internship would increase an intern’s knowledge of non-profit operation, time management and task prioritization, the refugee community, organizational skills, professional writing, and church mobilization.