Volunteers are needed for Pima Community College‘s refugee education program.

With violence and war making for difficult, dangerous situations in multiple countries throughout the world, many refugees are fleeing their homelands for the safety of the United States. Upon their arrival, they face countless challenges, one of the biggest being the language barriers. Many refugees speak little, if any, English, which can be a great struggle as they attempt to adjust to life in America.

This is where Pima Community College steps in with it’s refugee education program, allowing non-English speakers the chance to learn the language at three different locations. Four times a week, refugees attend a two-hour class where they learn English. Normally, there are around 600 students in the program, but this year, Pima Community College has seen an increase in refugees entering the program, with 700 currently participating.

The Federal government requires students to secure a job and be self-sufficient three months after their arrival in the country.

With the increase in students this year, the program needs volunteers who can work in the classroom or one-on-one with students. Volunteers will not need an education background, but would need to attend a training class prior to their start date.

To lend a helping hand, call (520) 206-3737 or email [email protected].