About the role#
The Refugee Barrier Reduction Intern supports the economic empowerment program at the International Rescue Committee. This role assists humanitarian migrants in navigating systems to achieve self-sufficiency in the United States. You will gain experience in casework, workforce programming, and cross-cultural communication while learning individual coaching techniques to empower adults.
What you'll do#
- Provide direct support to clients completing applications for childcare, telecommunications, and other essential services.
- Conduct training sessions on public transportation, digital literacy, and job readiness.
- Assist clients during Job Application Hours to help them navigate the employment process.
- Coordinate with economic empowerment service teams to address specific client barriers.
- Facilitate client outings to financial institutions, libraries, and other community resources.
What you'll need#
- A strong interest in refugee and asylee issues.
- Ability to work independently and maintain self-motivation.
- Excellent communication and writing skills, including experience with cross-cultural interactions.
- Proficiency in Spanish, Amharic, Dari, Pashto, Haitian-Creole, French, Kinyarwanda, or Swahili is a plus.
- Preference for students or recent graduates in Psychology, Human Resources, Sociology, Political Science, or International Relations.
Location & details#
- Location: Silver Spring, Maryland.
- Term: Fall 2026 (September through December).
- Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week, on-site.
- This is an unpaid internship, though participants may be eligible for a per diem reimbursement of $15 per day for food and travel costs.
- Selected applicants must complete a background check.
About International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to people affected by war and disaster. Founded in 1933, it operates in more than 50 countries and 28 cities across the United States. The organization focuses on areas such as refugee resettlement, health care, and emergency relief. It employs over 13,000 people to support its mission of assisting displaced populations.
How to get in at International Rescue Committee
Applying early gives you a distinct advantage at the International Rescue Committee because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting your materials to a massive, stagnant queue. You can reach out directly to the recruiters behind the company's roles to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves your response rates. Intern Insider surfaces these specific contacts, allowing you to bypass the standard portal and connect with the people actually hiring for the team.
