Early Childhood Education Summer 2026 Intern - Unpaid

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.
• Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.
• A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.
• If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
• SCOPE OF INTERN SERVICE: The Education & Youth Services (EYS) program is part of the IRC’s holistic and integrated approach to resettlement.
• EYS assist refugee youth and their families in navigating the U.S. education system in the Louisville area.
• The Summer 2026 Early Childhood Education Intern works in close coordination with the EYS Manager and School Impact Program Specialist in the planning and implementation of parent classes, pre-k applications, kindergarten support, and early education resource collection for refugee and immigrant clients.
• The Early Childhood Education Intern will also assist clients with accessing classes in the community and growing the program through community partnerships.
• The intern will play a key role in facilitating educational support services, helping newly resettled refugee students adjust to school environments, and enhancing their academic and social integration.
• This role offers interns hands-on experience in educational programming, client services, and the opportunity to contribute to the empowerment of refugee youth and their families.
• This is an unpaid internship position that requires a minimum commitment of 15 hours per week for at least three months.
• LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn how to connect refugee and immigrant clients to community resources for early childhood programs.
• Develop critical thinking skills, clients service skills, and cross-global education and social work skills.
• Learn about the IRC locally and globally, the available services to refugees and eligible clients in Louisville, KY.
• RESPONSIBILITIES Provide equal treatment to all client groups in accordance with the agency's commitment to the dignity of all persons.
• Assist IRC staff with pre-k and kindergarten enrollment.
• Contacting parents to confirm their availability to attend classes.
• Navigating client barriers to education, including transportation and language.
• Communicating with JCPS and early childhood education services to connect students and their families to appropriate services.
• Collect and interpret data to support educational initiatives and encourage student success.
• Adhere to IRC policies, particularly those related to confidentiality and client privacy, practice respect and consideration of clients’ varied backgrounds and experiences, respect client beliefs and values.
• Other support as needed.
• REQUIREMENTS Must be a current undergraduate student, graduate student, or less than 12 months past graduation.
• Access to a personal vehicle/reliable transportation; IRC Louisville cannot support securing transportation or housing for interns.
• Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or must have active and compliant visas and work authorization status in the United States (the IRC must not be represented as a sponsor or host in any application, filing, or other context for an intern).
• Ability to handle sensitive client information confidentially.
• Strong intercultural communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across language barriers.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Adherence to IRC volunteer/intern and workplace policies.
• Fluency/proficiency in English, both spoken and written, are required; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired but not required.
• TRAINING & GUIDANCE In-depth training will be provided for interns to understand IRC programming and the various needs of clients accessing IRC services.
• Interns will receive training on IRC’s federal R&P and APA service agreements and their programmatic requirements for resettlement services.
• Interns with client languages who could serve as an interpreter will receive guidance on policies when interpreting.
• Other activity specific training will be provided as needed.
• Flexibility, initiative, and a desire to collaborate are essential qualities for this intern opportunity.
• A high-level of confidentiality is required when working with IRC clients.
• FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, & YOUTH PROGRAM LEADERS If you would like to discuss connecting your organization with the IRC in Louisville for internship opportunities, please email Volunteer.Louisville@rescue.org with the subject line “INTERNSHIP." OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED & SUPPORT Learn more about the IRC’s work at Rescue.org/Louisville Fight for policies that deliver real change for the people we serve: Rescue.org/take-action PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.
• Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability.
• In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation.
• IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs.
• IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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• US
• Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits.
• In the
• US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
• Equal
• Opportunity
• Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and rebuild. We are trusted for our ability to reach people in the toughest places, put our clients at the center of everything we do, and - as an evidence-based organization - to relentlessly improve the impact we deliver for those we serve. If you’re ready to be part of a team that brings ingenuity, fortitude and optimism to making a lasting impact, we want to hear from you. The IRC Way, our code of conduct, is founded upon our core values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality. These values unite IRC staff around the world and keep our programs firmly directed towards the well-being of our clients while meeting the expectations of our donors as responsible stewards of their resources.