Call for Volunteers - Refugee Student Mentor Program

Spring 2022

Refugee Student Mentor Program (RSMP) – Call for Volunteers

A joint endeavor between the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies

We are writing to invite interested undergraduate and graduate students to join RSMP for the Spring 2022 semester. Below you will find information on how to join and how we have adapted our activities to account for current pandemic conditions.

Virtual Orientation

This semester’s virtual orientations will occur on Wednesday, 26 January, from 3-4pm and on Monday, 31 January, from 4-5pm. You only need to attend one orientation. They cover the same material. We schedule two in an attempt to accommodate different schedules. If you would like to volunteer but cannot attend either of these sessions, please email Bryan Sitzes (sitzesbc@utexas.edu) about setting up an alternative time.

When: Jan 26, 2022 03:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwofu6tqzouEtZhalCKhI2QXRG80rluAofj

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.


When: Jan 31, 2022 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://utexas.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwode6qrjwrHdecBfqt7D-p4mZ0rT3W9cu3

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Thank you to any and all who are willing to help these students in the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Our hope is that the orientation will show you more precisely how you can contribute your time, your care, and your skills to make a difference in your community. We're looking forward to meeting you all!

RSMP – What We Do

Austin is a relocation site for refugees from around the world. Beginning in 2015, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies worked with Doss Elementary in northwest Austin to connect UT students with Arabic-speaking students there. In response to changing needs within Austin’s refugee community, the Refugee Student Mentor Program’s mentors are working with more diverse groups of students, depending on their skills and schools’ needs. We actively encourage volunteers with non-English language skills to join us and help newly-arrived students in Austin K-12 schools adjust to their new surroundings.