Intern with our Partner in Northern Iraq
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. - 2 Corinthians 2:14
Erbil, Northern Iraq
A student practices her letters at Discovery Club, an after school tutoring center in Northern Iraq.
Note: This internship opportunity is no longer available.
Last Summer, ARDF gave a small grant to Charis Community Center , a locally registered NGO in Northern Iraq. Strategically situated within a diverse neighborhood of Iraqi-Kurds and resettled Syrian-Kurd refugees, the Charis Community Center offers educational enrichment and English language instruction to children ages 9-13.
Read about the initial grant here.
Over the past six months, it is clear that the community center is meeting a real need in the community. The team started with a two-week pilot: “Camp Discovery.” It was a chance to get to know the children and their families, assess their skill level, and determine the potential for the next phase: “Discovery Club.” From day two of Camp, it was clear that the potential was there!
Since August, they have offered three terms of “Discovery Club,” a 4-6 week long program that serves a total roster of thirty students. Activities include board games, English classes, tutoring, and outdoor activities. The kids come to learn and have fun. Families participate in holiday parties and get togethers. The program has been wildly successful and continues to grow.
Parents have expressed their gratitude for these sessions and continually are asking to expand the program to all age groups. And our partners on the ground would love to invite more to join from the ever expanding waitlist.
However, the main limiting factor to expanding the program to more students is staffing. With more volunteer leaders, Charis Center could open the doors more often to more kids. Therefore, the center is looking to recruit native English speakers to come volunteer at the center this coming summer of 2022.
Are you interested in visiting Northern Iraq and volunteering with Discovery Club? Do you have a unique skill to share with the youth? Are you open and willing to step into a new culture and bring your expertise to the students? If so, you might be a good fit for the Charis Community Center. We welcome creative ideas and are willing to dream big. We also welcome volunteer teams. Participants must be able to financially fund their experience. Note: This internship opportunity is no longer available. Please continue to pray for the people of Northern Iraq.
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