Refugee Reception and Placement Internship Program
Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
Dates: Each semester (minimum 3 months, 40 hours per credit hour), based on College of Charleston calendar
Suitable Discipline/s: International Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies
Academic credit: INTL 401, with the potential of counting for the Global Studies concentration
About the Organization
Lutheran Services Carolinas is a faith-based health and human services organization that supports refugees arriving to North and South Carolina as part of the US State Department’s Reception and Placement Program. Currently in the Charleston area, LSC is providing services to refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, and Ukraine, including refugees from various parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
LSC helps refugees with the resettlement process in the United States, assisting with arrival, housing, employment, healthcare, education, and in general, helping them adjust to their new community.
In partnership with the College of Charleston’s International Studies Program, LSC is offering internship opportunities for students interested in issues of international migration, cross- cultural communication, and community outreach. Below are some of the sample activities interns would participate in:
- Work closely with an LSC case manager to support refugees (families, children, and individuals) resettled in Charleston.
- Help with logistics and administrative tasks at LSC’s Charleston office.
- Engage in community outreach and public education programming to create more cultural awareness and cross-cultural competency in Charleston about issues related to international migration.
- Read an interdisciplinary collection of sources focused on issues of international migration, and develop a reading guide for LSC volunteers and staff.
- Support LSC in educational workshops for refugees and volunteers
Eligibility and How to Apply
- Students should have completed International Studies courses at the 100 and 200 levels at the College of Charleston campus before applying for this internship.
- Students should demonstrate in their application materials how their studies and previous experiences could contribute to LSC’s work.
- Students who are interested in a career in international migration or international development are especially encouraged to apply.
- Send the following application materials to Sarah Koellner (koellnersk@cofc.edu) and Blake Scott (scottbc@cofc.edu): a 1-2 page cover letter, resume, and the contact information for two references. Please let us know for which position (see below) you are applying for.
Application Deadline for internships:
- November 21 for Spring semester
- February 15 for Summer semester
- April 15 for Fall semester
Current internship positions with LSC
Community Engagement Intern
Time commitment: 15 hours a week
Location: In person at the LSC office, North Charleston
Duties:
- Assist with weekly communication and coordination of volunteers
- Research potential partner organizations and compile contact information
- Help onboard new Circle of Welcome teams
- Serve as a liaison between the College of Charleston’s refugee task force and LSC
- Assist in event/training planning and execution
- Assist with volunteer documentation and other office tasks
- Catalog and sort donations and provide donors with appropriate forms
- Other duties as assigned by the Outreach Coordinator
Refugee Resettlement Intern
Time commitment: 15 hours a week
Location: In person at the LSC office, North Charleston
Duties:
- Assist case management staff with pre-arrival duties such as applications for public benefits, locating housing, organizing airport reception
- Make appointments for clients when necessary
- Assist the case manager in providing services to clients (education, health services, housing, food, transportation, legal services)
- Assist with other administrative tasks including updating case files and documentation
- Assist staff with identification of needs and coordination of the appropriate referrals to meet those needs
- Attend home visits with case management staff and assist with case notes
- Transport items to and from clients as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Refugee Employment Intern
Time commitment: 15 hours a week
Location: In person at the LSC office, North Charleston
Duties:
- Complete trainings on state and Office on Refugee Resettlement employment programs, including Refugee Social Services, Refugee Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Matching Grant
- Provide support to Employment Specialist staff through case noting, documentation, and other administrative tasks
- Assist in referring refugee clients to community-based resources that will reduce barriers to employment, including but not limited to childcare resources, ESL services, financial literacy training, transportation, mental health resources,
- Provide support for Matching Grant orientations, Job Readiness Training, and Financial Literacy Training
- As needed, teach refugee clients how to pay rent, utilities, etc. and provide budgeting and financial education
- Provide bus training to refugees as needed
- Other duties as assigned by Area Manager and/or Employment Specialist staff
