Volunteer

Volunteer

Become a volunteer and play a vital role in Asylum Access by supporting refugees as they rebuild their lives.

Volunteering

Volunteers fill vitul roles in our national organization. They offer support to forcibly displaced clients on stages both large and small- providing advice, encouragement and solidarity in te face of country-wide discrimination.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with new volunteer advocate programs begin  two to three times per year. Applicationsshould be submitted via email to the address specified on each application. learn more about our VA program.

What is the volunteer advocate (VA) program?

Our Volunteer Advocate (VA) program enlists both local and international professionals to work alongside refugees and provide services that support them as they rebuild their lives. Specifically, our goal is to prepare volunteers to collaborate with refugees to guarantee their rights to employment, freedom of movement, and full participation in their local communities. VAs who commit to our minimum six-month program work within one of our national organizations.

VAs positions are offered in five areas: Legal Services, Community Empowerment, Policy Advocacy, Communications, or Program Administration. As a part of the VA program, all volunteers are given the opportunity to practice what they are passionate about in an environment where their efforts truly make a difference. Our intensive training course provides VAs with valuable skills regarding human rights and refugee law. This training is combined with expert mentoring to guide VAs through the process of managing their own caseloads or supporting their relevant programs

Addition Benefits

  • Receive intensive training and mentoring from experienced legal advocates on the ground
  • For international VAs: gain practical experience living and working abroad among a supportive network of colleagues
  • For local VAs: gain practical experience working in an international environment
  • Understand the range of local, national, and international players in the human rights arena
  • Manage your own caseload or support community programs, achieve tangible solutions for individual clients
  • Sharpen your foreign language and advocacy skills through daily interaction with clients or international volunteers
  • Tap into our growing pool of human rights resources around the world
  • Play a key role in protecting and ensuring refugee rights in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
  • Receive valuable opportunities and updates for as long as you would like via our alumni network.

Health and Safety

Living in a different country can be a new and challenging experience. At Asylum Access, volunteers are supported by the community fostered in each of our national organizations.

Funding

It is a VA’s responsibility to apply for and secure funding—however, Asylum Access will gladly write letters of recommendation, give examples of successful fundraising appeals, and provide information regarding the program if requested. Occasionally, law schools set up post graduate fellowships for top-performing recent graduates to work with Asylum Access.

To get more information on this or to inquire about setting up a fellowship with your law school, please contact apply@asylumaccess.org.

International Volunteer Advocate

Volunteers who have been selected for the program can contact Asylum Access with any questions they may have about preparation for international living. VAs are expected to secure their own visas, though Asylum Access can provide information on each country’s visa process. All VAs are also required to have international health insurance before entering another country.

Volunteers who have been selected for the program can contact Asylum Access with any questions they may have about preparation for international living. VAs are expected to secure their own visas, though Asylum Access can provide information on each country’s visa process. All VAs are also required to have international health insurance before entering another country.

Community Empowerment

Volunteer Position location
Voluntario/a para el área de Comunicación (Spanish required)
Cualquier lugar de México

Open volunteering positions

Volunteer Position location
Volunteer Legal Advocate
Bangkok, Thailand
Volunteer Legal Advocate (Spanish required)
Multiple Locations, Mexico
Community Paralegal
Bangkok, Thailand

Policy

Volunteer Position location
No positions currently available

Administration and Communications

Volunteer Position location
Executive Support Volunteer Advocate
TBD