̽»¨¾«Ñ¡

TITLE: Childcare Supervision Volunteer

LOCATION: Des Moines, IA                   

START DATE: Ongoing

DURATION: Minimum 3-month time commitment

SCHEDULE: Cultural Orientations are held 3-5 days a month. Scheduling is flexible depending on availability.

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is a leading, non-sectarian, non-profit organization providing emergency relief, protection, rehabilitation assistance, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict.  Domestically, our 29 offices across the U.S. ensure new arrivals have food, shelter, and clothing, and work with refugees to help them gain self-sufficiency.  

The Des Moines, IA office was opened in July of 2022, serving more than 200 refugees in its first year. Our operations expanded to Iowa City with our office opening in February 2024. The Health and Wellness Coordinator supports clients in navigating complex medical and benefits systems, and designs and connects clients to programs and resources that improve their quality of life.

Scope of Service 

The ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Des Moines seeks volunteers to assist with child care and supervision during programmatic education for parents. Classes range from 1- 6 hours, depending on the topic, and could be held in and out of the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Des Moines office. Children range in age from babies to teens. The Cultural Orientation classroom is located directly next to our private childcare room. 

RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:

• Supervise and keep careful watch over all children while classes are in session and children are not attended by parents.
• Make sure that basic needs are met for each child. This may include escorting small children to the restroom, providing food and water, or changing disposable diapers.  All products or items needed to facilitate these responsibilities will be provided by ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ staff.
• Provide means of entertainment for children that need directed play.  Age ranges for children vary. Some smaller children may need more guided play.  Toys, books, and art supplies are provided by the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ office.
• Report accidents or injuries to ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ staff immediately, if applicable.

Desired but not Required:

• Can speak Swahili, Dari / Farsi, Pashto, French, or Spanish.
• CPR and First Aid Certified

This is an unpaid volunteer position.

How to apply 

Go to  and complete the application. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected]. Once your application is received, a staff member will contact you for a brief interview. You will then receive a link to complete a background check. Finally, you will be contacted to attend a required volunteer training. 

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.