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What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant?

How many refugees come to the United States and Colorado each year?

Where are Colorado's refugees from?

What happens when a refugee arrives in Colorado?

How do students come into the Colorado Refugee ESL Program?

What is the time commitment for volunteer tutors working in the CRESL program?

What kind of training will I receive?

Do I need to speak a second language to volunteer in the CRESL program?

Can I be assigned to work with students who speak my second language so I can practice my skills?

What happens if I don't like my tutoring assignment?

I travel on business and may take a vacation during my four-month commitment. How is this handled?

What happens if I can't make it to school or a lesson during my scheduled time?

What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant?

An immigrant chooses to leave his or her country, often for economic reasons.

By the United Nations' and U.S. government's definition, a refugee is any person who is outside his/her country of nationality, and who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. These persons have been forced to flee their homeland, and through the United Nations refugee resettlement program, have found refuge in the United States.
Refugees are legal United States residents.

How many refugees come to the United States and Colorado each year?

At any given time, there are 20 million refugees worldwide. Approximately 75,000 refugees are admitted to the United States yearly. Of that number, Colorado receives 2,500 or fewer. (To gain a bit of perspective, Colorado's total population is 4,939,456 according to U.S. Census Bureau data).

Where are Colorado's refugees from?

At this time, the majority of refugees in the CRESL program are from Bhutan, Burma, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nepal, and Somalia. In the past, Colorado has also resettled refugees from Sudan, Burundi, Liberia, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo, Cuba, Russia and Ukraine.

Any change in world events or crises will determine the future nationalities of refugees to be resettled in the United States and Colorado.

What happens when a refugee arrives in Colorado?

From the time a refugee arrives at the airport until beginning a first job, there is help along the way. During a refugee's first 12 months in Colorado, three voluntary agencies (VOLAGS) have the responsibility of resettlement - finding sponsors, locating housing and furniture, providing clothing and food, attending to health concerns, enrolling children in school and adults in ESL classes, and, most important, locating employment.
Enabling refugees to become self-sufficient as early as possible is the main goal of the refugee program.

How do students come into the Colorado Refugee ESL Program?

Students are referred into the program by their case manager at the VOLAG. School is the preferred option for ESL instruction because it provides students with 15 hours a week of classes. Some refugees are unable to attend classes at Emily Griffith Opportunity School because they lack child care, they are ill, or there is a work schedule conflict. For those persons who cannot attend school, a case manager may request that a home tutor be provided.

What is the time commitment for volunteer tutors working in the CRESL program?

We ask that you spend a minimum of two hours a week of actual contact time per week, for at least four months. Most volunteers stay with the program much longer. Spending any less time with the students provides little benefit.

What kind of training will I receive?

Volunteers in the in-home tutoring program must attend eight hours of training before they are assigned to a student. Training sessions are scheduled quarterly throughout the year and include cultural awareness techniques, teaching methods, and a first-hand look at the refugee experience.

Volunteers in the school-based program receive three hours of on-site training, as well as ongoing instruction from the teachers and volunteer coordinator.

Ongoing technical assistance is available through both programs' volunteer coordinators. Quarterly inservice meetings are open to all CRESL volunteers and provide instruction on a variety of topics. An informational blog is also available to any volunteer who is interested in taking advantage of this resource.

Do I need to speak a second language to volunteer in the CRESL program?

No, you don't. All instruction is given in English. You may, however, find it helpful to have studied a second language, as this can provide you with valuable insights into the language acquisition process.

Can I be assigned to work with students who speak my second language so I can practice my skills?

This is a possibility, but you are encouraged to use English with your students as much as possible. Foreign language exchange should be arranged as a separate lesson outside of your regular tutoring time.

What happens if I don't like my tutoring assignment?

Speak with the volunteer coordinator. Your services are greatly needed in the CRESL program, and we want you to enjoy the time you spend with our students. We will work with you to find a situation that provides a good fit.

I travel on business and may take a vacation during my four-month commitment. How is this handled?

What happens if I can't make it to school or a lesson during my scheduled time?

Of course we understand that our volunteers are busy people. If you must be absent from your assignment, please make sure the in-home student and the volunteer coordinator are aware of the change. If you are working in the in-home program, we ask that you make up missed hours with your student whenever possible.