You might have heard Lancaster called “America’s refugee capital,” with individuals from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Cuba, and more building a new home right here in our city. And through a unique volunteer opportunity with Church World Service (CWS), you could play a key role in welcoming some of the most vulnerable members of the refugee population: youth. The local refugee resettlement agency has invited us to serve as volunteer mentors to 15-24-year-olds arriving in Lancaster.
Through CWS’ Youth Mentoring Program, you could be matched 1-on-1 with a refugee between 15-24-years-old to build a friendship, pursue their goals, and ultimately help them feel at home in Lancaster. Your mentee’s goals could range from improving English and navigating the college admissions process, to learning guitar and creating an exercise routine. After being matched with a mentee, you would meet with them one time per week for a total of one year. If you’re interested in learning more, please register for this virtual information session on November 20 at 10am. The CWS staff member who leads this program, Gabrielle Redcay, will share more about the program and answer your questions about getting involved.