Microenterprise Outreach Intern Spring/Summer 2024 Unpaid

Title: Microenterprise Outreach Intern Spring/ Summer 2024
Location: Wichita, KS - In person
Duration: Spring 2024 and Summer 2024
Position reports to: Economic
Empowerment Manager
Hours: Part time - 10 hours/week

Please note that this is an unpaid
position.

BACKGROUND
The
mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose
lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive,
recover and gain control of their future. At the IRC in Wichita, we welcome
refugees from several different regions by providing them with resettlement
assistance and services that allow them to restart their lives
here
in the U.S. Each year, the IRC in Wichita resettles refugees from Burma, Sudan,
Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many
of the refugee clients that the IRC Wichita serves arrive with limited
knowledge of the U.S. culture (work, financial services, language, etc.) and
must re-start their lives with the assistance of
the
IRC.

SCOPE
OF WORK
Recently,
the IRC Wichita partnered with Small Business Administration (SBA) and Microenterprise
Development (MED) program were granted to implement services supporting
underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs and refugees to be able to recover,
grow, or start their businesses. These programs will be the 'boots on the ground'
that will connect these existing and future entrepreneurs to critical resources
and assistance, including technical assistance, and access to capital and
industrial specific training. The Microenterprise Outreach Intern will work
closely with the Small Business Counselor and Microenterprise Development
Coordinator to support their strategic outreach plans, build awareness on and
recruit existing small business owners and potential entrepreneurs to grow or
start their businesses.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Preference
  for candidates that can offer a 6-month commitment; the intern will become an
  integral
  part of our team and be trained/mentored on several skill building
  responsibilities;
• Builds
  awareness on Small Business (SB) and Microenterprise programs around Wichita
  for
  eligible potential clients;
  
• Identifies
  and reaches out to Small Businesses/potential clients by visiting, meeting, and
  communicating
  with them (in-person and online);
  
• Assists
  SB Counselor and Microenterprise Development Coordinator with the planning
  and
  coordination of training sessions whether in person, or online;
  
• Identifies
  possible community partnerships and education opportunities with local
  businesses
  and organizations;
  
• Participates
  in meetings with potential clients;
  
• Flexible
  to work some evenings and weekends as necessary;
  
• All
  other duties and miscellaneous activities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
/ ATTRIBUTES

• Bachelor's
  degree preferred, or working towards a degree, but not required;
  
• Flexibility
  to work in a fast-paced, culturally-diverse environment with the ability to be
  culturally
  sensitive and appropriate;
  
• Knowledge
  and enthusiasm for building relationships and event planning within a nonprofit
  setting;
  
• Experience
  working with refugees, asylees, high-risk populations, persons in crisis,
  and/or
  diverse populations preferred;
  
• Must
  possess ability to maintain confidentiality
  
• Strong
  knowledge of social media sites;
  
• Excellent
  verbal and written skills;
  
• Available
  for at least 10 hours per week for at least 4-6 months;
  
• The
  ideal candidate will be passionate about making a difference in the lives of
  individuals
  
• Access
  to a safe working vehicle, and the willingness to drive clients to various
  appointments
  and places.

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

• Intern
  will gain exposure to refugee integration in through programing.
  
• Intern
  will learn to communicate effectively with clients across cultures.
  
• Intern
  will learn to implement programming and coordinate outreach in the communities.

TRAINING
In-depth training will be provided for interns
to understand IRC programming and the various needs of clients accessing IRC
services. A high-level of confidentiality is required when working with IRC
clients.

IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard
to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age,
marital status, veteran status or disability.