Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
We welcome interns and volunteers from all over the world.
The JNRC could not do what we do without our incredible volunteers. No matter your interests or skill sets, there’s a way for you to contribute and materially improve the lives of refugees and asylumn seekers.
Internships are usually embedded within a study program. JNRC offers insight into the work of an NGO can suit students pursuing a vast range of disciplines and degrees including psychology, sociology, and international relations.
What We Look For
We’re looking for motivated, compassionate, thoughtful, flexible people who are comfortable taking initiative and following through with tasks. You should be willing to work as part of a non-competitive team, treat each guest with the utmost respect and dignity at all times, and be comfortable working in an environment with predominantly adult male guests, many of whom are isolated and dealing with significant hardships.
To keep our operations running as smoothly as possible, we ask for a time commitment — training and orientation take up a large chunk of staff time and effort, and we’re a small operation.
Interns commit to a specific weekly schedule for at least six months.
Volunteers commit to a specific weekly schedule for at least three months.
You must be at least 21 years of age, and preferably have some experience in the area you hope to work in. All interns and voluneers must also understand that we leave personal politics and religion at the door and serve all in a spirit of peace — we welcome people of all faiths, nationalities, genders, sexual orientations, and political affiliations, as long as they want to help.
Note: We cannot cover the cost of or assist with visas, accommodation, travel, or other living expenses, and are unable to issue guarantee letters for paperwork.
Intern and Volunteer Options
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Hours: 8:30 – 13:00
Objective: Ensure a welcoming, safe, and well-organized environment; facilitate guests’ access to the center’s services.
Tasks:
Prepare common areas before opening.
Welcome guests and provide general information about the daily activities.
Maintain a calm and orderly atmosphere throughout the morning.
Observe any signs of vulnerability and report them to the staff.
Direct guests to internal services (Infopoint, classes, PSS, Safe Space).
Refer guests to territorial services in case of health, social, or legal needs (via Infopoint).
Tidy up common areas before closing.
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Hours: 9:00 – 12:00
Objective: Support guests in managing bureaucratic procedures and accessing services and medium/long-term housing solutions.
Tasks
Welcome guests and identify their needs (health, social, housing, documents).
Provide support with bureaucratic needs and processes, including: obtaining a SPID, tax code (codice fiscale), declarations of hospitality, ASL medical appointments, downloading documents, and accessing public portals
Register guests for Italian courses.
Communicate and coordinate with the lawyer for specific legal appointments.
Book appointments with JNRC Works.
Prepare documents needed for job interviews.
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Hours: 9:00 – 12:00
Objective: Support guests in managing bureaucratic procedures and accessing services and medium/long-term housing solutions.
Tasks:
Provide orientation on temporary, municipal, SAI, shelter, housing first, and private rental options.
Assist with online searches.
Help guests prepare basic information to present to landlords.
Reporting complext housing cases to the staff.
Refer guests to other services (health, family counseling, unions, legal support, etc) as needed.
Conduct follow-up with guests and do internal reporting.
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Hours:
Preparation: 8:30 – 10:00
Distribution: 10:00 – 12:00
Reorganization: 12:00 – 13:00
Objective: Ensure a dignified and equitable distribution of clothing and essential items.
Tasks:
Sort and organize donations (suitable/unsuitable items).
Prepare shelves and arrange materials.
Manage the distribution of clothing, shoes, toiletries, and underwear.
Maintain order and respectful conduct during distribution.
Record any shortages of materials.
Report situations of vulnerability (people sleeping rough, insufficient clothing).
Direct guests to relevant territorial services such as street units, shelters, and emergency services.
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Hours: 10:00 – 12:00
Objectives: Provide a safe, calm, and welcoming space for women and families with children.
Ensure dignified and equitable distribution of clothing and essential items when needed.
Tasks:
Welcome women and children with a respectful and non-judgmental approach.
Propose simple recreational and educational activities (coloring, drawing, puzzles).
Facilitate socialization and emotional well-being.
Pay attention to participants’ emotional state.
Report sensitive situations or vulnerabilities to the staff.
Refer guests to specialized territorial services such as family counseling centers, clinics, anti-violence centers, and social services.
Maintain a clean and orderly space.
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We provide psychosocial support for guests in three different areas.
Creative and Expressive Activities
Hours: 10:00 – 13:00
Prepare materials (paper, pencils, markers) using the “Art Cart” and “Game Station.”
Propose simple. non-clinical expressive activities.
Foster a calm, safe, and inclusive atmosphere.
Observe signs of distress and report them to the staff.
Refer guests to external services when specific needs arise.
Recreational and Social Activities
Hours: 10:00 – 13:00
Facilitate games, conversations, music, and light recreational activities.
Promote socialization and a sense of community.
Manage group dynamics calmly and respectfully.
Report vulnerabilities when necessary.
Sports Activities
Hours:
Indoor activities (ping-pong and foosball): 10:00 – 13:00
Football / external activities: 13:00 – 14:00 every Saturday unless otherwise communicated.
Tasks:
Organize matches or tournaments.
Manage sports materials.
Promote fair play and inclusion.
Report injuries or health issues.
Refer guests to health services when needed.
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Schedule: Monday to Thursday from 10:00 – 11:30 and 11:30 – 13:00
Objective: Provide logistical and operational support to the JNRC Italian courses.
Role:
Volunteers and interns are encouraged to actively keep themselves informed about the status of the course so that they can provide correct information to guests when asked. They are also encouraged to motivate and support guests in learning Italian as it is an essential tool for social, cultural, and work integration.
Volunteers and interns do NOT teach, prepare lessons, correct assignments, replace the teacher, or determine students’ levels. Professional instructors handle the course.
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Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 – 11:30
Objective: Provide basic English lessons using the JNCR’s syllabus to support communication and autonomy, focusing on functional language use.
Tasks:
Prepare simple lessons and basic exercises.
Facilitate guided conversations and role plays.
Adapt lessons to the needs of the group.
Report any vulnerabilities observed to the staff.
Refer students to external courses if they require a more advanced pathway.
Keep track of the average number of participants for reporting purposes.
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Hours: 9:30 – 12:00
Objective: Support guests in their job-seeking process with practical tools provided by the JNRC Words program..
Tasks:
Assist guests with creating or updating CVs.
Support guests in using job search platforms.
Provide basic orientation on job opportunities and professional profiles.
Book appointments with the JNRC Works coordinator.
Help gather personal information needed for the CV.
Report cases of exploitation or vulnerability.
Refer to territorial services (employment centers, unions, vocational courses).
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Hours: Variable
Objective: Promote awareness of migration issues and the activities of the JNRC as part of the “Migration Matters” educational program for schools and universities.
Tasks:
Prepare educational materials (slides, data, testimonies).
Support staff during presentations.
Interact with students and teachers.
Answer general questions under staff supervision.
Assist in collecting feedback and reporting.
“My experience opened my eyes to the hardships that thousands of migrants face when fleeing their home countries, as well as the positive differences people can make in others’ lives. I never thought that at the end of my four months I would not want to leave the Center. ”
- Sophie, former JNRC Intern
Ready to be a part of JNRC?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Volunteers can apply at any time, but we encourage submitting internship applications six months in advance.
