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.