Volunteer
Ongoing SAY Volunteer Opportunities
After School Program Assistants: Help SAY after school program staff by playing games, doing crafts, helping the students with their homework, and participating in activities with the students at various elementary and middle schools in San Diego. After school programs operate in over 35 different schools in San Diego from the time school ends until 6:00pm. Volunteer 1 to 10 hours per week and interact with lots of great kids every time. The program asks for at least a 4-month commitment..
Tutors: Tutor an elementary or middle school student one-on-one for at least one hour per week at one of our Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, or Mid-City office locations. You can help the student do better in school and build his/her self-esteem at the same time. The tutor program operates between 2:00pm and 5:00pm on weekdays. Volunteers are asked to commit to this position for at least 4 months.
Mentors: Mentors build friendships with and act as positive role models for at-risk youth. All volunteer mentors receive training and on-going support. The following SAY programs use volunteer mentors:
- The Community Assessment Team (CAT) needs mentors to work one-on-one with at-risk youth ages 9 - 16 years old who are struggling with various difficult situations at home or in their community. These youth benefit from a supportive, trusting, consistent relationship with an adult. A CAT mentor spends at least 4 hours on an outing with his or her mentee a minimum of twice per month for at least six months.
- The Reflections program needs mentors and tutors for at-risk youth on probation. Reflections is a day treatment program monitored by the Probation Dept. that has counselors and parent advocates providing clinical services to juvenile offenders and their families. Reflections tutors help the students with schoolwork for at least one hour per week at the center in La Mesa between 9:00am and 12:00pm and mentors spend at least one hour per week with their mentee between 12:00pm and 4:00pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to this position for at least 4 months.
- Project L.I.V.E. (Lessening the Impact of the Victim’s Experience) mentors spend a couple of hours each week at O’Farrell Middle School in Southeast San Diego with students who have an incarcerated parent. This program provides case management, counseling, and enrichment activities to improve the youth’s emotional, social, and academic development. Students benefit from one-on-one interaction such as:
homework help, reading books, sharing stories and playing games. A one-year commitment is required for this program.
“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” ~John Crosby
Childcare: SAY has several programs that provide parent support groups and/or education classes on child development and other topics. In order to make it easier for the parents to attend the classes, the programs provide free childcare. Volunteers assist with childcare by interacting with the children while the parents are in class. The children range in age from 2 months – 10 years old and the classes are held at various days, times, and locations in the city of San Diego. Volunteers are asked to commit to this position for at least 4 months.
Teen Court – Case Assistants: Teen Court is a juvenile diversion program that trains youth to serve as peer jurors for youth offenders convicted of minor crimes. The jurors determine the appropriate sentencing for the offender. Volunteers serve as Case Assistants who provide guidance and encouragement to at-risk youth in the Teen Court program, assist the offenders in the completion of their sentence, attend court hearings, and complete case paperwork. Case Assistants must be available the evenings of the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Volunteers are asked to commit to this position for at least 4 months.
Just Say I Know How (JSIKH) Leaders: JSIKH is a drug abuse prevention and self-esteem building program that is implemented through the after school programs for enrolled students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. JSIKH Leaders are thoroughly trained and responsible for facilitating two 1-hour sharing circles (group discussions) with the students per week according to program guidelines and participating in monthly JSIKH Leader trainings. This program operates during weekday afternoons. Volunteers are asked to commit to this position for at least 6 months.
Contact us now to sign up as a volunteer!
Call (858)-565-4148 ext. 261 or email volunteer@saysandiego.org
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