In July & August 2024, the IRC in New Jersey will host a four-week summer program focusing on English as a Second Language (ESL) enrichment for refugee youth living in northern New Jersey. The Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA) will serve up to 130 students ages 5 – 20, in ten classes, from at least 10 countries will participate in academic, creative arts, and recreational activities. Field trips will be held once per week. The Peer Mentor will be a key part of the classroom instructional team and will reinforce English language development with refugee youth in a positive and healing classroom environment. 

IRC seeks twenty-five volunteer Peer Mentors to support a self-contained classroom, assisting Lead Teachers and Teacher Assistants with English literacy and ESL instruction. Each Peer Mentor is expected to collaborate with their Lead Teacher and Teacher Assistant as they support a culturally and age-appropriate curriculum for a class of approximately 15 students. Peer Mentors will support Newcomer Multilingual students' academic and social emotional growth during the program not only by ensuring classroom instruction runs smoothly but also by serving as positive role models for newcomer youth. Peer Mentors will be enthusiastic about motivating students to do their best and create a trusting and comfortable environment for students to learn.