Intervention Services and Adult Education - Student Activities Center

-Academy of Hope
-DC Rape Crisis Center-
-My Sister's Place-
-Ronald McDonald House-
-Safe Shores-
Service Coordinator
Lynette Flavien
Email: family@gwu.edu

The Academy of Hope (AOH) provides educational empowerment to DC adults. Its students earn high school credentials, improve their math and reading skills, and learn how to use and apply computer technologies. The Academy of Hope strives to give students an environment of compassion, acceptance, and encouragement so their hopes and dreams become reality. Volunteers are needed to tutor students at AOH. Tutors need only very basic math skills and a commitment to being a dependable tutor.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are needed to tutor students at AOH. Only basic math reading skills are required. The commitment is 1.5-3 hours/week.

The D.C. Rape Crisis Center

Since 1972 the DC Rape Crisis Center has maintained a deep commitment to the empowerment of women and recognition of the connections between various forms of oppression. The Center's services include: a 24-hour hotline, group and individual counseling services for rape and incest survivors and their families and friends, a companion program to accompany survivors to hospitals, courts and police proceedings, a wide array of community education programs including "Staying Safe" classes for children of all ages within the DC public school system and more. Volunteers are trained to answer crisis hotline calls as well as accompany survivors to hospitals and advocate on their behalf.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are trained to answer crisis hotline calls as well as accompany survivors to hospitals and advocate on their behalf.

My Sister’s Place

Established in 1979 by the Women’s Legal Defense Fund, My Sister’s Place (MSP) is a nonprofit shelter for battered women and their children. Committed to eradicating domestic violence, MSP provides shelter, and offers counseling and educational programs.

Volunteer Opportunities
Most volunteers work in the children’s program or as a shelter advocate and crisis hotline volunteer. Additionally, volunteers will receive training in crisis counseling and legal issues of domestic violence with optional training in public speaking.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. More than 10 million families around the world have benefited from the comfort provided by a Ronald McDonald House. At the DC house, volunteers are needed for checking families in and out of the home and other administrative tasks. Additionally, RMH is a great site for volunteer groups to cook a large meal for the families coming home from late night hospital visits or other group projects such as caring for the facilities or organizing food drives.

Volunteer Opportunities
Individual volunteers will give house tours to families and perform administrative tasks. Groups of 5-7 people on average can organize on campus food drives, cook meals for families at the house, decorate for holidays and other tasks such as rake leaves and care for the facilities.

Safe Shores - The D.C. Children's Advocacy Center (DCCAC) is a direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and working directly with child victimes of sexual and physical abuse in the District of Columbia. Through its child-friendly facility and multidisciplinary team approach, DCCAC coordinates the work of medical and mental health providers, social services professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement, and prosecution officials to reduce trauma and promote healing for child victims of abuse. Volunteers at DCCAC work with one or between three programs: Youth Activities Program, Clothing Closet Program, and Special Projects/Events.

Youth Activities Volunteers assist parents/caretakers with paperwork, play with the children and establish a level of comfort and safety for the children and their families. Clothing Closet volunteers are needed on a regular basis to maintain the organization of the closet, track inventory of clothing and assemble emergency take-away bags. Special Projects/ Events volunteers assist in the planning and facilitation of fundraising and benefit events.

Times: Volunteers are needed during business hours Monday through Friday and some weekend assistance during seasonal clothing drives.