Considering Ignatian Volunteer Corps? Learn About Their Work With United Neighborhood Centers

Retired and ready to serve? Opportunities await with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which matches retirees and people 50 and over to serve at nonprofit partner organizations in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

Meet: IVC Member Marie Karam, English Language Tutor at United Neighborhood Centers of Northeast PA

Your work as Director of The University of Scranton's Language Learning Center for 20 years makes you a natural fit for volunteer service as an IVC member teaching English Language Learners at United Neighborhood Center's Family Education and School-Aged Tutoring program. For those with little or no experience in teaching, is training offered in advance of volunteer service?

"No experience is required! UNC tutor coordinators provide training materials and an overview of programming. They also schedule observations so that volunteers can see or participate in classes prior to being paired or given a class. Working with one individual may be a good way to start.

In addition, the tutor coordinators provide access to training sites, articles and webinars so that volunteers can become more acquainted with teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), the diverse backgrounds of the students and teaching adult learners. Tutor coordinators also schedule quarterly training sessions for all volunteers."

How many hours do you volunteer each month?

"I tutor one afternoon each week and have worked with the same Hispanic teens for the past three years. They started at age 14 as 8th graders and now are 17 and juniors in high school. Accompanying them on this journey into adulthood has been a great joy and privilege. Each class, they share what has been happening in their lives: the good, the not-so-good, and the challenges.

We also do a very interactive overview of local, national and international news with visuals, articles, fun worksheets and take-home books of interest.

With academic subjects, it is sometimes helpful to provide a quick overview in Spanish of the semester syllabus. ... Then we can proceed in English knowing that we are clear on the objectives."

I've read that you assist students with their academic assignments and address areas of need, including the basics of ordering lunch at school. Also, you offer tutoring and social support to the entire family. Please share a moment when you realized your efforts were having a significant effect.

"My first tutoring experience with UNC resulted from my accompanying an expectant Congolese woman to her doctor appointments. After meeting her three school-age children in May and realizing they would have no English throughout the summer, I decided (not speaking Swahili) to design some fun, practical, English sessions at their home that featured the menu items they would soon be seeing in the school cafeteria, along with colorful picture binders for each with interactive activities.

The whole family enjoyed tasting a different food each week. Those family sessions were filled with fun and laughter. ...I knew they were enjoying the sessions when other neighborhood Congolese children appeared and joined us as well!"


What advice would you offer to a person considering volunteer service with IVC?

"Do yourself a favor and check out the numerous opportunities. Try one, or several, until you find something you truly enjoy! You cannot imagine the joy you will bring to yourself by investing some time in bringing joy to others."

Inspired to Give Back?

Members of IVC's service corps commit one or two days per week to work directly with organizations that address the issues of poverty and marginalization. Corps members gather monthly to reflect prayerfully on their apostolic work and discover the deeper meaning within their service.

Founded in 1995 by two Jesuit priests, Rev. Jim Conroy, S.J., and Rev. Charlie Costello, S.J., IVC matches the talents, skills and life experiences of corps members with the greatest social needs of our time. As a Jesuit-founded organization, corps members transform from ordinary volunteers to contemplatives in action. Seeking the presence of God in each person, they bring their stories back to one another in community to reflect, enrich, teach and learn.

Read firsthand accounts of faith in action. Explore stories of service and discover how IVC transforms lives-for both corps members and those they serve.