Common GroundFoundation · Est. 2025
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Our opportunities for volunteers

Explore meaningful ways to get involved with the Common Ground Foundation. From volunteering and tutoring to leadership, partnerships, and community initiatives, our opportunities allow you to use your skills, connect with others, and make a tangible impact in the lives of immigrant and refugee communities.

The Common Ground Foundation is a virtual organization, meaning our opportunities are open to volunteers all across the globe. You can take multiple roles at the same time, and volunteer hours are based on the time contributed.

Get involved!

The Common Ground Foundation is a virtual organization. Our opportunities can be accessed anywhere.

Most available opportunities will be communicated through email by our founders and team leaders. Some positions, such as Ambassadors and Curriculum Developers, are available year-round, while others (tutoring, partnerships) become available based on student needs.

01Opens when students sign up

ESL / Student Tutoring

Make learning accessible.

Our tutoring program connects volunteers with immigrant, refugee, and multilingual students who are looking for academic and language support.

Tutors may help with English conversation, reading, writing, math, homework, or other academic subjects, depending on the student’s needs. Tutoring opportunities are shared with volunteers when students sign up and we are able to make a match.

You will

  • Meet with students virtually
  • Provide academic or English-language support
  • Help students build confidence in their learning
  • Create a welcoming and encouraging learning environment

Interested in tutoring? Fill out the volunteer form as soon as possible and we will be in touch when a student is matched.

Sign up to tutor
02Open year-round · Ambassadors needed

Country / State Ambassadors

Represent your community!

Ambassadors help the Common Ground Foundation connect with new people, schools, organizations, and communities. Each ambassador represents a specific country or U.S. state and helps us build connections in that community.

This is an especially important role as we continue expanding the Common Ground Foundation’s network.

You will

  • Reach out to schools, nonprofits, community organizations, and potential volunteers
  • Introduce people to the Common Ground Foundation’s mission
  • Help identify organizations we could partner with
  • Share Common Ground Foundation opportunities within your community
  • Help us build a stronger international network

Ambassadors are needed! This opportunity is available year-round. To apply, fill out the volunteer form and choose Ambassador.

Read the Ambassador Guide Apply with the volunteer form
03Open year-round

Curriculum Developers

Our Curriculum Developers create educational materials that can be used by Common Ground Foundation tutors, students, and partner organizations.

You do not need prior experience. If you enjoy researching, writing, organizing information, or creating educational activities, this is a great way to turn those skills into something that can benefit others.

You will

  • Create lesson plans and learning activities
  • Develop worksheets and educational resources
  • Build materials for tutors to use during sessions
  • Create resources that can potentially be shared with partner organizations
  • Adapt materials for different age groups and learning needs

Your resources will be sent out to schools, tutoring programs, and other communities in need.

Become a curriculum builder
04TikTok volunteers especially needed

Social Media Team

Our Social Media Team helps spread awareness about immigrant and refugee education, volunteer opportunities, Common Ground Foundation projects, and issues affecting communities around the world.

If you enjoy creating videos, designing graphics, writing captions, or keeping up with social media trends, this is a way to use those skills for a cause.

You will

  • Create content for Instagram and TikTok
  • Share Common Ground Foundation programs and opportunities
  • Help educate audiences about issues connected to our mission
  • Help grow our digital community

TikTok volunteers are especially needed! Interested in joining the Social Media Team? Fill out the volunteer form and choose Social Media.

Apply with the volunteer form
05Rolling submissions

Journalism and Publications

Have something to say? Share it with our community.

The Common Ground Foundation provides a platform for young writers and community members to share their perspectives on issues connected to our mission.

You can submit an article for consideration on our Resources & Publications page. Your article does not have to be something you wrote recently. Previously written work can also be submitted if it relates to our areas of interest.

Topics may include

  • Education
  • Immigration
  • Human rights
  • Refugee experiences
  • Culture
  • Tutoring and education access
  • Community service
  • Global issues
  • Others (upon approval)

To submit your work, fill out the publication form with your article, a short author’s statement, and a headshot.

Submit your piece Explore our publications View an example article
06NewNew

Translator

Help make educational resources accessible to students and families who speak different languages.

You will

  • Translate worksheets, guides, educational materials, and community resources into languages you know
Tell us your languages
07NewNew · No design experience required

Educational Art and Resources

Volunteers can create educational illustrations, posters, infographics, worksheets, activity sheets, and other visual learning materials. Projects can focus on subjects such as science, mathematics, language learning, culture, immigration, human rights, and more.

You will

  • Create materials that are clear, engaging, and appropriate for the intended age group
  • Use illustrations, graphics, diagrams, or other creative elements to make learning more accessible
  • Help build a growing collection of free educational resources

Examples include

  • Educational posters
  • Children’s activity sheets
  • Illustrated vocabulary cards
  • Science diagrams
  • Cultural education graphics
  • Infographics about human rights or immigration
  • Classroom worksheets
  • Educational illustrations

Your designs could be used by students, teachers, schools, and nonprofit organizations around the world. A single poster, worksheet, or illustration can become a learning tool for students you may never meet. No professional design experience is required.

Join this effort
08NewNew · No teaching experience required

Teach the World Video Series

Not every student has access to a tutor. Many are in vulnerable areas affected by war and displacement.

The Common Ground Learning Series is a student-created educational video program where volunteers turn their knowledge into short, engaging lessons that can be shared with schools, educators, and communities that need additional learning resources.

Volunteers can create videos teaching subjects they are passionate about, from English and mathematics to science, history, languages, and more. Videos can be designed for different age groups and learning levels and may be shared directly with partner schools and organizations.

You will

  • Choose a subject or concept you would like to teach
  • Create a short educational video or lesson
  • Explain concepts in a clear, engaging, and student-friendly way
  • Create visual materials, demonstrations, or examples when helpful
  • Submit your video to the Common Ground Foundation team for review
  • Help build a growing library of free educational resources

A single video can be watched by students who may be hundreds or thousands of miles away. By creating accessible educational content, you can help students learn at their own pace and give educators additional resources to use in their classrooms. No teaching experience is required. If you know something well and can explain it clearly, you can teach it to someone else.

Volunteer form

Have an idea of your own?

We are always open to new ideas. If you have a project, partnership, educational resource, or initiative that you think could support our mission, reach out to us.

If you want to pursue your own opportunity with the large volunteer base that we have, please let us know!

Email kshinha27@punahou.edu or afong27@punahou.edu for any inquiries.

Open the volunteer form