Volunteer
MAKE AN IMPACT
Actively shape a more connected, informed, and globally aware community by volunteering with World Affairs. Share your time and skills and become an integral part of our mission to connect cultures and continents by helping to provide enriching experiences in all our programs.
Discover year-round opportunities like hosting Professional Leadership Exchange fellows, facilitating student programs, or volunteering at speaker events. World Affairs members receive priority selection for these enriching roles. If you’re 18 years or older and share a passion for global understanding and connection and have an innate sense of curiosity, engage with World Affairs as a volunteer!
VOLUNTEER AS A HOST FOR A PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE
VOLUNTEER AT STUDENT PROGRAMMING
VOLUNTEER AS A HOST FOR A PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE
Hosting a dinner is a fun and easy way to create connections with the leaders of tomorrow! Experience diplomacy in motion and connect with a diverse group, including many first-time visitors to the U.S. Whether in the comfort of your home or at a local restaurant, build relationships and continue your journey of learning about our interconnected world.
If you have an extra bedroom, you’re ready to become a homestay host. By welcoming a guest into your home for 3-5 days, you bring a global perspective right to your door! Encounter the unique perspectives and professional backgrounds of emerging leaders selected for prestigious leadership exchange programs. Our international visitors are eager to experience life in Philadelphia through your eyes.
Enrich your workplace with a global perspective by collaborating with an emerging leader! Whether it’s a meeting in your office to share best practices, or hosting an international professional a four-week internship, working closely on a joint project could open doors—including the opportunity to participate in a reverse exchange to the fellow’s home country.
VOLUNTEER AT STUDENT PROGRAMMING
Breakout Facilitators play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless and effective flow of our student program’s breakout sessions. Facilitators act as the ‘adult in the room,’ upholding responsibility for several key aspects:
- Setting up their assigned committee or breakout session room.
- Being present in the committee room to assist students throughout the day.
- Taking charge of nominating outstanding student delegates for program awards.
- Most of the day’s action is orchestrated by the Committee Co-Chairs, students selected for significant leadership roles, but facilitators may be asked to step in when needed or when the Co-Chairs require support.
To ensure the safety of our students and minors, our facilitators are required to have or be willing to obtain the following clearances:
- PA Criminal Background Check
- Child Abuse History Clearance
- FBI Background Check and Fingerprinting
- Facilitators are required to dress in business or professional attire.
- Experience working with students in classroom or academic environments is preferred but not required.
- Comfort with evaluating student participation and interaction for awards.
- Willingness to read through committee topic briefing papers provided by Council staff prior to the program date is encouraged but not required.
- Some experience and comfort providing supporting tech needs for students including basic A/V responsibilities (i.e. handheld microphones) and the Google Suite of programs (i.e. Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Slides.)
Our student programming venue partners require all education volunteers to possess current background clearances.
- PA Child Abuse History Clearance
- PA State Criminal Record Check
- FBI Background Check with Fingerprinting or Request for Waiver of FBI History Check.
To obtain the FBI Background clearance:
- Pre-Enroll for your FBI Fingerprint Clearance on the IdentoGo website.
- Click on “Schedule or Manage an Appointment” and enter code 1KG6XN, which indicates that you are being fingerprinted for volunteering in the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- After pre-enrolling, you must schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted at one of the IdentoGO sites. A list of sites can be found here.
- For your appointment, make sure to bring necessary identification to confirm your identity and a form of payment. IdentoGO locations accept business checks, money orders, or credit cards.
If the individual has lived in Pennsylvania for the past ten years or longer, they do not have to obtain the FBI background check, but they must sign a request to waive the FBI criminal history record check and submit this waiver along with the other clearance documentation.
VOLUNTEER AT A SPEAKER EVENT
The Council organizes a number of speaker programs throughout the year. We invite you to engage with this programming by volunteering at our registration table or as an usher. Requirements are as follows:
- Availability for full duration of volunteer commitment (including after the event conclusion.)
- Proof of full vaccination (meaning, having reached full immunity) against COVID-19.
- Ability to perform light physical work as required during set up of the reception & registration areas.
Please also take a moment to review the Council’s COVID-19 Health & Safety Policy.
All volunteers are welcome to sit and listen to the program once it begins and other volunteer duties are fulfilled.
All volunteers are welcome to partake in any food and beverage during receptions, as applicable.
PROGRAM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGES
Our Professional Exchanges program brings global leaders to Philadelphia to hone their skills. Welcome them to Philadelphia by volunteering as a dinner, homestay, or workplace host.
YOUTH PROGRAMMING
The next generation of global citizens and leaders is rising in Philadelphia today. Their journey starts here. Be part of that journey by volunteering as a Breakout Facilitator.
SPEAKER EVENTS
Discover the world without leaving Philadelphia. By volunteering at our speaker events, you can interact with diplomats, world leaders, and industry experts, and explore pressing global issues.