Real Life is a peer mentoring program with a life skills curriculum benefiting refugee and immigrant youth in Salt Lake area, Youthlinc Service Year students, and other community volunteers.
We partner with Promise South Salt Lake, the Refugee Immigrant Center – Asian Association of Utah, Umoja Generation, Salt Lake School District, and Granite School District.
Real Life Interns and volunteers provide homework help and run hands-on activities at 14 afterschool sites in the Salt Lake Area.
About
Mission
Real Life is a peer-to-peer mentoring program with a life skills curriculum benefiting refugee and immigrant youth in the Salt Lake area, Youthlinc Service Year students, and other community volunteers.
Curriculum
The Real Life curriculum focuses on English language practice, financial literacy, job, career, and college exploration, nutrition, cultural exchange, physical and emotional health, civic engagement, and artistic expression. Youthlinc staff, students, and partners work cooperatively to develop the project-based curriculum, with an emphasis on building relationships.
Needs Met
Real Life focuses on supporting refugee & immigrant youth who suffer from a variety of issues as they start a new life in Utah. These youth face language, cultural, economic, and educational barriers. Not many after school programs are designed to meet these challenges. Real Life provides engaging, interactive, educational, and “real-life” applicable lessons and activities that will help refugee youth become successful adults and contributing members of society.
Additionally, Real Life provides unique leadership opportunities for Utah youth. A variety of high school and college students work with trained college interns to teach the lessons and activities. Our student volunteers are mentored and supervised by the Program Director. Interns will dedicate over 200 hours over the year to overseeing the sites, supporting the Program Director in management, creating lessons, teaching, and helping students develop life skills.
Become a Real Life Intern or Volunteer!
Intern:
Real Life Interns work directly with the Real Life Director to manage and run our partnering Real Life sites and their volunteers. Interns take part in academic tutoring and lead activities intended to teach “real-life” skills. This paid position is available to any individual who meets the below qualifications:
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Have a passion for education and working with youth of diverse backgrounds
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Be a natural leader, excited to make a positive impact on the volunteers and youth you work with
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Live in the Salt Lake area or have access to reliable transportation
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Commit to 5 hours of work per week through the Real Life Year
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Be a high school graduate
*Intern positions are filled for the 23-24 school year
Volunteer:
Real Life volunteers are high school and college students who act as peer mentors primarily for refugee and immigrant youth in the Salt Lake area. Volunteers provide academic tutoring and participate in hands-on, life-skills activities. Although many of our volunteers are participants in the Youthlinc Service Year, this opportunity is available to any individual who meets the following qualifications:
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Have a passion for tutoring and working with other youth
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Be enthusiastic, flexible, and willing to step out of your comfort zone
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Commit to volunteering 2 hours per week through the Real Life Year (Nov-May)
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Be 16 years old, a Junior in high school, or college-aged
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Live in the Salt Lake area, or have access to reliable transportation
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Be capable of passing a background check if 18+
*Volunteer positions are filled for the 23-24 school year
Real Life Scholarship
The Real Life Scholarship is a need-based college scholarship available for Real Life high school seniors or college students of refugee or immigrant background. Scholarships are awarded in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000.
Who Qualifies?
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Be a Real Life participant or has participated with Real Life in the past
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Have a refugee or immigrant background
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Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
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Be highly motivated
What is Required?
The Real Life Scholarship is now closed for 2024.
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Personal Essay (1-2 pages about personal education, background, and career goals)
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An unofficial transcript
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Copy of Photo I.D. (School, State, or Driver's License)
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Letter of Recommendation