Celebrate this National Volunteer Week April 20 - 26 with the IRC by sharing our Volunteer Impact Story Series with the theme Unity, Infinity, & Continuity inspired by NJ Volunteer Tutor Menna Bakr's 3 pillars of service. Communities across the country partner with the IRC to welcome and empower refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking. In these turbulent times, collective support and dedicated service means more than ever. Continue to read how NJ volunteer tutor Menna Bakr is changing lives by growing confidence during two 90-minute tutor sessions a week.  

"I have three pillars I believe in: UNITY – unite with them. INFINITY – give them the infinite love that you have. CONTINUITY – the small things you do and say help them." 

The pillars of Menna’s service align with the foundation of volunteerism across the IRC: community members unite with clients, share their love, and show care through their service. 

Menna Bakr moved to the United States from Egypt in July 2024, and was eager to find a way to serve her new community. When she stumbled upon IRC New Jersey’s Empower Tutoring Program, she knew she had discovered something deeply meaningful: a way to merge her passion for teaching and her experience in human rights advocacy.  

Since October 2024 Menna has been tutoring a ten-year-old Syrian boy twice a week, supporting him in learning English through structured, personalized sessions. What began as a teaching experience quickly proved a testament to the infinite potential of small, sustained acts of care. 

At first the sessions were rocky, and her student worried about how to connect with his tutor across language barriers. But when he learned that Menna also spoke Arabic, he softened. She gifted him a jigsaw puzzle, a small token to set the foundation for their relationship and the content of their early lessons. That puzzle, with its simple under-the-sea theme, became the first thread in a bond that would grow stronger with each session. 

Language proved both a bridge and a barrier. Speaking in Arabic provided comfort, but also made it easy for her student to retreat from practicing English. Menna shifted her focus to building his confidence, and slowly but surely, his comfort with English has blossomed. The progress Menna sees goes beyond his language skills, blooming into a confidence at school and within their relationship as well.  

As his confidence has grown, he’s become eager to teach Menna as much as she teaches him. Some days he shares riddles and math problems, on others he challenges her to games, or even tries to teach her how to ride a bike. One day, he asked Menna if she’d heard of Sednaya, a notorious prison in Syria. “It’s too much for a ten-year-old to know about,” she reflects sadly. And yet, in the same breath, he asked if she knew about human rights. “I’m surprised you know” Menna answered, and savored the opportunity for them to connect on something so close to both their hearts. 

"We all need hope for a better world."

Each session, Menna is astonished by her student’s awareness, curiosity, and determination to understand the world around him. He shows such strength, resilience, and humor in the face of the challenges he has experienced in his 10 short years, and that gives Menna hope. 

What does Menna’s student hope for? One day, he shared his dream—to see Syria free of conflict. “Hopefully, one day,” Menna told him, wrestling inside with the uncertainty of that possibility. But just weeks later Menna arrived for their usual session to find his family celebrating Syria’s liberation, waving flags, painting their faces, and singing with joy. “He had a wish,” Menna says, “and it came true within just a few weeks.” She was reminded of the resilience and determination of the refugee community and felt new hope herself. Menna yearns for the hope her student inspires to be shared. 

Despite working a demanding full-time job, Menna’s tutoring sessions remain a highlight of her week. She commutes an hour and a half each way, yet she insists:

"It’s the shortest 1.5 hours I spend. Every time I see him and his family, I feel joy and they do, too."

Menna’s impact on her student speaks to her skill, dedication, and compassion. Supporting her every step of the way was the IRC New Jersey Youth Program team. “They’ve built such a welcoming atmosphere and provided so much support,” she says. “When I started, I wasn’t confident in session planning, but their trainings, toolkit, and bi-weekly check-ins have given me what I need to be successful."  

“I’m grateful for this opportunity,” Menna shares. “I’ve felt the challenges and progresses in refugees’ lives on a day-to-day basis outside of conference rooms and courts. It’s changed me a lot! I’m very thankful to Victoria [Melendez, Youth Programs Coordinator], Kylie [Davis, Youth Programs Supervisor – IRC New Jersey], and Teddy [Spelman, HQ Program Officer, Tutoring and Instruction] for their support. And to my husband – he’s supported me in this a lot! And to my family for their unwavering love and support—they mean the world to me.”  

Menna’s pillars of unity, infinity, and continuity became the theme of our volunteer story series because they underscore the work that IRC volunteers do across the country.

"If you’re considering volunteering don’t hesitate. Just go for it. It has changed me personally, and I believe that small acts can lead to a lot of changes in the lives of the refugee community."

Showing up is all it takes. Last year, over 3,000 IRC volunteers showed up for refugees and immigrants, contributed over 235,000 hours to over 80,000 clients, and donated over $415,000 to help us provide lifechanging services. To our volunteer team across the country: thank you. We are infinitely grateful for your collaboration, courage, and compassion. 

Learn more about IRC New Jersey's Empower Afterschool Youth Tutoring, sign up for an info session, and apply to join the Fall volunteer cohort today! Support New Jersey's work by donating here. 

Read more stories of Volunteer Impact across the United States

San Diego volunteer establishes self-defense classes for women and girls

New York tutor volunteers throughout school year to promote progress in her students

Family mentor volunteer in Spokane integrates newcomers with open arms