Festa Friends Club School-age Program Staff: Paid Internship

HUMAN SERVICE CHAMBER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 19,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Festa Friends Club is seeking a School-age Program Staff intern to support our K-8th grade afterschool program in Columbus, Ohio. You will help plan and lead fun enrichment activities, supervise children, and collaborate with volunteers in a multicultural, energetic setting.

You will gain hands-on experience in education and youth development while working with a Programs Manager and volunteer team for 8–20 hours per week from September 2026 through April/May 2027, including evenings.

Qualifications

• Experience in Education, Social Work, Recreation, or similar background.
• Experience working with groups of children in any setting (camp, church, sports, job).
• Passion for multicultural children and enjoyment of working with children in afterschool settings (K-8).
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• Good communication and people skills with ability to delegate to adults/teens and communicate with parents learning English.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement and lead FUN daily enrichment programming for children K-8th, rotating activities/materials/music.
• Document plans.
• Oversee children’s interactions, ensuring safety rules and two background-checked adults with children.
• Address any discipline issues in a timely, direct yet loving manner.
• Incorporate volunteer appreciation into everything we do.
• Present a professional attitude and maintain confidentiality of children/parents/staff information.
• Set up, clean up and put away program materials with support from children and volunteers.
• Identify issues/concerns and communicate them to Site Leader promptly.

Skills

Education background

Leadership

Communication skills

Volunteer coordination

Multicultural sensitivity

Child supervision

Physical ability

Job description

Festa Friends Club School-age Program Staff: Paid Internship

Festa 3-Generation Family ESL Program

“I’ve been working at Festa for almost three years and they’ve been absolutely amazing. I love the community that we’ve built and the programs that we run, I’ve also realized that this is the type of work I want to do for the rest of my life.”—current ESL staff member

“I began volunteering at Festa in high school, and ever since then it has had a really big impact on me. I have a new appreciation for different cultures, and this job has also helped me realize that I definitely want to work with children as a counselor in the future. I also truly believe that this job is what helped me get into my grad program. I truly get so happy whenever I talk about Festa and the work that we are doing and I’m going to miss it a lot!!” –former ESL staff member

Get an idea of what a day in the life of the Festa 3-Generation Family ESL Program looks like!

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Since 2007, Festa is serving our neighbors and ending poverty through life-changing relationships. We are devoted to serving children and families facing suburban poverty through our flagship program: 3-Generation Family ESL. This unique, nationally recognized program welcomes families from 99 home countries and 40+ Ohio zip codes into one space where adults learn English while children receive homework help, social support, preschool and dinner. We serve more than 1,100 families annually, supporting them as they move from surviving to thriving.

Festa Friends Club School-age Staff are responsible for supporting the operation of our Festa Friends Club academic and recreational enrichment program for K-8th grade children. School-age Staff will plan fun, prosocial activities and supervise and build relationships with the children we serve. Staff will welcome, train and support the volunteers as they discover and share their interests and talents with the children. This is a fun and high energy, multicultural environment.

REPORTS TO

Programs Manager

HOURS

September 2026 – April/May 2027 (varies by program location)

8-20 hours per week including staff training, program nights and final wrap up.

Schedule

• OPTION A: 2 weekday evenings (8-10 hours per week), 5:15-9:15pm Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday)


• OPTION B: 4 weekday evenings (16-20 hours per week), 5:15-9:15pm (Monday-Thursday; two nights at each location)

COMPENSATION

Range is $14.00 – $16.00 an hour based on experience and qualifications. Position does not qualify for health insurance, paid sick time, vacation time, or mileage reimbursement.

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience in Education, Social Work, Recreation, or similar background


• Previous experience working with groups of children in any setting (camp, church, sports, job)


• Passion for multicultural children and enjoy working with children ages K-8th grade in an afterschool, fun, active gym setting (some outdoor time as well)


• Excellent leadership and organizational skills, including high comfort level with quick thinking/adjusting to unexpected


• Good communication and people skills with an ability to delegate to adults and teens and communicate with parents who are still learning the English language


• An appreciation of and affinity for working with community volunteers


• A passion for local mission work: a heart to minister to children and adults who are multicultural and socio-economically diverse, as well as with community volunteers


• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds and go up and down stairs

Job Responsibilities

• Plan, implement and enthusiastically lead FUN daily enrichment programming (educational, recreational, arts/crafts etc.) appropriate for children K-8th grade, faithfully rotating activities/materials/music to keep the experience for the children fresh.


• Document plans.


• Oversee children’s interactions, being sure safety rules are always followed and adults are respecting Festa’s policy of a minimum two background-checked adults with children.


• Address any discipline issues in a timely, direct yet loving manner.


• Incorporate volunteer appreciation into everything we do.


• Present a professional attitude in dress, manner, and conversation; maintain confidential information shared by children, parents and other staff.


• Set up, clean up and put away program materials with support from children and volunteers.


• Identify issues/concerns and communicate them to Site Leader in a timely manner.


• .

Application Process

• Please complete the Festa Application for Employment.


• Position requires satisfactory completion of a criminal background check.


• Festa is an equal opportunity employer.