Center for Social Justice tutoring groups D.C. Reads and the D.C. Schools Project have both seen a surge in interest this semester, according to organization leaders.

D.C. Reads and D.C. Schools are volunteer-based, student-run organizations that send Georgetown students to tutor in underserved local schools. Both incorporate one-on-one elementary school tutoring and middle and high school mentorship programs.

D.C. Schools employs roughly 200 students, while about 240 students are involved in D.C. Reads on a yearly basis, according to D.C. Schools Partnership Training and Advocacy Coordinator Alejandra Martinez (SFS ’13) andD.C. Reads Program Director Nathanial Roloff.

D.C. Schools updated its recruitment process this year to accommodate the increase in applicants.

“It’s our first year ever doing group interviews,” said Maya Gebeily (SFS ’13), D.C. Schools community liaison. “We’re making sure we focus on quality. … Interviewing really allows us to place people in the programs they’ll be most useful in.”

According to Gebeily, the program capped hiring at 130 volunteers this year.

D.C. Reads has similarly seen an increase in volunteer interest.

“Recruitment is going better than it ever has,” Roloff said, adding that the organization intends to accept the vast majority of applicants. “It’s not based on your experience. It’s based on your attitude.”

According to D.C. Reads tutor Daniel Silkman (COL ’15), the program increased its presence on campus this semester by tabling at the Student Activities Fair and in Red Square. He added that all of the required training sessions for D.C. Reads have been full.

Martinez is also confident about her program’s recruitment process.

“To know the program will be left in good hands is the most awesome, reassuring feeling of all time,” she said.