The Guatemala Project field team is made up of volunteers from many countries. These volunteers have gone through a long and detailed training which covers the situation in Guatemala as well as the work of international accompaniment that we have evolved in different countries. When those we work with or our volunteers are threatened; we call on international pressure from our support network made up of a wide array of institutions; members of parliament; church groups; NGOs; governmental and civil employees and diplomats that have expressed their endorsement of the Guatemala Project’s work.
The Project works according to a philosophy of nonviolence; within the framework of international human rights norms; under a strict respect for local laws and is independent of political and religious agendas. The Guatemala Project receives funds from many public and private institutions of different countries; which allows us clear financial independence from any organization.
The Guatemala Project team carries out daily international accompaniment of people and organizations who promote human rights and whose work is affected by having received threats or harassment. Our aim is to protect and enlarge the space for these people and organizations to carry out their work.
The volunteers of the Guatemala Project maintain continuous contact with Guatemalan civil authorities; and with international bodies such as embassies and the United Nations. We do this to allow them to participate in our support and protection work; as well as to update them on our concerns for the people with whom we work. We distribute information produced by the team on the ground about the human rights situation in Guatemala; based on public sources of information.
We offer specialised training; based on more than 30 years of experience developing international accompaniment methodology; an experience of living and working in a close-knit team of international volunteers; experience of volunteering in an internationally recognised human rights organisation.
Year round (we usually hold two training sessions each year – one every six months)
12 months
Adults of both sexes 25+
Peace Brigades International (PBI) is looking for volunteers with the following profile to join the team in Guatemala. Required: A good level of Spanish – spoken, written and read. Previous experience of working with human rights or development NGOs, social, grass roots, or community organisations. Ability to commit to a minimum of 12 monthsufffd work in the field. Ability to work within the principles of non-partisanship, non-violence, and non-interference. Ability to work in a horizontal structure based on consensus making decisions. A clear motivation to work in the PBI field in Guatemala. Experience of teamwork and group living, especially in high-stress situations. Basic computer skills – word-processing, email, databases, etc. Availability to participate in the projectufffds training and selection process. Availability of two referees able to give account of your professional and personal capacities (who know you in the context of your paid or voluntary work with interest/solidarity groups, NGOs or academic study, for example). Desirable: Knowledge of Guatemalaufffds history and current situation. Experience of work involving liaison with authorities, campaigning, communication, negotiation, advocacy, etc. Capacity for political analysis. Knowledge of human rights. Experience of work in the field of research and information management. Experience of working using a consensus decision-making process. Experience of working with PBI, such as with the PBI Country Group of your country of residence. Minimum age of 25 years. Due to the characteristics of the PBI field experience, it is fundamental that candidates are people who have the capacity to interact in a positive way with others; who are able to communicate assertively; who are able to adapt to diverse contexts (as dictated by the countryufffds political and social situation as well as by the mandate and principles of PBI in Guatemala); who have strategies for managing stress; who possess a high degree of self-awareness, flexibility and openness; and who have a high capacity for work.
The following expenses are covered: return flights, room, board and medical insurance. Volunteers also receive economic support of approx. US$200 monthly for personal expenses, and a repatriation grant when they have completed their service.
Guatemala City
