The Human Rights & Women Support Project in Guatemala offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities. By working with local grassroots organizations, you’ll contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at fostering equality and justice within the country. To enhance your experience and connections with the local community, the project includes 25 Spanish lessons prior to your departure, ensuring you’re well prepared for your time in Guatemala.
Despite its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, Guatemala’s history has been marked by human rights violations and social exclusion, particularly affecting the Maya indigenous population. Today, these communities still face challenges in accessing justice and basic services, making the work of local non-governmental organizations and charities crucial in advocating for change and promoting policies that protect their rights.
As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to participate in various projects, such as documenting human rights abuses, educating the international community, or providing direct support to victims of abuse. By contributing your time and skills, you’ll be making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.
In addition to human rights work, the project also offers opportunities to support women’s rights initiatives. Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue in Guatemala, exacerbated by a patriarchal society and a culture that often blames victims. With limited state intervention, it’s essential to support local projects focused on protecting abuse victims and promoting violence prevention through education.
Join us in Guatemala and become part of a movement that aims to bring about positive change, empower communities, and create a more equitable society for all.
The Experience
Upon your arrival in the vibrant city of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a comprehensive induction to help you become familiar with your new surroundings. This is an excellent opportunity to meet our dedicated staff and get acquainted with the neighborhood you’ll be calling home during your stay. If you’ve chosen to live with a local family, we’ll ensure that you’re comfortably settled into your home-stay.
The following day, we’ll introduce you to your host organization and its committed team. They’ll provide an overview of the organization’s operations and explain how your unique skills and expertise can contribute to their vital human rights work. Your role may encompass advocacy, report-writing, or organizational development, granting you firsthand experience in collaborating with frontline organizations dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights.
Placements typically run from Monday to Friday, with flexibility to work full- or part-time, depending on your availability. Occasionally, there may be opportunities to volunteer on weekends for special events or projects.
Your host organization will work closely with you to accommodate your schedule and provide free time for extracurricular activities or travel excursions whenever possible. Quetzaltenango is well-known for its exceptional Spanish tutors, and we’re more than happy to help arrange Spanish lessons to enhance your language skills and cultural immersion during your stay.
This immersive experience will allow you to forge deep connections with locals, gain valuable insights into Guatemalan culture, and create lasting memories as you contribute to vital human rights initiatives in the heart of this captivating country.
Logistics
During your stay in Guatemala, you’ll be warmly greeted at the Guatemala City airport and transported to the project site via a private minibus. To ensure a comfortable and authentic experience, you’ll have the option to stay in a private room with a local host family or at a hotel, depending on your preference.
The cost of the programme is £1000 per week, with a minimum 2 week booking.
This includes;
- Private Accommodation (depending upon availability)
- All meals
- Airport Pickup & transfer to project
- All project-related activities
- Premium Support Package with 24/7 Support
This does not include;
- Flights
- Visas (if applicable)
- Vaccinations
- Travel Insurance
- Personal spending and any extra activities
Testimonials
I got a lot out of this experience – both personally and professionally. Professionally, an internship in economic development will help me because I want to work in public international law, for an organization like the United Nations. This internship shows that I am dedicated to community service, willing and able to travel, and that I can work in other cultures. Additionally, my increased Spanish skills (I went from very basic to comfortably conversational in 7 weeks thanks to this experience) will be a huge benefit to me. Personally, I was nervous to go to a developing country with a lot of crime. But, I did it. I didn’t feel unsafe once the whole time I was there, and I traveled alone almost every weekend and walked alone at night a lot. I developed close relationships with amazing people and learned a lot about myself. I even helped a few kids learn how to ride a bike.
My name is Kat and I had been planning a trip around Latin America. I originally was only researching Spanish lessons to help me with my trip but then came across this project and saw they offered opportunities to learn Spanish and volunteer as a teacher in Guatemala. After a lot of research and conversations with the team, I decided this looked like a great experience.
I was placed with the charity which focuses on education for disadvantaged families in rural communities, and my time there was short and packed. I was helping their co-ordinator, Carlos, develop after-school activities, which included two sports days. The charity has a lot of space and a little basketball/football pitch which made it easy to set this up. I was also able to use my financial background to set up a math’s homework-workshop which encouraged critical thinking skills through educational games and activities. There were around 20 children between the ages of 5 and 14 and it was an amazing experience working with such an energetic, enthusiastic and positive group of kids.
A word from the Founder
In 2011 I came to Guatemala with ashamedly very little knowledge of the
country and its history. The only fact I knew at the time was that the original
Predator and one of the Star Wars movies were filmed here. I would never have
imagined that what intended be a short trip would change the course of my life
completely and for the better.
I was instantly hooked to Guatemala’s blend of natural beauty and rich culture. The country has beauty which I’ve never seen before, from the picturesque highlands of Quetzaltenango, to the peaceful waters of Lake Atitlán surrounded by majestic volcanoes, the ancient ruins of Tikal, and Antigua a UNESCO World Heritage site.
However, I soon realised another factor: Guatemala’s importance on the world
stage, yet how little this is recognised. From the claim that Mayans invented
chocolate to pivotal events in the 1950s that influenced U.S. foreign policy for
decades, Guatemala’s impact extends far beyond its borders. Today, it stands as one of the world’s largest exporters of products like coffee and cardamom.
Guatemala’s rich, complex, and often tragic history has also profoundly shaped
its own society today.
We don’t need to establish another Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) here,
as there are plenty already doing an incredible job, led by members of the
communities they serve. However, we realised we could help build a bridge
between people from abroad and Guatemala. This would not only support local
NGOs with what they need but also encourage people to consider the impact of
their everyday decisions in their own countries. Building connections fosters
empathy, which can influence decisions in a positive way, benefiting everyone globally. Understanding a country to a deeper depth helps create these meaningful links.
We have a base in Guatemala, which allows us to have a close relationship with the NGOs we work with. They are all local grass-root organisations that are
managed by Guatemalans and have staff members who are part of the communities they serve. They therefore know what is best for the communities and are able to dictate to us what they need, rather than the other way round. This is the basis for how our programs are formed.
The organisations we work with have a strong link with the communities and
have expert knowledge on the areas they work under. However, they also lack
resources to be able to be one hundred per cent effective. They need people
whose skills would be invaluable to the NGO. It might be an LGBTQ organization that doesn’t get much support because of the stigma attached to the work they do and need advice on organisational structure. It could be a weaving cooperative that needs help with marketing so that they can sell their products abroad. It could be organizations that work on children’s, women’s or indigenous rights and need help with setting up workshops or grant writing. Whatever the organisation there is always a need for personnel and we make that match.
However, it is also important for the individual volunteering to really have empathy with the issues that the organisations are tackling. This is not
something that just happens overnight and so our programs have a strong
emphasis on being engrained into everyday society. Whether it is receiving talks from local activists or going for a ‘picosita’ at a ‘cantina’ it is important to feel part of the project and community.
We also make sure we understand the motivations of the individual to come out to Guatemala. This allows them to get the maximum out of their experience. Understanding an individual’s motivations allows us to act as a guide when needed. The individual might have an adaptation period to the culture, or might see emotional distressing things due to the work of the organization. We
recognise support is always essential and without it, volunteers might feel they
are not achieving their original goals.
Our biggest source of pride is when an individual stays on in Guatemala for
longer then they intended or remains in contact and helps the organisation from
their respective country. We have had volunteers who have become board
directors, or done fundraising events or based their studies on their experience in Guatemala. This is how genuine connections are formed, helping people
understand that even from the other side of the world, what happens in
Guatemala affects them, and their actions impact people in Guatemala and
beyond.
Book a Call
Schedule a free call with us to discuss the project in greater detail, and answer any questions you may have.