The Human Rights & Women Support Project in Guatemala offers a unique opportunity to create positive change in the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities. By partnering with grassroots organizations, you’ll help foster equality, justice, and empowerment within Guatemala, particularly for the Maya indigenous population and women facing gender-based violence.
Program Highlights:
Support Human Rights and Gender Equality
Collaborate with local NGOs working to address human rights abuses and promote gender equality in a country that has faced significant challenges in these areas.Empower Women & Combat Gender-Based Violence
Contribute to efforts aimed at preventing violence, offering direct support to victims, and advocating for women’s rights in a patriarchal society where victims often lack legal protection.Spanish Language Immersion
Enhance your cultural experience with 25 Spanish lessons before your departure, ensuring you are prepared for meaningful interactions with the local community.Immersive Experience in Guatemala
Live and work in Quetzaltenango, one of the country’s most vibrant cities, where you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of local culture and contribute to grassroots human rights initiatives.Hands-On Volunteering
Participate in various projects, including documenting human rights abuses, educating the international community, report-writing, and working directly with victims of abuse. You’ll gain valuable experience in advocating for justice and equality.
The Experience
Week 1: Arrival and Induction
Upon your arrival in Quetzaltenango, you’ll receive a comprehensive induction, helping you settle into your new home, whether it’s with a local family or at a homestay. Meet your host organization, learn about its mission, and understand how your skills will contribute to its vital work in promoting human rights.Week 2+: Volunteering and Community Engagement
Your primary role will involve working Monday to Friday, contributing to advocacy, research, and organization development with your host NGO. Depending on your availability, you may also have the chance to support special projects on weekends.Ongoing Support and Cultural Immersion
Enjoy Spanish lessons and time for personal exploration of the local culture and surroundings. The city of Quetzaltenango offers a great blend of historic sites, cultural experiences, and opportunities to interact with local communities.
What You’ll Gain:
Hands-on Human Rights Experience
Work on critical human rights issues, building your advocacy and report-writing skills while contributing to positive change in the lives of Guatemalans.Cultural Understanding and Spanish Proficiency
Develop a deep appreciation for Guatemalan culture and gain fluency in Spanish through language immersion, enhancing your communication skills.Empowerment and Global Impact
Be part of a movement that strives to empower vulnerable communities, promote justice, and create a more equitable society for all.
Why Choose This Program?
Meaningful Contribution: Make a tangible impact on human rights and women’s empowerment in one of Central America’s most beautiful yet challenged countries.
Local Connections: Build strong relationships with local grassroots organizations, learning directly from those who are fighting for justice on the ground.
Cultural Immersion: Experience the beauty of Guatemala while enhancing your personal growth and professional development.
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.