Intern for the Spring 2025 Semester

Intern for the Spring 2025 Semester
 

Length of Internship Experience:

Spring 2025 Semester
 

About Guatemala Solidarity Project (GSP): 

For nearly 20 years the GSP has worked in solidarity with over 100 indigenous and peasant communities and organizations and with leaders and political prisoners in Guatemala. We have played an important role in preventing the violent evictions of dozens of indigenous communities, freeing political prisoners, closing illegal mining operations, creating new schools and similar work with our partners. While we focus on working directly with our partners in Guatemala, we have also had hundreds of meetings with US congressional and state department offices. 

The majority of our partners are struggling against extreme poverty, environmental destruction and the government supported repression. They are targeted because private companies seek to steal natural resources on their lands. The burning of indigenous communities is often accompanied by massive deforestation and environmental devastation. We follow our partners’ lead to document and denounce human rights abuses, organize human rights accompaniment, lobby members of congress, raise funds to build schools, pay emergency medical expenses resulting from government and paramilitary attacks, and for related efforts.

Position description: 

Together with the GSP, each intern will decide on the particular focus (or focuses) of their internship before it starts. Interns will also be expected to support other areas of our work that may not be their focus. Interns will have the opportunity to gain experience, improve their skills and support the work of the GSP in the areas detailed below.

All interns receiving a stipend must participate in fundraising campaigns. For new interns this primarily consists of door to door or street canvassing. Qualified applicants may support grant writing activities. Interns who do not receive a stipend will not be required to focus on fundraising campaigns.

Internship Focuses: 

Website and Social Media Development: We have used our website to help gather tens of thousands of petition signatures, raise funds, recruit volunteers, raise awareness about human rights conditions in Guatemala, and for numerous other purposes. Now we are expanding our presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Interns can play a key role in this process by supporting our social media efforts or even taking the lead on specific social media campaigns.
 

Congressional Meetings: The GSP has participated in meetings with over a hundred congressional offices as well as high ranking officials from the Department of State and World Bank. Interns can play a lead role in meeting with and lobbying members of congress.

501(c)4 Development: Because of our increasing work related to lobbying, our supporters may be starting a new 501(c)4 nonprofit organization to focus on these efforts. Interns would have the unique opportunity to learn about the creation of nonprofit organizations.
 

Video Editing and Production: The GSP has produced over 20 short videos about the human rights situation in Guatemala.
 

Fundraising: Interns will have the opportunity to support fundraising efforts by organizing fundraising events, canvassing area neighborhoods, researching and writing grants, talking with previous donors and editing and writing fundraising letters.

Translation: Interns and volunteers who are fluent in both English and Spanish can support our important work translating interviews, documents and emails.

Organizational Development: Interns will participate in discussions about the organizational development of the GSP and gain better understanding of the challenges faced by non-profit organizations.

Writing and editing articles: The GSP has released hundreds of action alerts and articles about the human rights situation in Guatemala.

Outreach and Petitions: Interns will be expected to help support and develop other areas of outreach. This includes the development of petitions and acquiring signatures both in person and online.
 

Requirements:

• Minimum of 8 hours per week. Preference will be given to candidates who are available at least 15 hours per week. Candidates must be able to commit to a schedule and be punctual.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Documented interest in at least one of the following areas: Latin America, activism, human rights, peace, justice, indigenous rights, the environment, and ecology.
• Reliability. Understand that we are making a commitment to you. We know that school and other responsibilities can present unexpected challenges, and we can be very flexible. But we expect you to follow through on the commitments you make.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is preferred but not required.

All questions can be sent to info@guatemalasolidarityproject.org