Applying to become a field volunteer

Essential Requirements

1. A high level of written and fluent spoken Spanish.
2. Previous experience of working with PBI; human rights or development NGOs; social, grass roots, or community organisations etc.
3. A minimum of 12 months commitment.
4. Ability to work within the principles of non-partisanship, non-violence, and non-interference.
5. Ability to work and live in groups.
6. Basic computer skills - use of text documents, email, databases etc.
7. Participation in the training process for the project.
8. Three references: at least one of whom will be able to talk about you in a professional capacity.

Other Desirable skills

1. Experience of working in advocacy, campaigning, communication, negotiation.
2. An ability to comprehend and analyse political situations.
3. Experience of working in a team and/or living in a group especially under situations of stress.
4. Knowledge of the current situation in Guatemala.
5. Experience of working in, or knowledge of human rights.
6. Possess IT management skills.
7. Experience of working in the field of information management and research etc.
8. Experience of working as part of a consensus decision-making process.
9. Experience of working with a PBI National Group in your country (if one exists)

What we can offer you if you join the PBI Guatemala team

1. Specialised training, based on more than 20 years of experience developing international accompaniment methodology. The training covers observation, international accompaniment and the situation in Guatemala and includes individual and group sessions.
2. An experience of living and working in a close-knit team of international volunteers.
3. Experience volunteering in a recognised international human rights organisation
4. Expenses covered: All the costs of the journey and stay in Guatemala are covered by the project, (including round trip plane ticket, room, board and health insurance). A $175 monthly stipend is provided for personal expenses and repatriation is awarded after having completed service

Process for becoming a field volunteer

1. Contact your PBI National Group, if there is one, and attend a presentation event organised by them.
2. Ask for an application form and the reference forms from the Guatemala Project contact, whose details appear below.
3. Return the completed application to the indicated contact point.
4. Ask your referees to send their completed forms to the indicated contact point.
5. Participate in an interview with a member of the Training and Selection Group
6. Follow the distance learning course - reading the documents that we will send you and completing the activities included.
7. Take part in a 7-day selection and training session.
8. Incorporation in the team is not always immediate after the training week, and selected volunteers will be asked to keep up-to-date with the situation in Guatemala in the time leading up to their incorporation in the team.
9. On arrival in the team the volunteer will participate in a 2 week period of orientation. The training and selection process continues in Guatemala, with an evaluation period after the first two months in the team.

At any point in this process, PBI may decide that the candidate is not suitable to work as an international observer in Guatemala.

PBI policy relating to anti age discrimination for field volunteers

Age is not a barrier to working on projects. However, the need for mature and experienced volunteers is critical because the organization needs to present an experienced face in our interactions with high level authorities in the countries where we maintain field projects and because volunteers need to be able to assess responsibly risk and security questions in areas of crisis or conflict. Therefore volunteers are often over the age of 25.