http://www.pbi-guatemala.org/los-proyectos/pbi-guatemala/solicitud-para-voluntarios-as/?L=1

Applying to become a field volunteer

The Guatemala Project usually holds two training sessions each year (one every six months). The next session (the second in 2013), will be held from November 24 to 30 of 2013 in Europe (exact place is still to be defined). Reminding that the deadline to send the applications and reference forms for this 2013 second selection/training process of PBI Guatemala is August 22, 2013 (all people that are interested must send their application form and two references by this date).

You are welcome to send us your application and reference forms from now on.
Selection criteria for PBI Guatemala volunteers

Volunteer training in Yorkshire, England.
Volunteer training in Yorkshire, England.

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 months’ 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 project’s 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 Guatemala’s 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 (see note below about policy relating to anti age discrimination).

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 country’s 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.

What we offer if you join the PBI Guatemala team

Specialised training, based on more than 25 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.
The following expenses are covered: return flights, room, board and medical insurance. Volunteers also receive economic support of $175 monthly for personal expenses, and a repatriation grant when they have completed their service.

Process for becoming a field volunteer

Read carefully the documents available on this website (volunteer letter, selection process, application form, reference forms).
Contact the Guatemala Project Training and Selection Team (formación@pbi-guatemala.org) to inform them of your interest in applying.
Contact your local PBI Country Group, and attend one of the introductory events regularly organised by them.
Return your application form to the Training and Selection Team before the application deadline (see process calendar).
Ask your two referees to send the completed reference forms to the Training and Selection Team before the application deadline.
Once your application and references have been received, you are considered a candidate and will follow the different steps of the selection process as outlined in the documents mentioned above.
Participate in an interview with a member of the Training and Selection Team.
If you are selected to participate in the project training, you will first complete a distance learning self-study course, reading and completing the activities sent to you, on which feedback will be given.
Take part in a residential selection and training week. The final decision about the volunteer selection will be taken after the training week and will be communicated individually in a conference call.
Incorporation into the team is not always immediate after the selection and training week, and selected volunteers are asked to keep themselves up-to-date with the situation in Guatemala during the period before their arrival.
On arrival in the field as a new volunteer, you will participate in a 2 week period of orientation. In this way the training and selection process continues in Guatemala, with an evaluation period after the first two months in the team.
At any point in the process, PBI may decide that the candidate is not suitable for work in a team of international observers in Guatemala.

PBI policy relating to anti age discrimination for field volunteers

Age is not a barrier to working in PBI projects. However, the request for mature and experienced volunteers is critical because the organisation needs to present an experienced image in interactions with a wide range of authorities in the countries where we maintain field projects. Volunteers also needed to be able to responsibly assess issues relating to risk and security in areas of crisis or conflict. For these reasons, PBI volunteers are often over the age of 25.

For more information contact formacion@pbi-guatemala.org.

Download the application information:

Carta Voluntario
Formulario Referencia
Processo de Formacion
Solicitud PBI Guatemala

Peace Brigades International (PBI) is looking for volunteers with the following profile to join the team in Guatemala:
Contact the Project training team

For more information contact formacion(at)pbi-guatemala.org