Intern Abroad Program - Volunteering in the Indigenous Highlands of Guatemala

Guatemala

Santa Cruz del Quiche
Term: Throughout the year
Durations of Program: 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: Now Recruiting

The Digital Weaver intern will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that produces a variety of digital multimedia materials, including web pages, e-courses, interactive educational software, videos and audio programs. Tasks will be assigned according to active projects and the volunteer's skills and interests, including activities such as:
* Build and maintain web pages using a content management system and templates
* Create interactive educational games and other learning activities using software such as Adobe Flash.
* Produce special effects, such as animations and avatars for videos, web pages, and e-courses.
* Film, upload, and edit digital video.
* Record, digitize, and edit audio.
* Create graphic elements (logos, banners, templates, icons) for print and digital materials
* Design and administer databases

This position is ideal for students and graduates in majors relating to:
* Computer and Information Sciences
* Digital Communications and Multimedia
* Graphic Communications
* Photographic, Film, and Video Technology

Basic required skills include:
* Strong general computer skills (office productivity, Internet)
* Familiar with principles of web page design
* Familiar with multimedia formats and software
Familiarity with Web 2.0 technologies, such as blogs and other technologies that facilitate online communities

The volunteer will be more successful if s/he has skills in at least one of the following areas:
* Knowledge of HTML
* Experience in administering a web page, ideally with a content management system (CMS)
* Knowledge of PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, and/or ActionScript
* Experience with Adobe Flash
* Experience with software for editing photos and videos
* Experience in recording and editing audio
* Experience in graphic design
* Other computer programming experience

The Educational Curriculum intern will work with a team that leads the production of print and multimedia training materials for classroom and distance learning courses in computer skills, Mayan language and culture, community development, and many other areas. Design processes include curriculum design, development of course manuals, specifications for multimedia materials to be produced, and field-testing of new courses. Tasks will be assigned according to active projects and the volunteer's skills and interests, including activities such as:
* Design and implement diagnostic studies to determine contents for new courses
* Research to find materials and contents to be incorporated into course designs
* Prepare course manuals, teacher's guides, multimedia presentations, worksheets and other course materials.
* Write specifications and coordinate production of multimedia materials that are part of the course design.
* Lead formative evaluation of new courses including classroom observation, interviews with teachers and students, and other processes to make and implement recommendations to improve course designs.

The NGO Management and Outreach Support intern will work with the Ajb'atz' management team in a variety of activities relating to fundraising, grant management, alliance building, and public relations. Tasks will be assigned according to active projects and the volunteer's skills and interests, including activities such as:
* Identify grant opportunities
* Prepare and submit funding proposals
* Support grant management, including preparation of financial and technical reports for donors
* Identify opportunities for alliances within Guatemala and internationally.
* Manage operations of the Ajb'atz' volunteer program.
* Prepare content for Ajb'atz' website, newsletters, and other outreach materials.
* Translate documents between Spanish and English

The English Teacher will teach English courses to local children, youth, and adults. Each course has a complete methodology including student book, workbook, teacher's manual, worksheets, and multimedia support materials. In addition to teaching, teachers are expected to help build the English teaching program. Tasks will be assigned according to active projects and the volunteer's skills and interests, including activities such as:
* Teach up to four English courses (16 teaching hours per week)
* Give and grade placement exams for new students
* Prepare supplementary course materials for other teachers
* Provide out-of-class support to enrolled students and to participants in the Ajb'atz' youth club.
* Identify and obtain additional materials for the Ajb'atz' resource library for teachers and students.
* Translate web page articles and other materials between Spanish and English.

Basic required skills include:
* Strong general computer skills (office productivity, Internet)
* Teaching or tutoring experience
* Excellent inter-personal relations

Highlights: Working at Association Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiché provides volunteers with fabulous exposure to a growing organization that reaches internationally, but focuses on a local level by working with the Guatemalan people. Volunteering with Enlace Quiché allows volunteers to gain applicable professional experience, but in a foreign country and culture. At work, volunteers will practice, utilize, and solidify their Spanish skills in writing and during office communication. This foreign language practice, work experience abroad, and personal connection with the Guatemalan people make volunteering at Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiché a unique and inspiring opportunity.

Housing provided with DSL, hot water, laundry facilities, private bedroom, cable TV, local phone.

Mainly K'iche' and Spanish are spoken at Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche, with only a few English speakers on staff. Volunteers desiring the Digital Weaver, English Teacher, and NGO Management and Outreach Support intern positions must complete a minimum of second year university level Spanish or equivalent to qualify for the internships. Volunteers seeking the Educational Curriculum intern position must complete a minimum of third year university level Spanish or equivalent to qualify for the internship.

These minimum levels of Spanish suffice for the volunteers' social and community interactions in Santa Cruz del Quiche, and throughout the country. However, they will often hear community members speaking K'iche' or other Mayan languages, in addition to Spanish. Almost no English is spoken in Santa Cruz del Quiché.

Volunteers who don't meet the minimum level of requirements are still encouraged to apply for positions. It is very easy for potential volunteers to increase their Spanish skills by studying at a Spanish school prior to arriving at Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche. Guatemala is home to many Spanish language schools established in some of the best and most appealing locations in the country, including Antigua, Quetzaltenango, and Panajachel (Lake Atitlan). Students can study anywhere from 4-8 hours a day with a private instructor. Many also include room and board with a local family as part of their program. Prices vary.

It is highly preferred that volunteers commit to a minimum of 6 months time with the organization. We have found that this amount of time is sufficient for the volunteer to fully accomplish valuable projects for the organization as well as adequately experience Guatemalan culture and lifestyle. Despite this requirement Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche is always open to inquiries from persons with advanced skills that may qualify them for a shorter time period.

Airport Transportation
Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche will provide transportation from the airport upon arrival of each volunteer and to the airport upon conclusion of the volunteer's service. If the volunteer speaks English Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche will make every attempt to send an English-speaker to greet the volunteer at the airport.

Computer and Internet Use
The volunteer will be provided a computer to work on during their time as an intern. However, it is acceptable for the student to bring their personal laptop to work on instead, for their comfort and ease. Internet access is available to the intern for work use during work hours and for personal use during their free hours.

Volunteer House Benefits
Each volunteer is provided housing in the Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche Volunteer House. This includes a furnished room and all utilities and amenities including cable TV, electricity, water, telephone, fully equipped shared kitchen, hot water on-demand, washing machine, wireless internet and computer and internet access in the home. The organization can also direct students to where they can buy any additional household items desired.

Located in a peaceful and quiet neighborhood on the edge of town, our volunteer house offers volunteers the opportunity to live and commune with each other. This house also provides many of the modern amenities volunteers have in their native countries. The volunteer house highlights the hillside with a large beautiful fenced garden where orchids grow in many of the trees. At three stories tall the house offers a large shared kitchen, dining area, and living room with bedrooms on the first and second floors for volunteers. On the third floor the house has a ping-pong table and large rooftop terrace where one can dry their clothes, sunbathe, or relax and enjoy the view.

Stipend
In addition to living accommodations, Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche provides each volunteer with Q400 (approx. $55) to assist with their food and other daily life needs. Although this amount will not cover the expense of eating out at restaurants often nor traveling on the weekends to nearby towns, it covers significant costs within Quiche. Like any city, there is a range of prices and quality for food items and dining out.

Varies with position. Required equivilant of 2 years of college level Spanish. English fluency is required for the English Teacher position.

Typical Volunteer: Someone who is motivated to help others and help our organization grow.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Association Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche's Mission Statement: The Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche Association was born due to the initiative of leaders from Quiche as a mechanism to strengthen and extend actions initiated by Enlace Quiche Project. Our mission is to raise the human capacity of indigenous people through innovative applications of information and communication technology.