Human Rights Interns / Cooperants

Apply to be a Breaking the Silence Intern in Guatemala

Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS), a solidarity network of volunteers with partners in Guatemala fighting for social, economic, environmental, and cultural justice has opened applications for their 2026 Cooperant placements and Cooperant Solidarity & Human Rights training!

Interns: Cooperant Program in Guatemala
Organization: Maritimes Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network / Jointly implemented by the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation, through the International Youth Internship Program.

Location: Guatemala, Central America
Costs/renum.: The program costs are funded (including airfare, transportation costs, visa fees, pre-departure and post-internship training), and interns will receive a stipend while abroad.

Applications open from August 10 - 30.

Upcoming internships:

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Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute
(Pachitulul, Guatemala)
BTS interns will support IMAP, an Indigenous-led permaculture centre focused on biodiversity and food sovereignty. BTS interns will learn about and engage in permaculture projects (i.e. irrigation projects, organic fertilizer production, chicken raising, planting and harvesting), support field work and projects (i.e. implementing banana circles, building school, community, and family gardens), support grant writing and fundraising efforts, carry out research, and support relationship-building and bilingual communication with the center's visitors. The ideal candidate will be flexible and adaptable, have experience or openness to living in a rural community, and have an ability and desire to foster relationships built on trust, mutuality, solidarity and cooperation. Experience in (or desire to learn about) regenerative agriculture, permaculture, outdoor education, Indigenous knowledge, and/or grant writing is considered an asset.
 

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Fundacion Nueva Esperanza / New Hope Foundation
(Rabinal, Guatemala)
BTS interns will support the FNE's Intercultural Bilingual Community Educational Centre (CECBI) in its efforts to provide high-quality English education within the context of a multilingual, multicultural, nature-based educational methodology, as well as contribute to grant writing and monitoring and evaluation efforts. Areas of focus include human rights, Indigenous Peoples' rights and languages, alternative education, farming and historical memory. The ideal candidate may have experience working in educational settings (i.e. as a teacher, counsellor, tutor), carrying out community-based research, and/or have grassroots fundraising or grant-writing experience.
 

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Asociación Bufete Jurídico Popular / Rabinal Legal Clinic (ABJP)
(Rabinal, Guatemala)
BTS interns will provide legal research and documentation in support of the Rabinal Legal Clinic (ABJP)'s work to bring human rights cases to court and to address ongoing human rights violations in the community of Rabinal and in surrounding villages. This may include reviewing existing legal materials and documentation, conducting legal research and analysis, and/or synthesizing and organizing information. The ideal candidate will be flexible and adaptable, have experience or openness to living in a rural community, have legal or community-based research experience, and have an ability and desire to foster relationships built on trust, mutuality, solidarity and cooperation.
 

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*Applicants who have intermediate or advanced Spanish are prioritized for all placements.

For more information visit the Breaking the Silence Website or email: btscooperant@gmail.com

This program is designed for youth who:

• Have faced barriers in securing meaningful employment
• Are seeking opportunities to acquire new skills and gain professional experience abroad
• Are interested in contributing their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways abroad
• Are curious, open-minded, and flexible

IYIP is a 5-month commitment that involves:

• 1 month of pre-departure training (6 weeks virtually, 1 week in person),
• 4 month international internship placement with a local partner organization,
• 3 days of post-internship debrief in Canada.

The program costs are funded (including airfare, transportation costs, visa fees, pre-departure and post-internship training), and interns will receive a stipend while abroad.

To be eligible for this program, you must:

• Be 18-30 years old, at the start date of the internship
• Be Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Not have previously completed an in-person IYIP Placement

This program gives priority to Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ interns and youth who have experienced barriers to employment due to COVID-19. This means the program will first select interns who hold those identities from the pool of applicants.

No education, work or travel experiences are required to be eligible and successful in this program. We welcome applicants with lived experience and expertise and invite applicants to reach out to us with questions if this program is a good fit for you.

Important Dates:

• Applications Open: August 10th
• Applications Close: August 30th
• Selection Process: Late August - Early October
• Virtual Pre-Departure Training: December 7th - January 29th
• In-Person Pre-Departure Training: February 1st - 5th
• Placements: February 7th - May 28th
• Re-Integration Training: May 29th - June 2nd
• Program Ends: June 3rd

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