Fall Intern

Job description

GHRC, founded in 1982, is a non-profit, grassroots, solidarity organization dedicated to promoting human rights in Guatemala and supporting communities and activists who face threats and violence. GHRC documents and denounces abuses, educates the international community, and advocates for policies that foster peace and justice.

Role of Interns

The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA (GHRC), a small nonprofit in Washington, DC, is seeking motivated interns for the summer. Publications, advocacy, and fundraising internships are available.

• Publications Interns provide substantive support to our biweekly publications on human rights conditions in Guatemala. Excellent research, translation, writing, and editing skills are necessary. Interns research key human rights topics for longer publications, as well, such as our bi-annual Quetzal. Proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Advocacy Interns research policies of the Biden administration and points of connection and conflict with the new administration in Guatemala. Advocacy Interns also have ample opportunity to write for GHRC's publications. Knowledge of the US and Central American political landscapes is helpful. Proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Fundraising Interns help with event organization, create fundraising plans, research foundations, track donations, and help cultivate donors. Attention to detail and interest in fundraising is essential.

Interns with skills and interests in all the above areas can choose more than one focus, combining Advocacy and Fundraising, for example.

All interns will help with administrative tasks and will have the opportunity to create social media posts, attend NGO meetings, and pursue a research topic of interest. The minimum internship length is 12-14 weeks, and interns are asked to commit a minimum of 25 hours per week, preferably in the morning and early afternoons.

*All interns will have the opportunity to attend monthly coalition meetings, where upcoming legislative work and strategies are discussed regarding US policy as it relates to Guatemala.

*Often, interns have the opportunity to attend congressional briefings and/or meetings with congressional staff.

*Interns also may have the opportunity to meet prominent Guatemalan human rights defenders.

*All interns will also be able to research a topic of interest pertaining to the human rights situation in Guatemala, work with an editor, and submit articles for publication.

It is a policy of our office that we all share in communal administrative tasks. Those tasks include answering phones, data entry, photocopying, filing, mailings, processing orders, and dispatching information.

The intern and GHRC/USA staff will usually decide together on the intern’s particular focus, according to the person’s interests and previous experience. A minimum of twenty hours per week is preferable.

Though not a pre-requisite, the following background is strongly preferred:

* Demonstrated interest in Latin America/human rights issues 

* Activism in human rights, peace, and justice causes 

* Strong written and oral skills, both in English and Spanish (ability to translate is particularly useful) 

* Good organizational skills

How to apply

Internships at GHRC/USA are unpaid positions, though we offer a small, daily travel stipend. College credit for an internship can be arranged. Please send resume, cover letter (with the dates and number of hours per week you are available), and two brief writing samples (1-3 pages), one in English and one in Spanish by email to GHRC at veronicaserranotama @ghrc-usa.org . Please include your name and “Fall Internship” in the subject line.