GSP Intern

At a Glance

Unpaid

Remote

Internship, Part Time, 12+ Hours a week

About the Organization

The Guatemala Solidarity Project is a volunteer-run organization that partners with Indigenous communities in Guatemala who are under threat from private security forces and the government. These forces wish to claim the land our partners have inhabited for generations in order to extract resources such as nickel and silver or use the land for monoculture export agriculture.

Considering the GSP is volunteer run, interns are expected to be relatively independent with weekly checkins with supervisors in order to review projects and get new assignments. In order to demonstrate your effectiveness we ask that with your application you complete at least one project listed below in intern types.

We ask that interns dedicate more than 10 hours per week in total to the GSP. With this in mind interns are permitted to spend time working in various subjects as listed below. We ask that intern applicants watch a 30-minute video and read one short article.

AI-generated applications or application projects will not be considered.

Social Media Intern

Browse relevant Guatemalan and US media outlets to brainstorm topics for social media posts.

Communicate effectively with the GSP team in order to accurately reflect the values and projects that are being conducted.

Create detailed posts that effectively convey GSP messaging on various topics, while ensuring these posts are aesthetically pleasing and encourage viewership.

Grant Writer

Research possible grant options for the Guatemala Solidarity Project and compile them in an organized manner awaiting approval of intern supervisors.

Create grant applications which both reflect the messaging of the GSP and appeal to grantors. The GSP has a wide breadth of projects and as such qualifies for many different grants, it will be your job to emphasize the parts of the GSP that  fit with any given grant.

Communicate with grantors and GSP partners in order to effectively create a plan and implementation of grants.

Application Project: One of the GSP’s most expensive projects is our mobile schools program which provides funding for education to over 8 schools in rural Indigenous communities. Research one grant which could theoretically provide funding for this program. Additionally write a one paragraph statement of purpose (200-500 words). This does not need to accurately reflect our current mobile schools program, so feel free to use our website or come up with your own language/ideas.

Lobbyist

Organize projects in the United States which effectively advocate for our partner’s needs such as Dear Colleague letters and other congressional campaigns.

Meet with various congressional offices to discuss the needs of our partners in order to work on campaigns and raise awareness of issues the GSP advocates for in the US.

Communicate with the press in order to publicize information about political campaigns.

Learning, Skills, and Community Impact

Interns with the GSP, regardless of role and project selection, gain experience in advocacy, research, and nonprofit communications while working for this volunteer-run solidarity organization. Interns develop skills in political analysis and ethical solidarity work.
With the opportunity to collaborate with organizers, educators, and advocates engaged in land defense and Indigenous solidarity movements, interns gain insight into extractivism, state violence, and transnational advocacy.

In addition to skill development, interns gain insight into how solidarity networks support Indigenous communities. Intern work supports ongoing advocacy, education, and resource-mobilization efforts that are defined by community partners; this emphasizes accountability, amplifies Indigenous voices, and sustains long-term organization and support over short-term intervention.