To accommodate students' broad interests and diverse backgrounds, course requirements are flexible.

Volunteer Announcements

HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS NEEDED IN GUATEMALA

For the first time ever, testimony from genocide survivors is being heard in
Guatemalan courts. Please join us in supporting this historic process!

Application Deadline: December 1, 2008

Next training: January 2009 in Seattle, WA

Six-month minimum commitment required

- Accompaniers act as human rights observers, providing a constant
international presence to Guatemalan witnesses involved in precedent-setting
genocide cases and other individuals, organizations and communities
organizing in defense of their rights.

- NISGUA trains volunteers and matches them with U.S. sponsoring communities
that support the accompanier's stay both financially and personally.

- Accompaniers share in everyday rural life, observe and report on
conditions, and monitor the human rights situation.

Candidates should have:

- A familiarity with the history of Central America/U.S. relations, the
current situation in Guatemala and a basic understanding of accompaniment

- Previous experience in Latin America, especially rural areas strongly
preferred

- A high level of verbal and written Spanish or the ability to develop it
with six weeks of intensive study

- The ability to document and analyze events and conditions in order to
produce quality written reports

- Cultural sensitivity, excellent judgment skills, physical stamina and good
health

- Awareness of security issues and willingness to work in a situation which
might involve some risk

Benefits include: Accommodation and food in community, a small monthly
stipend, health insurance, a re-entry stipend, and a contribution toward
international airfare.

For application information, please visit our website: www.nisgua.org
<http://www.nisgua.org/>