As a PBI field volunteer, you will live and work as part of a culturally diverse international team which uses consensus decision-making to function horizontally. PBI provides a specialized training process, based on more than 40 years of experience championing the strategy of international accompaniment. You will have the opportunity to learn about non-violent resistance movements and accompany defenders dedicating their lives to conflict transformation and peace-building. You will also have the chance to learn about a broad range of activities related to the international solidarity movement, including human rights observance and analysis, advocacy and lobbying, security and protection training, exploratory processes which widen PBI’s reach, as well as communications and administrative tasks related to the organization’s strategy.
This is more than volunteering. It’s a year of shared living, learning, and standing alongside defenders of human rights. A day in the life of a PBI volunteer is never the same!
“It was a pivotal experience for me, to work and live for 12 months alongside the members of my team to form connections with and learn from human rights defenders directly.”
— Former PBI Guatemala volunteer
Read about the experiences of former volunteers with PBI’s team in Guatemala, Mexico, and elsewhere here.
Watch PBI’s recent webinar “Volunteering for Protection: Indigenous Rights and the Impacts of Megaprojects” here.
Find out more about the at-risk organizations our field volunteers support in Guatemala here here.
Find out more about the at-risk organizations our field volunteers support in Mexico here.
Requirements to volunteer in the field with PBI :
Essential:
- You must be a national of a country other than the country you volunteer in*
- High level of spoken, written and read Spanish.
- High motivation for volunteering following the principles of non-partisanship, non-violence and international solidarity.
- Respect for social struggles and the autonomy of local leaders.
- Commit to a minimum of 12 months volunteering.
- Participate in the required processes of training and selection.
Recommended:
- Work experience (salaried or voluntary) in human rights organizations, peace, development, cooperation, social movements, grassroots movements, cooperatives, etc.
- Experience of teamwork and group coexistence, especially under stressful situations. Theoretical and practical knowledge of individual and collective mental health care tools.
- Work experience in advocacy, communication, conflict resolution, security and/or protection.
- Availability to work horizontally under a decision-making structure by consensus.
- Knowledge of the area of human rights.
- Sensitivity and awareness of historical and present inequalities, privilege and oppression.
- Commitment to gender equity.
- Work experience in research and information management.
- Analytical capacity and knowledge of the political and social context of the focus country (Guatemala/Mexico)
- Experience or knowledge of word processors, email, social networks and databases.
- Experience in a national PBI project or group (if applicable).
- Minimum age of 25 years old.**
*Own Country Rule: No national person can work on their own country’s project, either as an observer/volunteer, or as a member of the Project Committee or Office.
**PBI policy against age discrimination: Age is not an impediment to working with a frontline team of PBI. However, there is a need for mature and experienced people as volunteers need to be able to responsibly assess risk and safety issues and because the organization needs to present an experienced image when interacting with high-ranking authorities. For these reasons, volunteers are often over 25 years of age.
How can I apply?
Full details of the Guatemala recruitment process here. Applications are due by October 5, 2025.
Full details of the Mexico recruitment process here. Applications due by September 15, 2025.
The training and selection process consists of an application, an interview, online self-training and full guided training to get you ready to join our frontline teams!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Team Guatemala or Team Mexico directly.
We look forward to hearing from you!