Overview
International Development Internships in Central America

Assist children’s education projects and learn Spanish on this six month internship scheme. Volunteers on this program will train for 12 weeks alongside a dedicated staff supervisor in Guatemala, learn Spanish and teach children on a volunteer project before taking a teaching work placement in either Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua. You will undertake 60 hours of one-on-one Spanish classes, teach in the communities and shadow GVI field staff, be involved in teaching and training workshops, gain an internationally recognised certificate in Team Leading. and assist with the running of the program. This internship aims to allow the participants to make a real difference to the lives of underprivileged children and be trained in the skills of project management and team leadership. Paid or unpaid work positions available for qualifying candidates.

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I came for 9 months to become fluent in Spanish but stayed to work for the local communities that gave me so much in return

Rachel Harris, GVI Volunteer, Intern and Staff Member 2008

Highlights

Developing your personnel management, leadership and teaching skills through formal training presentations and linguistic skills with 60 hours of one-on-one Spanish classes, opportunities to speak Spanish 24 hours a day, gain an internationally recognised BTEC certificate in Team Leading, living in the beautiful colonial town of Antigua or Copán, or the Nicaraguan northern town of Estelí and working each day in indigenous or remote communities; living with local families, learning Spanish, understanding local indigenous culture, local travel and adventure and cultural activities. Time set aside for University work if required.

Location

Where possible GVI will endeavour to ensure interns are based in their preferred country of choice for the teaching work placement. In Guatemala interns live in the beautiful old Spanish colonial town of Antigua. Project work is carried out in San Andrés Itzapa and Santa María de Jésus, both within a one hour journey from the town.

In Honduras, interns live in Copan Ruinas, a tiny colonial town close to the Copan Ruins. Project work will be undertaken in the Chortí community of San Rafael, within a half hour journey from the town.

In Nicaragua interns live in Estelí, also known as “El Diamante de las Segovias” (the Diamond of the Segovias), situated 150km North of Managua, surrounded by mountains and valleys dotted with small agricultural communities, in which the project work will be undertaken.


See Life on the internship page for more information

Field Conditions

You will live with local host families in one of these base towns. You have private rooms, shared bathrooms with warm to hot showers, allowing a full experience into local life in the base town. All meals are provided (not on Sundays in Guatemala), with the local family, or in the communities where we spend our days working. Laundry facilities are available in the base towns.

See Life on the internship page for more information