Mesoamerican Permaculture Institute (IMAP)
IMAP works to promote and foster biological and cultural diversity in Mesoamerica through permaculture design and practice. They work directly with communities and organizations in the region to integrate permaculture into community development for the benefit of families. IMAP’s vision is for Mesoamerican People to become the primary actors of the construction of autonomous sustainable development and to live in harmony with nature and to be a Permaculture model for the bioregion and world. Seed saving and seed sharing, health, nutrition and self reliance are important parts of their work. IMAP offers Permaculture Design Certificate programs, as well as other learning opportunities.

IMAP is currently looking for a cooperants with a background in permaculture, marketing, fundraising or sustainable community development.

Asociación Bufete Jurídico Popular (Community Legal Association or ABJP)
The Legal Clinic was established by survivors of the Rio Negro Massacre and its original legal objective was the fulfillment of the 1996 Peace Accords by facilitating access of victims of genocide and crimes against humanity to national and international legal systems and the National Restitution Commission. This work continues today through national and international channels. Because of the ABJP’s awareness of family violence and the lack of response to this issue in the legal system and the community, in late 2006 it opened the Achi Woman’s Office to educate women on their legal rights and to respond to issues of family violence, including education within the community and the legal system. Currently the ABJP works in three streams: legal certainty and security for ancestral land, justice for crimes during the Internal Armed Conflict and the genocide, and the Achi Woman’s Office.

The ABJP is looking for volunteers with experience in law, journalism or communications, social work or psychology.

Fundación Nueva Esperanza (New Hope Foundation), Rabinal
In 1996, Jesus Tecu Osorio, recipient of the 2010 Human Rights First  Baldwin Medal, along with other survivors of the Rio Negro massacre, founded the Fundación Nueva Esperanza. It originally offered educational support (scholarships, computer training and tutoring) to Maya-Achi youth whose parents were victims or survivors of the 1980s genocide, thus contributing to the construction of a just and democratic state. In 2003 the Fundacion opened the New Hope Secondary School to offer educational opportunities for youth affected by the violence and to facilitate occupational, personal, social, and cultural programs designed to overcome causes and effects of the violence. At the present time the Fundacion offers a culturally relevant bilingual education junior high school program for the youth, from throughout the municipality of Rabinal, many of whom board at the school.

Mandatory Training: May 16^th – May 21^st, 2019 at Tatamagouche Centre, Tatamagouche NS.

Costs: BTS will cover the costs of a return flight to Guatemala, health/repatriation insurance*, and half the costs of room and board (approximately $400). All cooperants must have provincial medical insurance.

Next steps: You'll find an information and application package here. Please email the application, cover letter and CV as one attachment to breakingthesilencehiring@gmail.com by Tuesday, March 24, 2019 at midnight (AST). You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application. Please direct any questions to breakingthesilencehiring@gmail.com. 

Interviews with short-listed candidates will take place in person or by phone in late March / early April with confirmation of acceptance into the Training Program in April.

We wish to thank UNIFOR, the Sisters of Saint Martha of Antigonish and the Kingston Guatemala-Canada Solidarity Network for their financial support to develop this program.