Women empowerment programs

This program is placed in the highlands of Guatemala and it aims to reinforce women and children rights as well as provide underprivileged women with training tools to better domestic economy and social conditions for themselves and their families.

CW works in tight cooperation with government organizations that provide women  with the necessary instruction, support and advice to overcome difficult domestic circumstances and to undertake entrepreneurial activities to increase their income.

As a volunteer for this programs you can participate in different projects according to your background and expertise.

Projects in this program  include psychological and medical consultation, educational and training workshops, women’s rights discussion forums, domestic economy development projects, etc.

Local women find contention and support and acquire a variety of skills that empower them and instill them with self confidence to undertake small business activities such as cooking, clothes design, handicrafts and souvenir production, among many others.

To participate in this program you need to have intermediate Spanish language level and plan for a minimum stay of four weeks.

 

Microfinance

Microfinance internship: CW cooperates with a number of MFIs (Microfinance Institutions)that provide local small business and entrepreneurs with the necessary credits, trainings and business advice to either improve or start-up their economic endeavours.

Volunteers for this project that have any experience or skills in the area of accounting, finance, business administration, trade or marketing are very appreciated.

As a volunteer for this program you’ll be working with saving and credit cooperatives in Sololá and Quezaltenango, helping local entrepreneurs participating in educational programs and workshops designed to teach them techniques and strategies to identify, prioritize, program ,execute and evaluate business opportunities and expand, their activities to new potential markets.

Minimum duration for this internship is four weeks and a high-intermediate to advanced command of Spanish is required.

 

Agriculture program

Sustainable agriculture: Addressing the challenge of finding a reasonable balance between the needs of rural communities depending on farming activities and preserving the natural environment is at the core of CW’s sustainable agriculture programs. For this we collaborate with local groups that teach responsible practices and sustainability.

Depending on their background and skills, volunteers for this project can either help in large educational centers or work with small eco-communities.

We are aware that the well-being of rural communities lies on their agricultural activities and that they are as important as the preservation of the ecosystem. So while the educational programs focus on teaching local farmers the most appropriate techniques to produce and sell their agricultural goods in a profitable and sustainable way, they also have an emphasis on improving the personal lives of farmers and their communities.

Volunteers can help with educational programs providing basic hygiene, healthy habits and literacy skills.

For this program volunteers must have an intermediate level of Spanish language skills.