Peers United for Fortaleza

A GLOBAL COLLABORATION FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO INSPIRE, EMPOWER AND IMPACT GUATEMALA CITY.

PEERS UNITED FOR FORTALEZA (PUFF)

Our PUFF Interns Program has selected 2 female interns for the 2024/2025 school year!

Fortaleza is a support group for teen mothers and at risk girls in Zone 3 of Guatemala City. Fortaleza provides educational scholarships, mental and physical health resources, and support.

Interns will work alongside local professionals, Hope’s In staff, and the girls in Fortaleza to develop a passion project that meets a need for the community in Guatemala. This year the PUFF Interns are focusing on women’s and maternal health and education.

In Guatemala, nearly 1 in 4 pregnancies are girls under 18, and over 5,000 girls under 14 became pregnant last year. Many mothers can’t even talk to their daughters about maternal health because they lack the information themselves. With your help, we can change this.

We’re launching B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Resources with Informed Development for Girls’ Education) to break this cycle. Our goal is to provide education on women’s health to students in Guatemala City. Funds will go toward feminine hygiene products, educational resources, and scholarships for girls pursuing health sciences.

MEET THE INTERNS

SAMPLE PROJECTS, GET INSPIRED HERE

JOB READINESS

PROJECT OVERVIEW: By equipping members of Fortaleza with the skills necessary to apply for and succeed in a job, Fortaleza ensures that they will be able to pursue successful careers.
Example project: Interview readiness. Prepare a course on important interview skills to deliver in Guatemala. This can include a presentation on how to prepare a resume, how to answer interview questions, and individual practice workshops with the girls. Locally, work with organizations to donate professional clothing that Fortaleza members can borrow for interviews.

HEALTH CARE
ACCESS

PROJECT OVERVIEW: Fortaleza works with many local organizations in Guatemala to ensure that members have access to medical care. In addition, Fortaleza offers presentations to the women to help encourage healthy lifestyle habits like proper nutrition and dental care.
Example project: Work with local medical professionals to develop a first aid course. Teach Fortaleza members what to do (and what not to do) in the case of certain common injuries or sicknesses. Assemble and bring mini first-aid kits to donate to the members.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
TEENAGE MOTHERS

PROJECT OVERVIEW: Scholarships for Teenage Mothers: In Guatemala, 10% of women graduate secondary school and 1% go on to study at university. By offering educational scholarships and support to members, Fortaleza helps women pursue an education that will equip them with the diploma and experience needed to follow their dreams and break cycles of poverty.
Example project: Time management and school. Teach effective strategies for managing time with schoolwork and other activities or events. Teach effective note-taking/learning strategies that allow students to maximize their time. Bring planners and study materials to donate to the girls.

MENTAL HEALTH-
ACCESS TO COUNSELING

PROJECT OVERVIEW: Access to Counseling: Many members of Fortaleza are currently receiving counseling and support from our counselor in Guatemala City. This helps them work through any trauma they may be dealing with and enables them to succeed in other areas of their life.
Example project: Stress management. Work with local professionals to develop a course/workshop on managing stress from school, work, and personal life. Teach several strategies for managing stress and bring materials (such as journals) to the girls.

MORE ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

This is an exciting internship opportunity for rising HS Junior and Senior girls and college students interested in developing a personal humanitarian project focusing on teen moms and at-risk teen girls who are part of our Fortaleza program in Zone 3, the Guatemala City garbage dump community. Possible focus areas for intern projects include Education, Medical and Dental Health, Mental Health, Career Planning, and Mentorship. Interns will have the opportunity to develop their own “passion project” that positively impacts our Fortaleza group in an area they feel passionate about and feel as if they can add value.

WHO IS A STRONG CANDIDATE?

Highschool girls (rising Junior/Senior) or college students who:

are passionate about humanitarian work
have an interest in having a cultural and language experience
have knowledge or passion in one of the focus areas and feel they can add value
are hardworking and are interested in volunteering their time to develop and work on a high-impact project.

THIS PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF

UPCOMING INFO SESSIONS: Please email courtney@hopesin.org for the meeting link.

APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY CLOSED. INTERNS FOR 2024-2025 HAVE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED.

MEET THE INTERNS

Peers United for Fortaleza

A GLOBAL COLLABORATION FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO INSPIRE, EMPOWER AND IMPACT GUATEMALA CITY.