ELI offers health and community development internships in Guatemala. Please note that these programs require a high intermediate to advanced level of Spanish proficiency.

Health Internships

This program is designed for students in medical school, nursing school, or physical therapy school. Interns will shadow staff at clinics and health centers in order to learn about the day to day practice of medicine in Guatemala. Interns will be asked to assist with tasks in the clinic or health center based on their skills, interests, and past experience. Please note that interns have no medical responsibilities and will not be treating patients directly. This is an incredible opportunity to learn about the challenges faced by clinics in Guatemala as well as the day to day challenges faced by the patients themselves. Participants should be comfortable speaking Spanish and knowledge of medical terms will be a big advantage.

Community Development

This internship focuses on business development. Interns will work with local NGOs to assist with entrepreneurial programs for marginalized groups such as indigenous populations, women, and migrant workers. Projects will vary greatly depending on the activities of the NGO and the intern's qualifications. This internship can be incredibly rewarding and gives participants the chance to complete challenging fieldwork. Participants must commit to at least three months in Guatemala and should speak Spanish at an advanced to fluent level of proficiency. Also, participants should be prepared to learn the local Mayan dialect.