Work for Chakana

Chakana has different kinds of job openings, both in the Netherlands and in Bolivia. We often need interns to join the teams in The Netherlands, in Bolivia we need them even more. Click Openings to check for present job openings. Do you have an idea of your own about what you can do for Chakana, then e-mail your proposal to infoatchakana [dot] nl. 

Volunteer work in The Netherlands

Volunteer work at Chakana in The Netherlands is always possible. Chakana has approximately thirty volunteers (often young professionals), divided in different teams like Communications, Knowledge Centre and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Volunteer work in Bolivia

Volunteer work at Chakana in Bolivia is possible, but usually it takes a specific assignment. This can be for instance organizing a seminar, consulting on gender or administration, or doing research on the possibilities of exporting local craft products. Assignments that are available are in the list below, but also you can propose a suitable assignment yourself.

Internship in Bolivia

Doing your internship at our office in Bolivia or in the areas where we work is possible the whole year, for a small number of volunteers (mostly students). We take care of your guidance in the field and we mediate where housing is concerned. Unfortunately we cannot bear any part of your expenses. 

Chakana offers two kinds of internships: a practical internship or a research internship.

Practical internship

A team of about ten Bolivian employees work at our office in La Paz. In order to support this team, and to improve communications with Chakana The Netherlands, Chakana sends Dutch volunteers (often students) to Bolivia, to do a practical internship during at least three months.

This position includes:

  • Join the activities of Chakana in Bolivia;
  • Supporting administration and other organizational work;
  • Attending meetings with business partners in Bolivia;
  • Assisting in field research - if carried out at that moment;
  • Helping organizing events;
  • Facilitating communication between the Dutch and the Bolivian board.

Of course you can do this internship within the framework of your education, but that is not a necessity.

Chakana looks for interns, meeting the following requirements:

  • Thorough knowledge of the Spanish language (speaking and writing);
  • Sufficient knowledge of economics, culture and development;
  • HBO level of thinking; 
  • Cultural empathy;
  • Independance, initiative, entrepreneurial mind, willingness to learn, involvement and guts; 
  • Punctual and accurate;
  • Experienced in working in a team;
  • Affinity with Bolivia and its indigenous peoples;
  • Available for at least three months;
  • Experience in South America is an advantage.  

We offer:

  • A great experience in a developing country; 
  • Working experience at a development organization; 
  • Being part of an international and cross-disciplinary team; 
  • Good guidance at the spot and experienced support from the Netherlands; 
  • Cheap housing; 
  • A combined internship with research is possible. 

For more information, send an email to Marjolein van Rijn: marjoleinatchakana [dot] nl.
 

Research internship

We always base our projects on the results of our own field research. For that reason, Chakana regularly has vacancies for a research internship in Bolivia. The intern forms part of a team of about 10 Bolivian employees in our La Paz office.
 

Possible subjects for research are:

  • Microcredits;
  • social-cultural research (leadership & democracy, tradition and modernity, handicraft production and possibilities);
  • socio-economic research (livelihood strategies, local economic development, rural-urban relations and migration);
  • agricultural research (advantages and challenges of greenhouses, irrigation, education methods, etc.);
If you have another good proposal yourself, you ca always let us know. Every research has te contribute to enhancing our knowledge about the highland indians, about the execution of projects or about the development policy of Chakana.

Students should meet the following requirements:

  • Good knowledge of the spanish language (written and spoken);
  • (almost) completed professional or academic education;
  • Enough knowledge of one of the following topics: agriculture/economics/culture/development;
  • Excellent analytical and communicative skills;
  • Ability to adapt to another culture;
  • Independent worker, initiative, entreprising, learning capability, committment and valour;
  • Punctual and accurate;
  • Affinity with Bolivia and the Aymara people;
  • Affinity with international cooperation;
  • At least 3 month available;
  • Previous experience in South America is an advantage.

We offer:

  • A great experience in a developing country;
  • Working experience in a development organization;
  • Forming part of an international and interdisciplinary team;
  • Good assitance locally and from the Netherlands;
  • Low-cost housing facilities;
  • Possibility to combine the research with a practical internship.

For more information, send an email to Marjolein van Rijn: marjoleinatchakana [dot] nl.

Share this