Peace Brigades International

 

Peace Brigades International website

Peace Brigades international is an organization that sends peace-keeping teams to areas experiencing major conflict. The organization hires and trains volunteers to join peacekeeping teams. Volunteers share a strong commitment to nonviolence and a belief in the contribution of ordinary people who can help create more peaceful environments. A PBI team seeks to encourage, by means of an international, nonviolent, non partisan presence, a peaceful resolution of conflicts in the local area. To do this, PBI teams offer support and protective accompaniment to human rights defenders and groups or individuals threatened with violence; Encourage actions to reduce the level of violence and meet regularly with local and national civil and military authorities and embassies to raise concerns regarding human rights abuses.

Application Requirements: 
  • Volunteers of PBI come from many different countries and backgrounds
  • You must speak the language of the country you're working in. The Indonesia team uses English but all volunteers are required to learn Bahasa Indonesian before joining the team. For those who don't speak Bahasa Indonesian, the Indonesia Project covers the cost of a three month language course
  • Most volunteers (but not all) in peacekeeping teams are at least 25 years old
  • A clear understanding of and commitment to nonviolence
  • Knowledge and understanding of the history, politics and culture of the country where you are working
  • Cross-cultural skills and sensitivity
  • Must make a minimum commitment of one year
Benefits: 
  • All projects cover the costs of: transportation to country of work, accommodation, food, internal travel, insurance, repatriation and also offer a stipend to cover additional costs
  • PBI volunteers share a house which serves as living quarters as well as an office
  • Specialist training
  • The experience of living and working in a close-knit team of volunteers from many different countries and backgrounds
  • Insight into the intense pressures faced by human rights defenders