Safe Passage/Camino Seguro is a not-for-profit organization working in Guatemala to empower the poorest at profit at-risk children, whose families live in the Guatemala City garbage dump community, by creating opportunities and fostering dignity through the power of education.

The job of a librarian at Safe Passage is more than just storing and organizing books. The librarian promotes reading as something enjoyable. This truly is a challenge since we’re working in an environment where the concept of reading for pleasure is unknown to most people.

The librarian should prepare weekly activities for all different age groups (1st grade – High School). The librarian has to be flexible in adapting activities to the necessities of the different groups. S/he has to be able to do both planning activities for the groups of adolescent/ teenage kids that come to the library in the morning as well as to work with the primary school kids in the afternoon.

►In the morning the purpose is to get the kids to express themselves through literature. This can include poetry themselves, workshops, creative writing activities and other means that make the participants produce their own texts participants where they express their own ideas and perspectives. At the moment the library works in tandem with the Creative Expression Program where the kids can choose between three different ways of expressing themselves: Art (Drawing/Painting), Music (Guitar/Piano/Choir) and Literature.

►In the afternoon it is more about engaging the kids in literature from an early age on. Making reading fun and interesting is one of the main goals here so the kids can develop a habit of reading but there is more. The main purpose is to give the kids stimulation so they can reflect about themselves and their life and to help them expressing their ideas. At the moment we’re working on the topic of connecting to what you read, which means promoting books that the kids can relate easily to. The goal is to help the kids not only to identify with the characters in the book but to have them make connections between the content and context of the book and their own life and context that they live in.

In the end the library is a flexible space and much depends on the creativity and abilities that one possesses. We hope to find a Librarian who has the initiative and creativity required to create and execute activities, as well as love and librarian patience for our students.

This position has a housing allowance available that is comparable to what a local staff person would earn in the same position.

Description/Responsibilities:

• Facilitate student expression through literature
• Lead workshops on topics such as poetry, creative writing, etc
• Experience encouraging students to produce original material through creative writing
• Engage the kids actively in reading from an early age on
• Motivate and get the kids excited about reading for fun
• Stimulate the kids self-esteem so they feel comfortable expressing their own ideas and points of view
• Plan activities that help the kids to make connections between the book that they read and their own lives
• Find and promote books that the kids can relate to easily
• Promote the library as an open space, available for reading activities
• Execute reading activities
• Search for and develop relationships with other institutions that promote reading and literature
• Fundraise and maintain contact with donors
• Other assignments as needed

Qualifications:

• Commitment to the mission, vision, values, principles and goals of Safe Passage
• Advanced level of Spanish; advanced English preferred
• Ability to follow through on projects with minimal supervision; self-motivated and proactive
• Initiative
• Creativity
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with emotional and behavioral problems
• High spirit of service and dedication
• Demonstrated sensitivity working with at-risk youth and families
• Have a patient and affectionate character; personable and enthusiastic
• Experience in monitoring classroom activities
• Flexible, able to adapt to a dynamic work environment and creative problem-solving skills

For any questions about Safe Passage and the Creative Expression Program, please email Elena at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .