Volunteer to work with us

Created in 2008, Investours is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of women living in poverty around the world. Working at the intersection of cultural education and microfinance, Investours leverages the financial and political power of tourism to provide small, interest-free loans to enable entrepreneurs to build their businesses—and, in doing so, to secure economic and social gains for themselves and their families—and to build the microfinance movement internationally.

Positions currently available with Investours:

Program Manager

Description

The Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring that we are running tours at maximum capacity, ensuring the smooth operation of the tours, recruiting and communicating with our alumni base to leverage their participation in the program, and recruiting and overseeing volunteers. They will have the opportunity to assist in building this growing organization, and will be expected to participate in other activities to build the organization as needed. A commitment to ending poverty, experience managing groups and individuals, and the flexibility to work in a start-up non-profit are essential.

Major Responsibilities

Recruit tour participants through wholesale tactics including partnering with local businesses, and retail tactics including flyering, postering, and canvassing in public areas.
Ensure excellent tour operations by preparing materials, aiding in the running of tours, debriefing and soliciting feedback from tour participants, and incorporating feedback to improve tours.
Maintain alumni relations to cultivate active alumni base - including regular email updates out to tour alumni, keeping updated website with activities of micro entrepreneurs, and personal follow-up with active and potentially active donors and volunteers.
Recruit and oversee volunteers, and oversee interns as needed.

Minimum Requirements

College graduate
Leadership experience - experience managing staff and/or volunteers
Interest in international development, issues of poverty, or microfinance
Demonstrated commitment to social change
Good judgment, strong initiative, and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Excellent people skills: outgoing, friendly, warm, professional, ability to gain trust and build relationships with individuals from different backgrounds
Experience living abroad
Basic Spanish

Preferred Additional Qualifications

Experience and/or study in international development or marketing
2+ years in a full-time, professional leadership position
Fluency in Spanish
Previous experience living in Oaxaca

Commitment

This is a full-time position. Minimum 3 month commitment required, 5+ months preferred.

Compensation

This is an unpaid position, with free Spanish classes at the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca and free housing available.

Application Process

Send your resume, cover letter, and a list of three references to Emily Berens at emily@investours.org.

Internship

Students from around the world are invited to apply for an Investours internship. We are currently accepting applications for the summer of 2009.

Description

Interns will have the opportunity to assist in building this small, exciting start-up through a range of hands-on activities. They will learn about microfinance and responsible tourism, different models and modes of microfinance operations, and the philosophy of Investours through an in-depth experience. Interns may assist in all daily activities of Investours including marketing and outreach, field visits, community meetings, working with entrepreneurs to develop their businesses, leading tours to visit the entrepreneurs, and communicating with tour alumni. Selected interns, based on language competency, evident dedication, and length of stay, may have the opportunity to work even more directly with our borrowers.

We will work with interns to create opportunities based on their interests and desired areas of development, but the internship will depend on the particular needs of Investours at any given time.

Requirements

Top candidates will be motivated by the issues surrounding poverty and microfinance, and will have a proven ability to work independently both to creatively solve problems and to follow through on the details of implementation. Knowledge of microfinance, economics, international development, and other related disciplines are helpful but not required. Spanish proficiency preferred, but not required.

Time Period

The internship lasts a minimum of 8 weeks. Hours vary depending on the schedule of meetings and field visits. You may be expected to work up to 10 hours a day during busy periods.

Location

We are currently operating in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Compensation

Unpaid. For those interested in learning Spanish, there may be an option of taking discounted classes at the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca.

Application Process

Send resume, cover letter (including available dates), an unofficial transcript, and the names of three references (at least one academic) to Emily Berens at eberens@investours.org. Top applicants will be invited to interview.