Join the Front Line: Volunteer with PBI

Are you ready to be a "Global Shield" for human rights?

Peace Brigades International (PBI) provides life-saving protective accompaniment to activists at risk. We don’t just watch from the sidelines; we walk alongside those changing the world.

Two Ways to Make a Difference

1. Field Volunteers (The Accompaniment Team)

Join one of our international teams in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, or Mexico. You will provide a physical and political presence that deters violence and opens space for justice.

The Role: Accompany defenders to court, observe peaceful protests, and visit rural communities.
The Skills: You’ll gain professional expertise in international law, conflict transformation, and risk analysis.
The Commitment: Minimum of one year (18 months for Colombia).
The Support: PBI covers travel, insurance, accommodation, and a monthly stipend. We provide specialist training and professional mental health support (via EAGT) before, during, and after your placement.

2. UK Office & Specialist Volunteers

Support the mission from our London office. We need experts and enthusiasts to help us influence the UK Government and grow our movement.

Advocacy & Comms: Help us brief MPs, research human rights cases, and tell the stories of defenders to a global audience.
Legal Specialists: Join our Lawyers Advisory Committee to provide pro-bono support to defenders facing "lawfare."
Events & Outreach: Assist with high-profile events (such as our LUSH Soho events) and build our donor community.

Field projects carry out the recruitment of volunteers 1-2 times a year. If the application processes are not currently open keep an eye on the linked pages below for updates:

PBI Colombia - Call for applications currently closed.

PBI Guatemala - Call for applications currently closed.

PBI Honduras - Call for applications currently closed.

PBI Mexico - Call for applications currently closed.

Please note that PBI projects in Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal and Nicaragua are run by in-country staff and do not currently recruit field volunteers. If you are considering submitting an application but would like to speak to someone first, please contact Lorna at lorna@peacebrigades.org.uk

What it’s Really Like: "The Power of Presence"

Learn more about what it means to be a field volunteer in one of PBI’s Front Line Teams in this short video:

Are You the Right Fit?

We look for resilient, culturally sensitive individuals who believe in the power of non-violence.

Languages: Fluent Spanish is essential for Latin America; English is the primary language for Kenya and Indonesia.
Age: Usually 25+, but we value life experience over a specific birth date.
Mindset: You must be comfortable working in a non-partisan, consensus-based team environment.

FAQs

What do PBI field volunteers actually do?

Volunteers provide a "Global Shield" for activists through three key methods:

Physical Presence: Accompanying defenders to high-risk areas, court hearings, and protests to deter violence.
Political Advocacy: Meeting with embassies and local authorities to ensure they are held accountable for the safety of activists.
Information: Reporting on the ground realities to the international community to raise the profile of the struggle.

How does protective accompaniment work?

It works by raising the "political cost" of an attack. When a PBI volunteer in a green vest is present, an attacker knows that any violence will be witnessed and reported to international governments and media. We turn the spotlight on, and abusers prefer to work in the dark.

Is it dangerous?

PBI has over 40 years of experience in risk management. We do not use weapons; our protection is political. We perform daily security analyses and maintain constant communication with home embassies and local police. While the work involves risk, our rigorous protocols are designed to maximise the safety of both the defenders and our volunteers.

What is "Non-Partisanship"?

We do not take sides in the political goals of the people we protect. We protect the right to defend human rights. This principle allows us to engage all sides of a conflict, from grassroots leaders to military generals, giving us the unique diplomatic standing required to ensure safety.

What qualifications do I need?

Language: Fluent Spanish is essential for Latin America; English is required for Kenya and Indonesia.
Resilience: The ability to stay calm and effective under high-pressure situations.
Teamwork: Experience with consensus-based decision-making is a plus.
Maturity: We recommend a minimum age of 25. There is no upper age limit.

What does PBI offer volunteers?

Comprehensive specialist training in conflict transformation and international law.
All essential costs covered: return flights, insurance, modest accommodation, and a monthly stipend for food and personal expenses.
A profound professional and personal experience within a close-knit international team.

How long is the commitment?

Field placements are a minimum of 12 months (18 months for Colombia). We do not offer short-term placements, as long-term presence is vital for building the trust and political networks that keep defenders safe.

How do I apply?

If you are based in the UK, email us at admin@peacebrigades.org.uk. The process involves an application, an interview, and a 7–10 day intensive training course. The timeline from application to the field usually takes 6 to 12 months.

Can I volunteer in my own country?

No. To maintain our neutrality and the safety of our teams, volunteers cannot serve in their home country. However, we strongly encourage activists from project countries to apply for placements in other PBI regions.

Field volunteer experiences

Field volunteers with Peace Brigades International come from many different countries and backgrounds. What they share is a strong commitment to nonviolence and a belief in the power of ordinary people to create a more peaceful and just world.

If you are interested in volunteering overseas with PBI, the stories from former field volunteers from the UK give you a chance to find out about volunteering from the people who've been in the same position as you.

Read their personal insights into what its like to train with PBI, to work alongside human rights defenders, and to live and work with others from different countries and backgrounds.

Camila Marin

“I joined an all-female team, which was an empowering experience in itself, and was surrounded by incredible female human rights defenders. For me, my time with PBI was about utilising my privilege as a foreigner to facilitate human rights defenders in Chihuahua and Coahuila to continue their work with less risk."

Emily Spence

"It's easy to assume when you see things deteriorating that the defense of human rights is having no impact. But what we don't see is what the country would look like if human rights defenders weren't able to do that work."

Hannah Stoate

"One of the benefits of the way PBI selects volunteers is that I have met lots of new people along the way from all over the world who share similar values and who I am still in touch with now. It also gives you the opportunity to consider whether or not both living and working with a small team of people is something that feels right for you."

Cat Rainsford

“Their [HRDs] bravery and determination were inspirations throughout my year but it was their humanity – the stories, jokes and peculiarities of each defender I got to know – that will remain with me most and convinced me that perhaps the most important aspect of PBI's presence is simply solidarity.”

Hannah Matthews

“I feel hugely privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside the Colombian human rights defenders who are at the forefront of demanding change in their country. Their voices are important reminders of the bravery needed to confront injustice and to fight for improvements.”

Toby Penrhys Evans

"I always had a deep interest in citizen empowerment and democracy [...]. Having heard about PBI’s work in Latin America I jumped at the opportunity to apply when I saw a position available in Kenya."

Adam Lunn

“Despite the country’s grave human rights situation during 2014, spending a year with PBI Guatemala allowed me to get to know some incredible human rights defenders, hear their stories and observe them carry out their incredibly valuable work. The contact with the human rights defenders is a great privilege and it was inspirational to meet these normal yet extraordinary people who continue to carry out their work despite the violence they face.”

Tom Short

"As a field volunteer in Kenya, I have been privileged to stand side by side with Kenyan human rights defenders who work relentlessly in their struggle for justice – despite death threats, surveillance, attacks, and even, in extreme cases, the assassination of their colleagues."

Gwen Burnyeat

"It is moments like this, and the direct contact with the people that working in the field gives you, that makes the hard work of the ‘brigadista’, the hours on the road, the longer hours in the office, all worthwhile... I learned so much during my year as a volunteer in Uraba, about Colombia, its people and myself. That’s why I’m going back for a second year."

Dan Slee

"This, and other experiences with PBI, showed me some incredible things. By building solidarity with the peace community, with PBI and our international support network, two rural families of limited means had managed to walk, completely unarmed into paramilitary-controlled territory and reclaim their belongings from a squadron of heavily armed soldiers. I returned home with lots to think about. If they can achieve this in a war zone, what can we achieve in our communities?"

Rob Hawke

"The CCALCP lawyers are legal advisors to the Bari, an indigenous population engaged in dialogue with the government over petitions to exploit oil and coal within its territory. It is fascinating to spend time getting to know the Bari and the unique way in which they are struggling to preserve and strengthen their culture."

Michael Tamblyn

"Achievements like the Radilla judgement and the release of Raul Hernandez help to remind me that, despite the obstacles, justice is a right that must never be relinquished. If there is one thing that PBI has taught me since I left the Pitjantjatjara Lands in the Australian desert it is that while the struggle for justice is the responsibility of each and every one of us, it is most effective when shared by many. "