Technical Writer Internship (UNPAID-STIPEND)

AIDG Overview:

The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group (AIDG) works to provide rural villages in developing countries with affordable and environmentally sound technologies that meet their needs for electricity, sanitation and clean water. Through a combination of business incubation, education, training and outreach, AIDG helps individuals and communities gain access to technology that will improve their lives. Our model provides a novel approach to sustainable development by empowering people with the physical tools and practical knowledge to solve infrastructure problems in their own communities.

AIDG seeks Interns to facilitate the growth of the organization and its incubated businesses. Currently, AIDG-Guatemala has an opening for a Technical Writer Intern to support its technical research and development workshop in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala.

AIDG’s Internship Program provides food and housing in exchange for qualified volunteers helping to develop needed technology. For further general information on the AIDG Internship Program (e.g. program details, expectations, housing provisions, Intern requirements and profiles of current and former interns), refer to AIDG’s website (www.aidg.org).

Technical Writer Internship:

The overall responsibility of the technical writer will be to produce technical documentation of the appropriate technologies AIDG has and is currently developing.  This may include creating new documents and/or updating and maintaining existing technical documents for AIDG and its development partners. Additionally, this position will assist in developing technical training documents for local engineers and business owners involved in our incubated business program. Specifically, the successful applicant would be required to:

·         Gather information from technical documents left by former interns.

·         Interview communities and personnel from incubated businesses involved in construction and installation of previous projects.

·         Synthesize information gathered into comprehensive design documents.

·         Coordinate with the Director of Technology, Director of Business Incubation, and business interns in the design and creation of appropriate training materials.

Preferred Qualifications:

Applicants interested in this Internship should possess the following skills:

·         General knowledge of the engineering process and appropriate technologies/ engineering principles ranging across the spectrum from electrical to civil to mechanical.

·         Practical experience in creating formal design documentation.

·         Advanced Spanish speaking ability.

·         Experience with AutoCAD in creation of technical drawings is preferred.

Applicants should have a willingness to get hands-on and dirty, possess a good sense of humor and the ability to work independently. They should be versatile, mature, flexible, highly motivated and friendly. Prior international experience is desirable, and a minimum commitment of 3 months is required (note that preference is given to applicants that can stay for a longer time period.)

Application Instructions:

Applications for the Technical Writer Internship close on March 1^st, 2009. Qualified applicants should send their cover letter and resume to internships@aidg.org. In your application, please indicate your earliest arrival date and the length of time you are available for the Internship.