Language teaching and promoting cultural exchange in Mexican communities
       Michoacan state          August 20 - December 12, 2008
                     Michoacan state          February 25 - July 3, 2009

Volunteer project: This Long Term Program has been running since 2003 with excellent results. The international exchange and cultural understanding is an important part of the formation for every human being, this project is born from this philosophy. Long Term Volunteers are needed to work in schools in different Mexican communities (one volunteer per school), helping with activities with the local youngsters and participating in activities promoting cultural exchange and learning.

Volunteer work: Each volunteer will be a part of the school staff. He/she will be giving English and/or French classes to the students and possibly to local people of the town. The average age of the students is between 15 and 19 years old. The volunteer will also help to organize local groups of ecology or sports and run some activities for the people of the town, most of which oriented to develop positive activities for the local youngsters. The volunteer will be assisted by the teachers of the school.
Please note that the detailed schedule of activities cannot be given to you at this time due to the long duration of the project. The activities must be agreed by you and the host of the project before you start working in the school. Also please have in mind that in Mexico the concept of time and organization is far more relaxed than in many other countries, so please be flexible.

The hosting organization also runs projects for groups of international volunteers that stay in some communities for 20 days, participating in activities for the development of the town. If the community welcomes such a group of international volunteers, the long term volunteer will help by participating in the organization of the activities that the international group will do in the town.
An orientation meeting about the project and Latin American culture will be given to all the volunteers.

Special requirements:
- To be able to speak Spanish and English or French.
- To be 18 years or older.
- To be in a good state of health.
- To be open-minded and able to understand and live in a different culture, to be adaptable and capable to work in teams for a long term period.
- To have some experience working with teams
- It is important to bring own medical insurance.
- To be active and proactive person, capable to organize himself/herself

Language: Spanish is the language of the project. The volunteer must be capable to communicate in Spanish and write it fairly well.

Location: The possible placements of the volunteers are in:
Acahuato, Cahulote, Churumuco, Epitacio Huerta, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Las Cruces, Manga de Cuimbo, Paracuaro, Penjamillo, Senguio, Tzintzingareo. All of the communities are located in Michoacan State. Once the volunteers are accepted, the communities will be designated to them, depending on their skills and experience.

Accommodation: Each volunteer will live with a host family. The food is provided in the house where the volunteer will stay. Only if the volunteer decides to travel to other places on the weekends, he/she will have to take care of accommodation and food for that time. Volunteers will need to bring a sleeping bag and a mattress.

Age range: 18 and over

Participation fee: $590 CAD

Extra fee: 250 Euro
The extra fee will be used for the training session, for support of the volunteer and to cover the administration costs for running the project. It is payable upon arrival.
 

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