Introduction to Community Projects
Based
in the small Mexican communities of San Patricio Melaque and
Barra de Navidad, Experience MexECO offers
volunteers the chance to contribute towards carefully selected
community orientated projects.
Working alongside local organizations, we have identified projects which would
benefit most from our support. Our volunteers can participate in fundraising
events within the community, as well as providing support to local schools, AIDS
awareness groups and environmental care groups.
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Volunteers
are currently needed for all teaching and community placements,
and so allocation to one placement or the other will depend
on how many volunteers are due to be taking part at any one
time. For those who are taking part in the project specifically
to gain experience in a chosen area, e.g.
primary school teaching, then we will do our best to allocate
you with a suitable placement.
Volunteers can choose to live with local host families who are able to help integrate
the volunteer into family life. Being part of a Mexican family is a a riot of
tasty Mexican cuisine and vibrant celebrations whenever the occasion might arise.
Involvement in family life is a great way to experience Mexican culture and it
gives volunteers a chance to learn or improve their Spanish. We ensure that at
least one member of the family speaks English in order to facilitate the volunteers
integration into the host family and the local community. |
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If you are interested in any of our projects, please go
to the apply
now page for more information and
our contact details.
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Teaching English
A
TEFL qualification is not essential, but for people who have
already studied TEFL, or are planning to do so, this is the
ideal opportunity to gain some experience.
English is a very important subject for students to learn in Mexico. Our volunteers
will act as Teaching Assistants in classrooms at a local technical school,
CECYTEJ (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Jalisco).
The work of volunteers provides an exciting and motivational addition to regular
classes. Having English as a second language will offer many students the chance
of employment on leaving school, or the chance to go on to further study; for
which most students would be required to read text books and navigate the internet
in English. |
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As
well as teaching English, volunteers on this placement may also
choose to provide support in Art, Drama, Computing and sports classes.
Students at CECYTEJ are aged between 16 and 23 years, and make
our volunteers very welcome in their school.
We also have placements available in a small primary school in
Melaque, where our volunteers assist with much younger children.
If you are interested in any of our projects, please go
to the apply
now page for more information and
our contact details.
Teaching
Schedules and Placement Allocation
Volunteers
are currently needed for all teaching and community placements, and
so allocation to one placement or the other will depend on how many
volunteers are due to be taking part at any one time. For those who
are taking part in the project specifically to gain experience in a
chosen area, e.g. primary school teaching, then we will do our best
to allocate you with a suitable placement.
Timetables differ depending on volunteers and specific projects.
Most community project placements however, include a Monday to
Saturday timetable, with three to five hours of work each day.
Each volunteer will receive a copy of their individual timetable
shortly before departure to Mexico, allowing for last minute
changes in schedule.
Volunteers do not need to be qualified teachers in order to take
part in these projects. When teaching children, volunteers will act
as a classroom assistant. Each volunteer will receive an introduction
to their teaching project and the teachers and students in their
placement school upon arrival in Mexico.
If
you are interested in any of our projects, please go to the apply
now page for more information and our contact details.
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Special Education
The Centro
de Atención Múltiple
(C.A.M.) opened for
students in December 2000. This is the only school for children
with special needs within the Cihuatlán district. The
students of C.A.M. present the need for special education due
to a disability that either prevents their integration into
the regular school system or requires complementary support.
There are currently 46 students with various disabilities including autism, downs
syndrome and cerebral palsy. Since construction of the school, very little financial
aid is provided by the government. It has been the hard work of the staff and
parents to keep the school running. |
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Having
had the help of two interns from Canada, C.A.M. were searching
for year round support in the form of volunteers. Experience
MexECO has now established a relationship with the
school, where our volunteers will support permanent teaching
staff. We also look for volunteers with qualifications and
experience allowing them to bring specialized support to the
school, such as physiotherapy or speech therapy.
Experience MexECO volunteers will be part
of the C.A.M. staff team working with the children. This
is a very demanding placement that gives a real sense of
satisfaction and allows the volunteers to get involved
in the strong community group that endeavours to keep C.A.M.
thriving.
Click
here to visit the C.A.M website |
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If
you are interested in any of our projects, please go to the apply
now page for more information and
our contact details.
Back
to top |
