WORKCAMPS IN MEXICO

In 2007 OIKOS organises in collaboration with Vive Mexico, a local non-profit organisation, several workcamps in Mexico.

The fee of participation (including the annual membership-card of OIKOS) is 80,00 Euro and has to be paid when applying for a camp. 
The camp-fee (including board and lodging) is from 190,00 to 210,00 Euro and has to be paid to the camp-coordinator on arrival in Mexico.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

 Our Philosophy consist of involving young people of different nationalities in projects focused in aid and cooperation with the objective to provide a space where the energy and creativity of them can be channeled in a background that promotes the brotherhood and solidarity between the nations of the world, and at the same time, help them to create a consciousness of the problems that are a human responsibility, by inviting them to take part in an activity to help our planet. 

Our objectives are:

• Promote a cultural exchange between young people of different nationalities and backgrounds.

• Provide a unique and original way to discover all that Mexico has to offer.

• Give to the young Mexicans the opportunity to participate in international workcamps around the world through our partner organizations.

• Promote and develop voluntary service in Mexico as a mean of solving social, cultural and ecological problems in our country.

 

GENERAL CONDITIONS ABOUT THE PROJECTS

•  Volunteers must be 18 or older.

• English is the official language inside the groups but due to the nature of some of the projects a basic knowledge of Spanish could be required.

• It would be very good if volunteers could come with a preparation for projects in  Latin American countries in order to reduce the cultural shock, but also all volunteers will have an orientation session the first day of each workcamp.

• We ask the volunteers to stay during the whole duration of the project.

• The departure day for the group will be the last day of the workcamp.

• Volunteers will need to bring sleeping bag and air mattress.

• Volunteers have to pay the Fee of the projects at their arrival on the projects, in the info sheet it will be mentioned in which currency. For the projects taking place in Mexico, they can also send the money from their country before hand, this is well explained in the info-sheets.

• Volunteers are working 5 days a week between 4 and 6 hours a day. Generally on the week ends the group will visits different part of the region where they will be.

• In all the projects the volunteers will be self managed with the help of the leaders. They will cook their food, clean their lodging and decide together what kind of food to buy, and how to use their budget for  the leisure time.

• Volunteers have to be open minded and flexible about Mexican culture and food.

SPANISH COURSE

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS

Very important information for all the volunteers accepted in the VIVE Mexico Projects

Vive Mexico besides the workcamp it self; gives the opportunity to take part in an Intensive Course of Spanish for all the volunteers interested. 

This activity is organized 7 days before the starting date of each camp. The volunteers MUST GO to the city of Morelia to take part in it. After participating, the volunteer must travel to his/her project meeting point. 

The costs for the Spanish language course is: 150,00 Euro
This cost includes.

• Hosting for 7 days and 6 nights in one house of the city with all facilities at your disposal

• Materials needed for the course (books of theory, books for exercises, etc.)

• Intensive Spanish classes given by a professional Spanish teacher in the city of Morelia.

This cost is very cheap compared with the traditional language courses in the private schools of Spanish in Mexico and the people giving the course are professional teachers of Spanish, the classes are 3 hours a day during 5 days and the participants have a lot of home work to do. 

There will be a free day generally on Sunday, to give the chance to the participants to visit the nearby towns and interesting places and to know better each other.

The volunteers have to indicate in the confirmation slip if they will participate in these activities and in which dates.

TO PARTICIPATE TO A WORKCAMP CLICK HERE

Project: Since 1996 Vive Mexico had been organizing this project together with the Michoacan University and now with the local people of Colola Beach the international volunteers participate in a program to protect the Marine Turtles, this year the volunteers will work with the people of Colola village to protect the sea turtles, there are two kinds of turtles that arrive in the beach, the Negra (Black Turtle) and the Golfina (Olive Riddle Turtle) the people involved in the project helps by collecting eggs, burying them in the turtle camp, taking care of the baby turtles and doing some work collecting statistical information.

In this frame a group of international volunteers will be involved in the project, as members of the staff, which means that the volunteers will be very involved in the project and the work.

The goal of this project is to protect the turtles and to help to run the conservation activities of the protection turtle program promoting the international cooperation and international solidarity.

Work: The main work consists in collecting turtle eggs, burying them again in a secure place, and transporting the baby turtles safely to the sea. This will be carried out at night since the turtles do not get out of the ocean during the day (because of their natural predators it is safer for the turtles go out the ocean in the dark), together with the people from Colola Village the volunteers will seek for the turtles and take care of the eggs and the baby turtles locals are very friendly and work with the group and explain them what to do. We need for this camp very motivated volunteers who really want to get involved with the work of protection of the turtle.

There are also some extra activities to do with the local people to help to improve the town like setting names to the streets of the town or helping to arrange a multi use play ground for the children and maybe some cleaning work but this depends on your initiative! The people of the town is very open to participate in other activities the group of volunteers can propose to them so your ideas will be welcomed!

Location: Colola town is a small village located in the Michoacan State coast, between Maruata and La Placita towns since 1980 a program to Project the marine turtles has been running by the people of the Village and Vive Mexico has been linking Internacional Volunteers to this programs since 1997, Colola is an isolated village that offers an excellent opportunity to be close to nature, in a virgin beach, with no tourism arounds, the closest city is Tecoman at 200 Kilometer but other villages such as La Placita that are closer can offer internet connection
Closest Airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay at the turtle camp, it is a wooden construction made of coco tree palms, it is safe and very fresh (needed in the warm weather of the beach!!!) there are beds, kitchen, a rustic bathroom and a place to store food but there is no electricity and it is necessary to bring sleeping bag the place is basic but functional and it is located 10 minutes walking from Colola town where you can find more services (see below)

Language: The official language of the workcamp is English. Some Spanish would be appreciated.

Fee:210,00  Euro

Project:The community of “El Calabozo” is a small town located in the Senguio Municipality, very close to the border of the Michoacan and Mexico States (at the north) it is a place where every year millions of Monarch Butterflies arrive from Canada to spend winter in the forests, this can bring many benefits however the communities are poor and Vive Mexico with local organizations are looking forward to create activities that mean an improvement for this people lives, TPG is an organization of graphic design that helps this activities by giving the local inhabits training courses and helping to create a option to improve the life of local inhabits using graphic design .

With this project a very basic community factory has been established to promote the fair trade and the creation of jobs for the indigenous people of the community. This community factory made possible to do activities of printing and seam where the integrants of the community produce diverse goods (t-shirts, cabs, dresses, etc) with the motives of the Monarch Butterflies and then the community can sell them to the tourists that visit the natural reserve every year. In this frame, international volunteers are invited to participate in the activities to improve the work of the community factory and to increase the interest of other people from the community to join this initiative

Work: Volunteers will help to improve the community center (painting, construction, cleaning, etc), also they will work with the indigenous people of the community to help in the productive activities of the community factory (printing and arming notebooks, stamp t-shirts, packing goods, etc). Also , volunteers will participate in the creation of organic plots and some reforestation activities in the area and will organize workshops for the locals to speak about how they can improve their attention to the local tourists and orientate them on how they can sell the goods they produce to the  tourism. For this project we need very motivated volunteers who appreciate the indigenous people and how the fair trade can mean a solution for the problems of poor communities.

Location: The community of “El Calabozo” is a small town located in the Senguio Municipality, very close to the border of the Michoacan and Mexico States (at the north) it is a place where every year millions of Monarch Butterflies arrive from Canada to spend winter in the forests.
Closest Airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a community house, it has electricity, bathroom, shower, kitchen and all facilities at disposal but there are no beds and there is no hot water, please bring your sleeping bad and air mat.

Language: The official language of the workcamp is English. Some Spanish would be appreciated.

Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Lazaro Cardenas City is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also due to the location of the University they manage many ecological activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in different ecological and cultural activities with the students of the university, this project is aimed to promote the preservation of the ecological environment and to promote the intercultural exchange between the local students and the international volunteers.

Work: Volunteers will participate in different activities such as the creation of creative signs to promote messages to motivate the local people to take care of the beach and not throw garbage, volunteers will do this together with local youngsters and also will help in some cleaning activities, if it is possible, volunteers also help to create a iguanario, which is a place where to breed green iguanas since they are endangered and they are a icon of the local fauna

Location: Lazaro Cardenas is a city in the pacific coast of Mexico, it has 160,000 inhabits and counts with all the modern services, it is located very close to beautiful places in the Mexican coast.
Closest airport: Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a house of Lazaro Cardenas City with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: This project is organized in cooperation with the local host organization called --Escuela Primaria Rural “Francisco I. Madero”-- which is located in Zacapu city, it is a elementary school for children it is a school where a strong part of their philosophy consists in to develop the capacities and the values of the students and to have a local impact in their communities, thus this, the school normally organizes diverse activities to promote the active participation of the students and the parents of the students in the daily life of the town, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in the activities of the school and to interact with the local people and the students to promote an intercultural exchange, volunteers will help in diverse  social activities, support to the organization of activities with local people, improve the conditions of the school, and promote a intercultural exchange with the local people.

Work: Volunteers will help by painting murals in the school and in the classrooms and will help in the organization (and participation!!!) in different social events with the local people.

Location: La Angostura is a little town located very close to Zacapu city (1 Kilometer)  located in the North part of Michoacan State, it is surrounded by beautiful forests and there are archaeological sites, water parks and lakes close to it.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a house of the town with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The project has been founded in 1996 together with the University of Michoacan, now Vive Mexico organizes workcamps together with the locals all over the year. The international volunteers participate in a program to protect the Marine Turtles, this year the volunteers will work with the people of Colola village to protect the sea turtles. There are two kinds of turtles that arrive in the beach, the Negra (Black Turtle) and the Golfina (Olive Riddle Turtle) the people involved in the project help by collecting eggs, burying them in the turtle camp, taking care of the baby turtles and doing some work collecting statistical information.

In this frame a group of international volunteers will be involved in the project, as members of the staff, which means that the volunteers will be very involved in the project and the work.

The goal of this project is to protect the turtles and to help to run the conservation activities of the protection turtle program promoting the international cooperation and international solidarity.

Work: The main work consists in collecting turtle eggs, burying them again in a secure place, and transporting the baby turtles safely to the sea. This will be carried out at night since the turtles do not get out of the ocean during the day (because of their natural predators it is safer for the turtles go out the ocean in the dark), together with the people from Colola Village the volunteers will seek for the turtles and take care of the eggs and the baby turtles locals are very friendly and work with the group and explain them what to do. We need for this camp very motivated volunteers who really want to get involved with the work of protection of the turtle.

There are also some extra activities to do with the local people to help to improve the town like setting names to the streets of the town or helping to arrange a multi use play ground for the children and maybe some cleaning work but this depends on your initiative! The people of the town is very open to participate in other activities the group of volunteers can propose to them so your ideas will be welcomed!

Location: Colola town is a small village located in the Michoacan State coast, between Maruata and La Placita towns. Since 1980 a program to project the marine turtles has been running by the people of the Village. Vive Mexico has been linking International Volunteers to this program since 1997.
Colola is an isolated village that offers an excellent opportunity to be close to nature, in a virgin beach, with no tourism around. The closest city is Tecoman at 200 kilometers but other villages such as La Placita are closer (45 minutes by bus) and offer internet connection.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay at the turtle camp, it is a wooden construction made of coco tree palms, it is safe and very fresh (needed in the warm weather of the beach!!!) there are wooden beds (no mattresses!), a kitchen, a rustic bathroom and a place to store food. There is just some electricity (to run some lamps) and it is necessary to bring sleeping bag and mattress. The place is basic but functional and it is located 20 to 30 minutes walking from Colola town where you can find more services (see below).

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project:: This project is co-ordinated with the Union of Farmers and Craftsmen of Mintontic town, in Chiapas, this organization was created with the objective to support indigenous people who seeds and create handicrafts with orientation for the production of these goods but also helping to the commercialization of the products. Also another important part of its work is to promote social and cultural activities for the local people, in this frame they are inviting a group of international volunteers to participate in this activities and invite also local people to participate more actively in the activities to develop the Mitontic town, besides of this it is very important for the Union of Farmers to have an international group due to the intercultural exchange with the local people of Chiapas

Work: Volunteers will help by renovating a elementary school with the objective to provide a better space for the children to study, also they will help in the creation of local plots and workshops with local youngsters to promote the intercultural exchange of ideas, if there is enough time volunteers will also organize a small theater play of intercultural expressions.

Location: Mitontic is a small town located close to San Cristobal de las Casas town, it is a isolated village that shows life style of the indigenous people of Chiapas, close to nature and very beautiful places
Closest airport: Tuxtla International Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a local school that will be arranged for them there is no hot water (thus is not needed in the warm weather of Chiapas) and there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and air mat.

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: This project is co-ordinated in cooperation with the local government of the city of Valle de Bravo, one of the most beautiful natural places of Mexico!.  it has a wonderful lake and beautiful mountains which make it a perfect spot to practice activities close to nature, the local municipality has the responsibility to take care of the local conditions and the life quality of the local people of Valle de Bravo, they develop many activities, ecological, social, cultural and educational programs are held every year, in this frame the local government is inviting a group of International Volunteers to participate in diverse activities to get to know Valle de Bravo and also to help trough the international co-operation for the well being of this beautiful place of Mexico.

Valle de Bravo had been since many years the place where the “Souls Festival” is organized every year in the last week of October, the volunteers will help in the preparation of the town to receive the visitors and to have it ready for the festival.

Work: Volunteers with local volunteers will help paining the front of the houses of the town, and to paint signs for handicapped people, they will do this activities with local volunteers and people from the local government and after the camp the volunteers are invited to enjoy the festival!

Location: : Valle de Bravo is located in some kind of step between the high mountain and the low lands of the states of Michoacán and Mexico State, at 1,800 meters above sea level, culturally speaking is the transition place among the Nahuatl, Matlazinca and Purhepecha cultures, those languages can still be heard spoken in the local markets the Sundays, it is a place surrounded by a beautiful natural environment.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds so please bring a sleeping bag and air mat)

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: In Mexico there are 5 different species of marine turtles that arrive to the Coasts and all of them are endangered. Many organizations and communities are working to protect this magic animals and Isla de Pajaros is a beautiful spot, close to nature, where a small community is settled and they started a program to protect the turtles, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in this activities and help this wonderful program, after very good experiences in the past the local community wants to invite again international volunteers.

Work: The objective of the camp is to guarantee the preservation of the sea turtles that arrive to our zone.  Through actions which protect the female turtles and their nests: Day and night brigades  to collect eggs and deliver them to the camp and assure the female turtle returns to the sea.
Put the eggs in the incubator and register data.  Check the nests and register survival data. Free baby turtles. Volunteers will also participate in workshops with other communities along the coast to speak about the importance to protect the marine turtles

Location: Isla de Pajaros is an island very close to the Mexican coast specifically in Playa Michigan (Michigan Beach) 40 people in Isla de Pajaros they work in “Enramadas” (coco tree palm constructions) to attend the tourism but they are very close to Tecpan de Galeana a city in the coast only 20 minutes from Isla de Pajaros, this is a marvelous spot with wonderful people living and caring the turtles.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: The volunteers will be host in a camping place. It is basic but functional there is no hot water or electricity please bring your sleeping bag and air mat.

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Michoacan is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also the university manage many ecological activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in different ecological and cultural activities with the students of the university after two very successful workcamps in the 2005

Work: The volunteers will help in activities to rescue some natural areas in the surroundings of the city such as reforestation activities  and help in the promotion of the sustainable tourism the volunteers will participate in workshops and activities to promote the protection of the environment and awareness toward the voluntary service activities as a tool to help in the solution of this problems. Also the volunteers will help in reforestation activities in a ecological ranch in the outside of Morelia city, this ranch is called the “La Planta” (the plant) and they have a wonderful space where children of the city of Morelia can be close to nature and learn about the importance of taking care of the environment. At the university the volunteers will make environmental signs to locate them in areas of the campus and also will help on the reforestation if some areas of the green spaces of the university

Location: Morelia is a beautiful historic city, and capital of the state of Michoacan. Founded almost 500 years ago, the city has a wonderful central zone with buildings dating back to the time of the Spanish conquest as well as all the more modern attributes (shops, bars cafes etc). The city´s populations is over 1 million and the climate is moderately warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20-35º C. Morelia well connected to a variety of great places to  visit, such as Patzcuaro, and the ancient Purepecha capital Tzintzunzan.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: 2 weeks in a house of Morelia with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat) and 1 week in tents in the ecological ranch La planta.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Zamora is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also the university manage many ecological activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in co-operation with the local students in different ecological and cultural activities with the students of the university, volunteers are also invited to learn how to make traditional pottery handicrafts and also watch and play the “Juego de la Pelota Caliente” – Game of the fire ball – a pre-hispanic game of Mexican indigenous.

Work: The volunteers will help in activities to improve the conditions of the local environment such as maintenance of trees, reforestation activities and designing and making signs to set them at the green areas of the University

Location: Zamora city was founded in 1574 by the King of Spain when the Mexico conquer, its official name is Zamora de Hidalgo which was the name given to the city after the Mexico Independence, it was a nice weather (not hot or cold) and it is a very rich region for farmers very famous for its extraordinary strawberries.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Zitacuaro is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also the university manages many ecological activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in co-operation with the local students in different ecological activities and restoration activities inside the School and also to promote intercultural exchange activities among the participants and the local people.

Work: The volunteers will help in reforestation activities inside the University, they will work together with local students and they will also help to organize some cultural activities to promote the integration of the international volunteers with the local students, in an international atmosphere!. Volunteers and students will also paint some parts of the school.

Location: Zitacuaro town is called “The Independence City” by a presidential statement since 1868 and the Heroic Zitacuaro since 1874, there is a archaeological zone very close to it called “San Felipe los Alzati” of Mazatlinca culture origin, and there is also the first Franciscan Convent built in the region (built in the VI century), Zitacuaro is it Surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests and is very close to lakes, archaeological ruins and cultural spots in the region.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

 Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Los Reyes is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also the university manages many ecological activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues, las year there was a fire that destroyed the trees in the green areas of the University in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in co-operation with the local students in different ecological and restoration activities inside the School and also to promote intercultural exchange activities among the participants and the local people.

Work: The volunteers will help in reforestation activities inside the University, they will work together with local students and they will also help to organize some cultural activities to promote the integration of the international volunteers with the local students, in an international atmosphere!.

Location: Los Reyes City, was officialy founded in 1954, however this place had been existing since 1859 formerly known as “Villa de Salgado”, Los Reyes is the head city of the Municipality and the population is Mestiza (that means descendents from Spanish and Indigenous people) it is a very rich place for farmers and quite famous for many different fruit plantations (such as peaches, strawberries and blueberries), it is located very close to beautiful spots such as cascades, a extinct volcano called “Paricutin” that erupted 50 years ago leaving only the ruins of Paricutin town which can still be seeing and visited and they are one of the main touristic attractions in Michoacan state.
Closest airport: Guadalajara City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a community center with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientific and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecological Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this project a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in activities to promote the use of organic materials to improve the production of vegetables of the town as part of the studies made in the school.

Work: Volunteers will participate in activities togheder with local students to collect organic materials to produce compost, as well as the test for crfeative ways to improve the quality of the land, if you can come with your own ideas about this it would be brilliant!!, also volunteers will participate in activities to promote the intercultural exchanges and social integration with the local students and people of the town.

Location: San Lucas is a town located in Michoacan state, it is located in a warm area of the state and it has around 19,000 inhabits, this town has received groups of international volunteers for 5 years.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in the local school with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds please bring your sleeping bag and air mat.

Fee:190,00 Euro

Project: The institute for the youth development of the City of Morelia (IJUM) is a part of the local government which has been working with Vive Mexico since 6 years ago, together VIVE and the IJUM  had carried out many activities to promote the active participation of the youngsters in activities where the youth can be a change agent and a active member of the communities, under this frame groups of International Volunteers are involved in many activities with the local youngsters of the city, in this project, the aim is to participate in activities related with children and  the ancient Purephecha culture. Every summer groups of Children participate in many workshops coordinated and organized by the local government to participate in many activities such as sports, community projects, old traditions and cultures, etc

Work: The volunteers will participate in the workshops with the children together with the staff of the institute for the youngsters and help with the facilitation of the activities and the organization of the games for the children (if you can come with things for children from your country that you can show them to the children in Mexico would be brilliant!!)

Location: Morelia is a beautiful historic city, and capital of the state of Michoacán. Founded almost 500 years ago, the city has a wonderful central zone with buildings dating back to the time of the Spanish conquest as well as all the more modern attributes (shops, bars cafés etc). The city´s populations is over 1 million and the climate is moderately warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20-35º C. Morelia well connected to a variety of great places to  visit, such as Pátzcuaro, and the ancient Purépecha capital Tzintzunzan.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: The accommodation will be organized in a big house in the city of Morelia with all facilities at disposal, beds, toilet, hot water, kitchen and showers. Please bring your sleeping bag.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunites, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecologiclal Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village. The volunteers will participate in activities with the local ecological group of the school as well in intercultural workshops

Work: Participate in cleaning campaigns in the town with students of the CECEYTEM school and organization of language and culture workshops to interchange points of view and opinions of different issues.

Location: Alvaro Obregon is a small community located very close from Morelia city, it has nice weather and nice people, it is a rural town but offers very close to (20 kilometers) it all the comforts and serviced of Morelia city one of the most beautiful cities of Mexico
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: The hosting place will be a particular house of the town with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and air mat

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The Tecnological University of Leon, Guanajuato is an institution that works towards the formation of the youngsters and they organize many activities for the education of the youth. Also the university manages many ecological and social activities to promote the awareness toward the environmental issues in the region but also to promote de development of the local communities around the University as a contribution of the institute to the improvement of the quality of life of the region where they work, in this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in co-operation with the local students in different ecological  and social activities in the University and the Surrounding communities.

Work: The volunteers will help in reforestation activities inside the University, and the recollection of clothes and medicines to give to the inhabits of the marginated communities of the region, volunteers will work together with local students in this activities.

Location: The city of León – officially named León de los Aldama – is the fifth most populous city in Mexico and the largest city in the state of Guanajuato; it is also the seat of León municipality. Also known as the The Shoe Capital, it features large factories that not only produce shoes, but also boots, belts, jackets, and other leather accessories, serving both national and international markets.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds please bring your sleeping bad and air mat).

 Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: The community of “El Calabozo” is a small town located in the Senguio Municipality, very close to the border of the Michoacan and Mexico States (at the north) it is a place where every year millions of Monarch Butterflies arrive from Canada to spend winter in the forests, this can bring many benefits however the communities are poor and Vive Mexico with local organizations are looking forward to create activities that mean an improvement for this people lives, TPG is an organization of graphic design that helps this activities by giving the local inhabits training courses and helping to create a option to improve the life of local inhabits using graphic design .

With this project a very basic community factory has been established to promote the creation of jobs for the indigenous people of the community. This community factory made possible to do activities of printing and seam where the integrants of the community produce diverse goods (t-shirts, cabs, dresses, etc) with the motives of the Monarch Butterflies and then the community can sell them to the tourists that visit the natural reserve every year. In this frame, international volunteers are invited to participate in the activities to improve the work of the community factory and to increase the interest of other people from the community to join this initiative

Work: Volunteers will help to improve the community center (painting, construction, cleaning, etc), also they will work with the indigenous people of the community to help in the productive activities of the community factory (printing and arming notebooks, stamp t-shirts, packing goods, etc). Also , volunteers will participate in the creation of organic plots and some reforestation activities in the area and will organize workshops for the locals to speak about how they can improve their attention to the local tourists and orientate them on how they can sell the goods they produce to the  tourism. For this project we need very motivated volunteers who appreciate the indigenous people and how the fair trade can mean a solution for the problems of poor communities.

Location: The community of “El Calabozo” is a small town located in the Senguio Municipality, very close to the border of the Michoacan and Mexico States (at the north) it is a place where every year millions of Monarch Butterflies arrive from Canada to spend winter in the forests.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a community house, it has electricity, bathroom, shower, kitchen and all facilities at disposal but there are no beds and there is no hot water, please bring your sleeping bad and air mat.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecological Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this project a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in cultural activities to promote the awareness about the importance to take care of the environment.

Work: Volunteers with students from the school will paint a mural that communicates the importance to care about the environment also the volunteers will participate in workshops to speak about Recycling, Reforestation, Compost, etc. Volunteers will also organize informal chats with local indigenous people to research about their way of life and their culture inside the ethnic groups, some language classes will also be organized n the town

Location: Purepero is a small town where 1,500 people lives, it is located at 1 hour of Zamora City
Closest airport: Guadalajara City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house of the town with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and air mat.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this project a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in cultural activities to promote the awareness about the importance to take care of the environment.

Work: Volunteers with students from the school will participate in different activities, workshops for intercultural exchange, theater plays, language lessons (English to Spanish and Spanish to English) etc. the idea of this camp is to promote the cultural exchange of ideas and points of view among the international volunteers and the local students, there will also be some sport events and workshops for traditional dances of Mexico.

Location: Puruandiro is a nice city located close to Morelia, it is close to many touristic attractions and famous for its Christmas Hadicrafts
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house of the town with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and air mat.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientific and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecological Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this project a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in cultural activities to promote the awareness about the importance to take care of the environment. In this project the International group of volunteers is invited to participate in activities to create awareness among the students of the school about the importance to preserve the forests of the zone, because Ciudad Hidalgo is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and forests there is a serious problem of illegal cut of trees and the youngsters are the future owners of the land (right now are their parents) and it is important to create this sensibility in them since the actual owners (normally the parents of the youngsters) do not have education and by because of this they do not pay the attention that should be given to the matter of preserving the forests as a removable resource.

Work: Reforestation activities in diverse zones of the town, visits and informal chats in schools of the town to speak about the problem if the illegal cutting of trees and also cleaning campaigns in the town, cleaning campaigns and restoration (paint) some areas of the schooll, there will also be some informal language workshops and  all the activities will include students from the CECYTEM School.

Location: Ciudad Hidalgo is a town located in the mountains between Michoacan and Mexico States, is is surrounded by beautiful forests and landscapes
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house from the town with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds so please brig your sleep bag and air mat

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunites, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecologiclal Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village. In this project the school aims to make a cover to the roof of the a parking place in the school using recycled materials with the students and they want to invite a group of international volunteers to join this experience!

Work: Cerate an “eco-shadow” to create a parking place in the school using recycling techniques it is a project that has been working for many years and the school is quite experiences in this kind of activities, it is fun and very interesting

Location: Apatzingan is a small city located close to Uruapan city in Michoacan State, it has all the services of the modern cities and the workcamp will take place in a community in the surrounding area of Apatzingan called Chandio wich is very nice and has a lake close to it, there are many leisure activities that can be organized.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: A particular house with all facilities at disposal, there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and air mat

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project:This project is coordinated with the secretary for the protection of the natural resources of the state of Michoacan, they are in charge of the program for the protection of Marine Turtles in the Michoacan Beach at the Pacific Coast, they manage the Marine Turtle Conservation and Protection Center, which is in charge of protecting the different species of Marine Turtles that arrive to the Beach, in this frame they are inviting a group of international volunteers to participate with the local people in the activities to protect the marine turtles from extinction.

Work: The main work consists in collecting turtle eggs, burying them again in a secure place, and transporting the baby turtles safely to the sea. This will be carried out at night since the turtles do not get out of the ocean during the day (because of their natural predators it is safer for the turtles go out the ocean in the dark), together with the people of Playa Azul Village the volunteers will seek for the turtles and take care of the eggs and the baby turtles locals are very friendly and work with the group and explain them what to do. We need for this camp very motivated volunteers who really want to get involved with the work of protection of the turtle.

There are also some extra activities to do with the local people to help to improve the town like setting names to the streets of the town or helping to arrange a multi use play ground for the children and maybe some cleaning work but this depends on your initiative! The people of the town is very open to participate in other activities the group of volunteers can propose to them so your ideas will be welcomed!

Location: Playa Azul is a very well known beach and has all the modern services, it is visited for many people and it is famous for its beautiful environment and the activities to protect the marine turtles
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a community Center with all facilities at disposal but  there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag and Air Mat.

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: This project is co-ordinated in cooperation with the local government of the city of Valle de Bravo, one of the most beautiful natural places of Mexico!.  it has a wonderful lake and beautiful mountains which make it a perfect spot to practice activities close to nature, the local municipality has the responsibility to take care of the local conditions and the life quality of the local people of Valle de Bravo, they develop many activities, ecological, social, cultural and educational programs are held every year, in this frame the local government is inviting a group of International Volunteers to participate in diverse activities to get to know Valle de Bravo and also to help trough the international co-operation for the well being of this beautiful place of Mexico.

Work: Volunteers will participate in activities to renovate a typical place called Villa Colorines, due to the quick growth of this place some parts need to be renovated, volunteers will help with some painting activities in the local houses of the town they will also help to improve green areas and participate in different intercultural workshops with the local people of Villa Colorines

Location: Valle de Bravo is located in some kind of step between the high mountain and the low lands of the states of Michoacán and Mexico State, at 1,800 meters above sea level, culturally speaking is the transition place among the Nahuatl, Matlazinca and Purhepecha cultures, those languages can still be heard spoken in the local markets the Sundays, it is a place surrounded by a beautiful natural environment.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds so please bring a sleeping bag and air mat)

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecologiclal Cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this frame a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in many activities, including reforestation of some areas of the town, to organize cultural activities such as theater, sing, dance, in the Huandacareo square together with students from the CECYTEM and also to participate in ecological workshops with youngsters from the town

Work: Volunteers will organize and participate together with local students in cultural activities such as theater plays and music events in the town, participation in reforestation activities and ecological campaigns in the town volunteers will also help in the restoration of an archaeological site.

Location: Huandacareo is a very nice town located close to Morelia city, it is famous for is water parks, it has the flavor of the rural communities of Mexico but it has all the facilities and services of the modern cities
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house with all facilities at disposal, there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: This project is co-ordinated in cooperation with the local government of the city of Valle de Bravo, one of the most beautiful natural places of Mexico!.  it has a wonderful lake and beautiful mountains which make it a perfect spot to practice activities close to nature, the local municipality has the responsibility to take care of the local conditions and the life quality of the local people of Valle de Bravo, they develop many activities, ecological, social, cultural and educational programs are held every year, in this frame the local government is inviting a group of International Volunteers to participate in diverse activities to get to know Valle de Bravo and also to help trough the international co-operation for the well being of this beautiful place of Mexico.

Valle de Bravo had been since many years the place where the “Souls Festival” is organized every year in the last week of October, the volunteers will help in the preparation of the town to receive the visitors and to have it ready for the festival.

Work: Volunteers with local volunteers will help paining the front of the houses of the town, and to paint signs for handicapped people, they will do this activities with local volunteers and people from the local government and after the camp the volunteers are invited to enjoy the festival!

Location: Valle de Bravo is located in some kind of step between the high mountain and the low lands of the states of Michoacán and Mexico State, at 1,800 meters above sea level, culturally speaking is the transition place among the Nahuatl, Matlazinca and Purhepecha cultures, those languages can still be heard spoken in the local markets the Sundays, it is a place surrounded by a beautiful natural environment.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds so please bring a sleeping bag and air mat)

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities since in the village called Tzintzuintzan a new school will be build it is an event that can gather together the volunteers and the local students, since Tzintzuntzan is a very rich archaeological site very famous for its Purephecha culture ruins and its lake. It is a magical town.

Work: Volunteers will organize and participate together with local students in activities to search for archaeological Items in the land where the new school will be build, this will be a project in a non-professional spirit, the idea is to discover a new culture and learn about the local history.

Location: Tzintzuntzan is a very nice town located close to Morelia city, it is famous for its Purhepecha Culture Archaeological ruins and for the beautiful environment where is located, there is a lake called Patzcuaro very close and very nice spots to visit.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house with all facilities at disposal, there are no beds so please bring your sleeping bag

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientifoc and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities since in Caracuaro there is a rich archaeological site.

Work: Together with people from the town, and local students, volunteers will go on expeditions to discover archaeological sites and look for ancient archaeological items, clean them and improve the museum of the community build by the workcamps of last years.
The activities involve excavations, collecting the items, cleaning them, classifying them. There are items from ancient civilizations but also fossils. For the botanical garden, the volunteers will arrange a place in the school and collect the plants around the village. They will identify the medicinal species and plant them into the new created garden.
Some workshop will be organized with the local youngsters on different subjects, like language exchanges, cultural discussions, etc

Location: Caracuaro its a old town which name means “ a place in the hill” it comes from the Chichimeca old language, this culture was established there since many years ago and comes from the root “Carakua”
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a community house, it has electricity, bathroom, shower, kitchen and all facilities at disposal but there are no beds, please bring your sleeping bad and air mat.

Fee: 190,00 Euro

Project: This projects is co-ordinated with a organization called Tonalli, it is a organizations that works in many activities to promote the sustainable development so fthe indigenous communities in Mexico, Vive Mexico has worked wit5h them in different projects with very god results. In this camp a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in activities with the community called “Mata de Platano” to help in a program that seeks to promote the creation of activities for the sustainable development.

Work: Volunteers will help in the construction of a community center that has already began to be build by the local people, and volunteers will also help to the creation of a place that can receive tourists as a camping zone since Mata de Platano community is surrounded by very beautiful natural environment.

Location: The community of “Mata de Platano” is a small town located in the La Huacana Municipality
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in a community house, it has electricity, bathroom, shower, kitchen and all facilities at disposal but there are no beds and there is no hot water, please bring your sleeping bad and air mat.

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: This project is co-ordinated in cooperation with the local government of the city of Valle de Bravo, one of the most beautiful natural places of Mexico!.  it has a wonderful lake and beautiful mountains which make it a perfect spot to practice activities close to nature, the local municipality has the responsibility to take care of the local conditions and the life quality of the local people of Valle de Bravo, they develop many activities, ecological, social, cultural and educational programs are held every year, in this frame the local government is inviting a group of International Volunteers to participate in diverse activities to get to know Valle de Bravo and also to help trough the international co-operation for the well being of this beautiful place of Mexico.

Work: The group of  international Volunteers  together with groups of local volunteers will help in marginated zones of the town by helping the local people to put new roofs to their houses with a special material which Spanish the material is called “Ferro-Cemento”, and also will participate in many festivities related to Christmas time.

Location: Valle de Bravo is located in some kind of step between the high mountain and the low lands of the states of Michoacán and Mexico State, at 1,800 meters above sea level, culturally speaking is the transition place among the Nahuatl, Matlazinca and Purhepecha cultures, those languages can still be heard spoken in the local markets the Sundays, it is a place surrounded by a beautiful natural environment.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all facilities at disposal (there are no beds so please bring a sleeping bag and air mat)

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: This project is coordinated with the secretary for the protection of the natural resources of the state of Michoacan, they are in charge of the program for the protection of the Nature and Fishing resources of Michoacan State, they manage a protection program of the white fish in a place called Patzcuaro Lake, Patzcuaro is a very beautiful town in the center of the state of Michoacan, well known since it is one of the most beautiful towns of Mexico, is one of the magical towns of Mexico (there is a program that pinpoint the 20 magical towns of Mexico and Patzcuaro is one of them), besides the town is the lake and there had been some problems due to pollution that is killing the white fish a specie that is very important since many people live from the fishing, in this frame the secretary for the protection of the Natural Resources of the State of Michoacan in inviting a group of volunteers to participate with local people in the activities of the program for the protection of the white fish in Patzcuaro Lake. Volunteers will stay in one of the Islands in the lake called Yunuen

Work: The main work consist in capturing the fish in the lake and to put them in a safe environment to produce eggs, once the baby fishes hatch the volunteers will help to release them in the lake to re-populate the lake

Location: Patzcuaro town is a place with enormous importance in the historical development of Michoacan State, its name means “Place of Cues” wish are indigenous temples. It was the capital city of the Purhepecha culture it is a very famous and beautiful town oof Michoacan state.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in Tents, all facilities are close to the camping site and there are houses of the local people who lives in the island (volunteers will stay at the tent but they can use the facilities of the houses if they need them).

Fee: 210,00 Euro

Project: The CECYTEM (Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnologicos del Estado de Michoacan – Scientific and Technological Studies College--) is an institution that works in different communities of Michoacan State, the education is an important tool to improve the life of the people in any country and this school is aimed to bring formal education to isolated communities where there are many social problems, lack of work or where youngsters immigrate to the USA looking fore more opportunities, the school give to the youngsters tools and experience to develop their lives in the town and to help to improve it in this frame a group of International Volunteers is invited to participate in different activities (ecological cultural and social activities) in the town together with the students of the school and the people who lives in the village.

In this project a group of international volunteers is invited to participate in cultural activities to promote the awareness about the importance to take care of the environment as well as in maintenance activities inside the school

Work: Volunteers with local students will realize some reforestation activities in diverse zones of the town, visits and informal chats in schools of the town to speak about the ecological problems in order to promote the awareness to protect the environment, besides of this volunteers will participate painting some parts of the school.

Location: Senguio town is located inside the Mazahua culture region and it has boundaries also with the Puhrepecha and Aztec Cultures, it was conquered by the Spanish in 1522. It is surrounded of forests in a ncie an peaceful environment.
Closest airport: Mexico City Airport

Accommodation: In a particular house from the town with all facilities at disposal but there are no beds so please brig your sleep bag and air mat

Fee: 190,00 Euro

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