Animal Care Work in Mexico with Projects Abroad

  Mexico

• Guadalajara: 
Guadalajara

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year round

Description: The Animal Care Project in Mexico is very much a hands-on, practical placement for people who love animals!

There are opportunities in Mexico for those who want to get involved in looking after and caring for animals. Placements are suitable for anyone interested in volunteering abroad, including college students and those taking a gap year or career break. Volunteers are simply required to enjoy looking after animals and want to learn more about them!

Situated in the center of Guadalajara, we work in a special center for wild and domestic animals. It is a rescue center similar to the charity-run animal care centers in the US and Europe.

The center works in conjunction with Proteccion Civil - the local emergency service - who deliver injured, mistreated and abandoned animals to the center, either for permanent residence and care, or as part of a rehabilitation process before they are released back into the wild. There is a focus on birds - such as falcons, eagles, toucans, parrots and owls - and reptiles, but a range of other animals also live at the center.

Volunteering on an Animal Care Placement in Mexico with Projects Abroad

Shadowing the local animal workers will give you a real insight into the way a special rescue center works in Mexico. By showing initiative and a willingness to get involved, your experience will be very rewarding.

Our voluntary animal care placement in Mexico will give you access to invaluable work experience which will greatly enhance your résumé. You will gain many practical skills and develop as a person through having to adapt and be resourceful while living and working in a foreign country.

The practice that we work with deals with a range of animals. The staff is always overworked because of a general lack of available resources, and so the help of our volunteers is very much needed and appreciated. You will get involved in many areas; you will be feeding the animals, as well as cleaning and repairing enclosures. Volunteers also have the opportunity to assist the specialists in retraining the animals to live independently, helping them to improve skills they may have lost, or never fully developed, while in captivity.

Highlights: For your accommodation, you'll live with a Spanish speaking host-family, which is a great environment for developing and improving your language skills. All the families involved are extremely supportive of the projects carried out by Projects Abroad and are eager to experience an inter-cultural exchange and learn about the lives of volunteers.

Guadalajara, where we are based, is part of the West Central Highlands and has one of the most pleasant climates the country offers. The winters are moderately warm and the summers hot although not unbearably. With this wonderful climate, you will be able to explore all the beauty Mexico has to offer anytime of the year!

In addition, this project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: No qualifications, experience or Spanish necessary!

Cost in US$: From US$2,995 up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-70

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992