Helping & Learning how to Have a Clean City in Cuernavaca Mexico while learning Spanish!

  Mexico

• Cuernavaca: 
Cuernavaca

Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Dates: It starts every January and July of every year

Description: There's a huge need for people who would like to commit in this special area... our city has become in the last year very turistic, but also very dirty because our goverment doesn´t provide us with trash cans.

The work differs very much from section to section. The smaller streets and poor neighbors need to be cleaned out little by little. The kids might seem very independent and they often do their homework on their own as much as they can. However, they need to start doing something to change this aweful habit of trowing the trash on the ground all the time. We have to provide the children with a sense of stability. It is important to show the children that they are loved and that you will support them. Dont forget that most of our children have had traumatic experiences in their lives prior to their current lives. It means that they often need special support and understanding. Always set a good example by being optimistic. They need self-confidence and they will gain it if you show your appreciation for them.

Highlights: The work as a caretaker for the kids (here we call them tíos and tías which means uncles and aunts) is the most common volunteer job and it is our most basic need. Most houses have an employee and a volunteer working in each section. Part of the work is taking care of the basic needs of the kids, waking them up, getting them ready for school, supervising their chores, helping them with their homework, playing with them, going on excursions, putting them to bed, talking to them, and creating a family environment.

Being a tía in the Babies house is very different from being a tío or a tía with the older kids. Our babies' section consists of different groups of children aged from a few months or days up to 5 years. Tías in the baby section usually work from 6:30 in the morning to 7:00 at night. Work consists of fulfilling all the basic needs the kids might have, such as waking the kids up, showering them, taking them to the bathroom, dressing them, cooking for them, helping them eat, playing with them and much more. Once a month each tía has to stay for the night to take care of the kids. Working in the baby section is very hard as the kids need your full attention every second. Many of them have had traumatic experiences and need special attention. If you are interested in working in the babies section you should have Spanish skills, experience in working with (small) children and a lot of initiative (activities must be organized).

Besides being a volunteer, people can also bring donations such as toys, clothing, non-perishable food, powder milk, school material like: colors & crayons, paper, notebooks, books, pencils, etc... this is non-obligatory but will be fully appreciated.

Qualifications: No experience is necessary, the participants must be 21 years old and up, The only thing TLALOC does require from the participants is to speak Spanish in a false beginner level and up, otherwise, they'll have to acquire the language prior to their participation.

Everyone must bring different personal types of clothing for the different seasons and weather we have in Cuernavaca and Miacatlan, Morelos. The following items are recommended to bring: Umbrellas, sweaters and jackets, shorts, sandals, tennis shoes, caps or hats (sombreros), etc... sometimes the participants will be having excursions and/or trips within the town and out of town and the weather varies. Speaking Spanish good enough to get by is a must too.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: Depending on each case, please send an email for further details

Credit Available: yes

Salary / Pay: No pay is given in this area.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our previous participants have become acquainted not only with the language, but also with the culture, the costumes and traditions of Mexico in a daily basis, now, regarding taking care of the children at the orphanage, it can vary a lot depending on the desire of each participant. For instance, there are several ages and areas where a volunteer can help, it could be by taking care to little babies of 0 months old, all the way up to 17 years old. That's why the participants get an orientation right upon their arrival to Cuernavaca in order for them to decide which area to be part of.

Age Range: In most of the program's the participants must be 16 years old, but in this case 18 is a must

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

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of from 2 to 10 or more!

Scholarships are Available. We're always open to grand discounts to those participants who most need it, depending on each case that's how big the discount can be, it can be up to 75% off!

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Instituto de Idiomas e Intercambio Cultural TLALOC's Mission Statement: TLALOC's main purpose is to become a leading language school in teaching Spanish as a second language for foreigners the same as bringing volunteers from abroad with the mere purpose of helping those communities who most need it. TLALOC strives to help both, the local and foreign students to learn the language in a highly and effective method, especially Spanish in the way it is spoken in Mexico and English for the Mexican students with a motivated method that is at an affordable price. We also promote mutual cultural experience from Mexico's poorest towns within the state of Morelos. That's why TLALOC offers different volunteering and internship opportunities as a plus so that the participants can help out in making a big difference in the sorrounding poor communities that arise every day in Cuernavaca's City and the state of Morelos, Mexico. Donations are welcome!

Year Founded: October 2004