Kaya Volunteering Projects for Children in Mexico

  Mexico

• Oaxaca: 
Oaxaca

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: The first Saturday of every month

Description: Volunteering with children is one of the most rewarding areas to volunteer in as you can really help change the future of the children around you. Kaya has over 30 projects working with children spanning South America, Central America and Asia. Whether you are working in an orphanage, teaching English or working with abused children you have the chance to develop and equip the children with skills for a brighter future.

Equine Therapy With Disabled Kids in Mexico

This fantastic project combines physical and emotional therapy for kids with horse riding and equine care lessons. Equinotherapy is an alternative therapeutic method that uses horses and their environment for rehabilitating neurological and physical disabilities. While riding a horse, the children do physical exercises, while performing pedagogical activities. The benefits from equinotherapy are that the heat from the horse helps to loosen muscles for physical therapy; the children are engaged and can connect with the animals. Equinotherapy has been found to boost the children's self-esteem, improve attention, and teach control and respect.

Work in a Children's Shelter in Mexico

Provide care, attention, and mentoring to at-risk and special-needs children. The shelter supports and houses children from newborns to 18 years old. Most of these youths are abandoned, orphaned, removed from unhealthy homes, have severe to moderate physical disabilities, or recovering from addiction. The shelter is a safe place for these kids and provides them with schooling, skill acquisition, library and resource center, and with caretakers. In some cases the shelter serves as an adoption center.

Work with Hearing-Impaired Children in Mexico

Help teach deaf children skills and independence as you educate the community to change cultural stereotypes about the deaf. In many developing countries including Mexico, hearing-impaired children and adults are regarded as unable to learn and "low-class." Although 80 percent of the world's population of deaf people live in developing countries, in these cultures it's often considered a waste of money for a family to educate a hearing-impaired child. This is why only about 10 percent of the world's deaf children receive any education at all, leaving few with the hope of getting a job, and becoming independent and fully functioning members of society.

Placements are located at a school for the deaf that provides a full range of low-cost hearing rehabilitative services and programs for those Oaxaqueños that cannot otherwise afford them. Volunteers work with the director and teachers at the school to facilitate education, help with fund-raising, and work with the children.

Highlights: As most of the world knows, Mexico has some of the most amazing white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and marine life on the planet, but it also has so much more to offer. It is making great strides economically. Nonetheless, income inequality between rich and poor, north and south, and between urban and rural is a major problem. As a result around 30%, or 31 million Mexican people are still living in poverty.

Great White Shark Cage Diving :
The iconic great white is one of the most feared ocean dwellers of all time due to its awe-inspiring size, power, and predatory abilities. It is the largest flesh-eating fish in the ocean today. Off the shores of Mexico is the Isla Guaudalupe, considered one of the best places on the entire planet to view great whites in their natural habitat -- from the safety of a sharkproof cage, of course.

Veracruz River Rafting:
Veracruz, located on the central gulf coast of Mexico, is a world-famous location for river rafting. There are 40 rivers in Veracruz with many originating from the volcanic mountains in the area. The best whitewater rivers are Pescados, Actopan, Antigua and Filobobos, with rapids ranging from class 2 to class 5.

Huasteca Canyon:
Located 15 minutes from Monterry City are the renowned limestone cliffs of the Huasteca Canyon. There are endless opportunities for rock climbing for people at all skill levels, with more than 200 bolted routes of varying difficulties. These limestone cliffs are stunning and can provide quite a challenge even for the experienced climber.

The richness of culture and landscape make Oaxaca a great place to explore! The weather is favorable year-round. There are many museums that explain the historical and cultural importance of the city and state in Mexico's history.

With the abundance of activities, Oaxacans generally have an active social life. It's also important to mention the culinary offerings of Oaxaca, which is said to have some of the best food in Mexico.

Qualifications: Experience and passion for working in the community and interacting with the people are needed. Participants must also possess enthusiasm and a willingness to learn about the environment and the place's culture.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A Kaya volunteer shows enthusiasm, spirit and life to stimulate and bring something new to the residents; love, patience and a listening ear for the people; and a good motivator with a positive and optimistic attitude.

Age Range: Must be more than 18 years old

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

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement: Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

Year Founded: 2008