Volunteers that enjoy working with children that have some understanding of Spanish and an interest to learn more.

For applicants from the UK, we have a number of bursary schemes available for volunteers from a variety of backgrounds.

Our bursary scheme and funded placement projects reduce the barrier of cost for young people experiencing financial problems. They are designed to help young people who would not otherwise be able to afford to go.

Although many people see Mexico as being in South America, it is (officially, at least) part of North America. The country has a deep and varied history, with ancient Aztec remains a popular tourist attraction. As Mexico borders onto the United States, it is more westernised than many South American countries, while retaining much of it’s Latin charm and individuality. With a population of around 107 million, Mexico’s official language is Spanish, although volunteers in rural placements will soon learn there are many local dialects and variations. The country is also home to many indigenous populations which are thousands of years old. The geography of the region is as interesting as it’s history, with exciting mountain ranges and even live volcanoes!
When can I go?

Departures for the Mexico placements are at the beginning of September and February, and the placements last five months.
Locations

Lattitude’s Mexico projects are based in a wide variety of locations, many of them rural.

The main sites for volunteers are:

• Tulancingo


• Puebla


• Guadalajara


• Tepoztlan

Accommodation

Lattitude volunteers work alongside one other, often from Germany as well as the UK. The volunteers share a well-furnished private room, with 1 bathroom. Laundry maid washes the clothes once a week for everybody who needs it. So volunteers do not need to worry about washing their clothes.
Qualities / Skills

Due to the remote location of many of the Mexico placements, volunteers will need to be fairly resilient, sympathetic and independent. You may find yourself helping with extra-curricular activities, so an interest in art/crafts, music and/or sport would be useful. A decent level of conversational Spanish is also essential before departure, although you’ll certainly improve your language skills while in the country!

Our project is a home for orphans and abandoned or maltreated babies and small children up to the age of six. (Some are adopted soon after their arrival). The charity, moved to its present, purpose-built site on the southern outskirts of Puebla in August 1993. The facilities are of a very high standard.

The home is designed to accommodate up to 80 children, however present capacity is about 60. The Director would like to take up to 80 but is constrained by insufficient funds to pay the salaries of the additional staff whom she would need to employ.

Duties include feeding, dressing and changing the babies, caring for the small children, playing with them outside and helping in the recently built nursery school close by. In case some child gets sick or needs physical therapy volunteers usually take a career position in hospital. Sometimes assistance in language therapy or courses is necessary. Volunteers have to clean their own room by themselves.

Volunteer special activities (for example organize a special event) are welcome and it is a great plus for children.

Weekend duties are required on occasion. The intention is that the volunteers should become involved in every aspect of the life and work of the institution. Volunteers need to be calm, patient and caring; also to be tolerant of a managerial regime which, while extremely efficient, may seem to European eyes to be somewhat rigid, inflexible and hierarchical. Whilst your main duties are assisting the paid staff, there is plenty of time for lots of physical contact with all the children. Spending time with the children and giving them love and attention is the most important and vital part of this project.

0845 344 7500

Lattitude Global Volunteering has placed over 25,000 17- 25 year olds in volunteer projects since 1977. We are passionately concerned about the issues facing us all in the world and about the positive impact on the communities in which we volunteer. Lattitude is an organisation with attitude. Responsible, exciting, different...