Street children - Mexico

only  £1500

Street children

Countries:

Mexico

Duration:

from 5 months

Call:

0845 344 7500

Save up to 80% on a second placement

  

more info:

click here

 

This placement would suit:

someone with a can do attitude and who is willing to make the most of this placement. This placement would really suit a mature volunteer with a bit of life experience up their sleeve and the older volunteer after university. A good understanding of Spanish would be helpful and a willing to learn more.

 

   

Product Details

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

You will be accommodated in a house or flat in the area, owned by Pro Niños.

You will be given two very full meals a day, but will have to pay for your food at weekends. However, by clubbing together with other volunteers in your house and buying food at a local market, it will be possible to cook relatively cheaply at home.

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!

This is a very well run organization in Mexico City dedicated to winning street-boys away from the street and into a new life in a children’s home or returning them to their families Their success rate in this respect is around 86%, according to figures released by Pro Niños. The process of attracting the boys away from street life is in three stages: they are encouraged to come to the centre as day visitors only, given food and allowed to return to the street at night. After this initial period of a fortnight or so they are asked if they want to stay at the centre. A condition is that they cannot consume alcohol or take drugs. At this stage the return to the street at weekends. Finally, if the adaptation goes well, they are offered a place in a boys home or arrangements are made for them to return to their families.

You will either help with workshops at the Centre or talk to boys on the street, encouraging them to visit the Centre. You will always be accompanied by a trained professional from Pro Niños.

When you are more experienced you may be asked to visit the provinces to follow up the progress of boys who have returned to their families or started a job.