Volunteer
Opportunities
Work Week Archives
Project Amigo provides medical, dental, educational and enrichment
services to several hundred poor children who are enrolled in
kindergartens and primary schools in the city of Colima and nearby
rural areas. All of these programs are supported by
sponsorships.
Volunteer Work Weeks
Each winter volunteers come to Colima to work, meet the children,
visit with Mexican Rotarians, and learn more about the people and
culture of western Mexico. Work can include electrical and plumbing
repairs, distribution of fun children’s books to poor rural
schools, interacting with junior high and high school scholarship
recipients at their homework clubs, or reading and playing with
children who need some extra attention. Click here for current
Volunteer
Work Week Schedule, and here for links to websites
offering general information about
Colima, Mexico.
Work
Each work day volunteers choose between several work crews doing a
variety of jobs ranging from heavy to light, for all levels of
ability. Work may include heavy construction, plumbing or electrical
repairs to children's facilities, painting walls or murals, art
projects or reading with children, giving haircuts, or simply
playing with children who need some extra hugs.
Social Events
There will be plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy Mexican
hospitality during your stay in Colima. The week begins with a
reception by a local Rotary Club, and includes a home visit with a
Rotary family, a Rotary Club meeting, and a day at the beach. The
week ends with an opportunity to shop for local handicrafts and
souvenirs.
Cultural Activities
In addition to work and fun, each Work Week includes some optional
educational events, including visits to local museums and
archaeological sites, Spanish language lessons, speakers on Mexican
culture, history, or ecology, and a Mexican cooking class.
Work Week Details
Please write or e-mail us for further information about any of our
Work Weeks. We will be glad to send you more details, lists of items
to bring, and answers to all your questions.
Donation
The requested donation of $1,200 per person includes
double-occupancy accommodations, all meals, all transportation
within Mexico, entertainment and cultural activities, snacks and
non-alcoholic beverages. Add $125 for a single room. The donation
does not include transportation between the U.S. and Guadalajara or
Manzanillo or long-distance phone calls.
Transportation
You (or your group) will make your own air travel arrangements into
and out of Guadalajara or Manzanillo. Project Amigo will pick you up
at the airport the afternoon of the first day of the Work Week and
deliver you back the morning of the last day. We advise you to make
airline reservations early as there is limited air service at
convenient hours. If your travel plans are different from this
schedule, please contact us and we can help you make other
arrangements. Extra fees may apply. Project Amigo will provide
transportation for all group activities while you are in Colima.
Accommodations
All Work Week volunteers will stay at the Project Amigo Hacienda, a
cluster of buildings which house the guest facility and offices. It
is located in Cofradía de Suchitlán, a small pueblo
about 12 miles north of the city of Colima. This gives our
volunteers the added treat of experiencing authentic Mexican village
life.
Reservations
As soon as you know when you would like to come, write to us or
e-mail us at
volunteercoordinator@projectamigo.org.
Or you can fill out the on-line registration form. A deposit of
one-half the total cost for your group is requested to save your
place.
Other Volunteer
Opportunities
People with skills needed in Project Amigo programs include
dentists, dental hygienists, audiologists, optometrists, plumbers,
electricians, teachers.
All are invited to inquire about longer-term volunteer
opportunities.
susan@projectamigo.org.
