What makes volunteering in Mexico a unique and rewarding experience?
Carlos: "After weighing the risks of traveling to Mexico, the parents of one American teenager decided to allow her to join a school trip to Oaxaca, where students volunteered at an orphanage, visited archaeological sites…." This is what The New York Times had to say about Malia Obama's school trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.
Mexico is the 5th country with more biodiversity, home of 10–12% of the world's biodiversity. Of its 32 states, Oaxaca is the state with more biodiversity. There you will find diverse landscapes of the Highlands of Southern Mexico. Terrain varies from high, rugged mountains, low coastal plains, high plateaus, and desert. In Oaxaca (Wah-hah-kah), you will find 3 centuries of colonial society, which are the spirit and soul that built the history of Mexico. The city of Oaxaca, originally called Antequera, was founded just a few years after the Spanish vanquished the Aztec. It’s famous for its green building stone and for its own particular style of colonial architecture. Oaxaca is the heart of a region whose highly creative populace produces the country’s finest range of crafts and some of its most exciting contemporary art. Part of this diversity is also the 16 ethnic groups you will find there, all with different languages.
How does Adelante ensure this program is beneficial for local communities?
Carlos: Volunteers collaborate mainly with NGOs, 501 C 3 organizations, Hub Oaxaca members initiatives or welfare institutions. As the Adelante on-site Director, I personally visit and screen these programs and organizations to ensure that there is a direct benefit to Oaxaca, both downtown and urban communities and the farther out indigenous communities, depending on the work assignment chosen.
Volunteers are signed in as members of HUB Oaxaca that is a locally founded initiative that is establishing a platform to support projects and socially responsible businesses in the region. Hub Oaxaca is part of The Hub, a global network of spaces and communities that inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world. At Hub Oaxaca you will find dozens of entrepreneurs and leaders with a passion for driving the development of their communities.
What are some extra-curricular activities participants enjoy while volunteering in Mexico?
Carlos: As part of Adelante’s program volunteers may choose, two one-day tours, or a one two-day tour, and with their Spanish classes there are also optional salsa dancing and cooking classes.
Adelante Volunteers turn into HUB Oaxaca members and may participate in the activities that are monthly organized such as:
- Monday night movies, Thursday lunches for social entrepreneurs, first Friday member happy hour-- participants are encouraged to be part of an exchange community!
- Receives a discount for workshops for social innovators that may help you get your own idea for a sustainable life-project.
- Oaxaca Has at least 20 museums in the city, as well as many cultural activities.
What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering volunteering abroad in Mexico?
Carlos: Just come! Do your research and learn that it is safe here: 13 states are fully free from the State Department’s warning, including Baja California Sur, Yucatan, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guanajuato and others.
Be open to: differences, humbleness, spirit, reconsider your life style, your day to day needs, go to the source, reconsider your basic needs, new flavors, different fruits and plants, walk around, be invited into their communities.
Anything else you would like to share?
Carlos: The ethnic diversity found in Oaxaca is what makes it so special to foreigners. Grassroots campaigns are used to connecting with others that speak in different languages, which think in other ways and that look different. This gives them an openness of mind to communicate with foreigners. People in communities don’t run in a “time is money” basis, so they give themselves time to talk, to communicate and meet with people.