Location
  • Mexico
    • Oaxaca
Length
4 to 24 weeks
Financial Support
Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment

Pricing

Starting Price
2745
Price Details
This Adelante program includes a volunteer or internship placement in your sector of interest, airport pick up, housing, 2 weeks of intensive Spanish classes, and 24/7 access to your local Program Director.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Sep 18, 2023
Mar 10, 2022
41 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Colonial Oaxaca, Mexico for complete language, community, and cultural immersion. Oaxaca is one of the most biodiverse areas in Mexico and is known for the amazing ART produced by local and ex-pat artists, and for the FOOD, which has a whole festival dedicated to it -the Guelaguetza!

Adelante's volunteer abroad program combines the career focus provided by internships, with the social orientation found in volunteer work. With Adelante, you can volunteer in sectors such as law, healthcare, art, psychology, and even historical renovation work. Visit Adelante's site for a complete list of fields.

In addition to working in Oaxaca, the program includes Spanish classes + some cultural excursions. Your own room, living with a local or in a shared guesthouse, is also included. If you're looking to make a difference, take advantage of this perfect opportunity to do a volunteer program in Mexico!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

At Adelante Abroad, we take pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive community for aspiring students seeking international internships and study abroad experiences. We are committed to providing equality and opportunity, as we firmly believe that every individual, regardless of their background, deserves the chance to embark on a transformative journey. Through our specialized biopic program, we actively encourage and support students from all walks of life to participate without discrimination. We understand the importance of nurturing emerging talents, and our program stands as a testament to our dedication to providing an enriching, empowering, and unbiased platform for students to thrive and make their mark on the global stage.

LGBTQIA+ Support

At Adelante Abroad, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all students, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We wholeheartedly encourage and support LGBTQIA+ students to participate without fear of discrimination. We recognize the unique challenges that LGBTQIA+ individuals may face, and we are determined to provide a safe and empowering environment for them to embark on their international internship and study abroad journeys. With a focus on celebrating individuality and fostering growth, our program stands as a beacon of acceptance, ensuring that all students can thrive, learn, and contribute meaningfully to the global community.

Accessibility Support

Adelante Abroad is committed to offering comprehensive accessibility support for participants with physical disabilities and/or chroni conditions. While our foremost goal is to provide optimal conditions for all participants, there may be instances where certain program country locations pose challenges to full accessibility. Despite these limitations, we continually strive to ensure that all individuals can benefit from our programs to the best of our abilities.

Impact

Sustainability

At Adelante Abroad, we are driven by a vision of sustainability that goes beyond mere neutrality. Our commitment is to create programs and business practices that generate a net positive impact on the world. By striving to tip the scales towards positive outcomes, we seek to ensure that any potential negative effects are outweighed by the overall benefit we bring to the individuals, communities, and environments we engage with, aligning our efforts to leave a lasting, positive legacy.

Ethical Impact

At Adelante Abroad, our ethical impact programming is thoughtfully designed to harmonize student experiences with the well-being of our host communities and the environment. We meticulously assess the social and environmental implications of our programs, ensuring a balanced approach that maximizes positive outcomes for both our students and the communities they engage with. By fostering meaningful connections, minimizing environmental footprints, and prioritizing sustainable practices, we aim to create lasting benefits for host communities, safeguard our planet's resources, and preserve the integrity of the experiences we offer for generations to come.

Program Highlights

  • We are the most affordable (housing included). Do your research, nearly all other programs are at least DOUBLE the price. You'll live in Oaxaca near your work placement in a fully-furnished apartment with WiFi.
  • Volunteer in the field of your choice. Gain solid international career experience by working in a company and field that interests you. We have participating companies in 30+ professional sectors with customizable placement options.
  • Intensive Spanish language classes. We prepare you for your internship with two weeks of intensive Spanish language classes based on your Spanish speaking level. No extra charge, it's included in your program.
  • A welcome arrival. We'll pick you up at the airport, take you directly to your housing, and provide an orientation session with our program director to get you acclimated to beautiful Oaxaca.
  • Curated Experience. Our programs are meant for the independent traveler and are not group focused. Our on-site staff in Oaxaca and the US are available throughout your program, and you can truly immerse yourself in the culture however you may.

Program Reviews

4.79 Rating
based on 14 reviews
  • 5 rating 78.57%
  • 4 rating 21.43%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 4.35
  • Fun 4.6
  • Value 4.35
  • Safety 4.7
  • Growth 5
  • Support 4.5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4.5
  • Safety 4.5
Showing 1 - 8 of 14 reviews
Default avatar
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience in Oaxaca

I spent three months in Oaxaca studying psychology. Understandably, this is a difficult discipline to study as an intern due to the often confidential nature of the work. Despite this, I felt that the program coordinator Carlos did a great job connecting me with local psychologists to learn, assist with presentations, practice Spanish, observe therapy sessions, and even lead sessions on my own. I wanted to learn what it would be like to work as a psychologist and I feel Adelante helped me reach this goal. I also was afforded plenty of time and flexibility to travel throughout Oaxaca and to spend time with my brilliant housemates. The language courses were much-needed and I felt much more prepared going into my work placement having that introduction. The best part of this experience for me was the housing placement. Myself and the girls I lived with were placed with an extremely hospitable family from Oaxaca. Talking with them was the best practice I had for my Spanish. They were also some of the most pleasant people I have met and I felt they really embraced me as part of the family.

If you are thinking of traveling with adelante, I recommend it. It was extremely affordable compared to other programs I have seen. The process was as stress-free as possible, from the pre-departure materials and interviews, the arrival and integration with language classes, and the departure, everything was well-organized. It was also important to me to have independence and to be able to tailor the program to my goals, and this was fulfilled. Everyone I worked with from Adelante was pleasant and helpful. If I decide to study away again, I will likely choose adelante.

If you are thinking of traveling to Oaxaca, also, I recommend it. Some of the best food I’ve had on my travels, some of the kindest people I’ve met, and some of the best places to visit, from the vibrant city to the ruins to the mushroom mountains and to the beaches on both sides. One could spend a lot of time studying and traveling Oaxaca, and by the end, they will want to make it home. Carlos was great as a program coordinator. If you have any concerns about speaking Spanish, I entered the program knowing a decent amount of Spanish but mostly unable to communicate at all with native speakers without great trouble. Through the classes and being integrated I quickly grew in confidence and was able to communicate much more clearly.

if you have any specific questions about the program you want to ask a former participant, I am happy to chat. My email is Jacob.gerber@alumni.furman.edu. Bon voyage.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go to Tlayudas Don Ramon, trust me, you won’t regret it.
82 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jennifer
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great internship program!

I did a legal internship in Oaxaca for three months with Adelante and it was an incredible experience. I made lifelong friends both from the program and locals. I was extremely happy with my internship placement and the family I lived with. My spanish has definitely improved and it really helped with my university application and I will definitely be returning to Oaxaca!
I learnt so much from my internship which will help me in my career but also had enough freedom to get to know the city and do other activities as well as learn new hobbies and develop other interests.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Chapulines! It was very strange at first and I had not heard of this before coming, but I ended up bringing some home for my family to try.
84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Thomas
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

3 Month Business Internship in Oaxaca

I had an incredible 3 months doing a business internship in the beautiful city of Oaxaca.
Oaxaca is one of the best places in the world, you will fall in love with the city very quickly. The food is amazing, the weather is hot, the people are incredibly friendly, the city is safe and the scenery is 10/10 everywhere you look!

Over the 3 months I have gained valuable experience in business and in learning Spanish - it is genuinely the best way to learn! My colleagues were incredibly accommodating of me and I feel like I have gained a lot of experience from working with them.

Adelante organised everything very quickly and the communication was great whenever I had a concern or a question I needed answering. I cannot recommend it enough!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would stay for longer!! I have fallen in love with Oaxaca.
89 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Belinda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Graphic Design Internship - Adelante Abroad

My Graphic Design Internship through Adelante Abroad aligned with my values and what I was looking for in a first internship experience.This was an important experience for me focusing more on what I am looking for in my career and the workplace itself. I am grateful to have been apart of this program especially outside of the United States (and in Oaxaca, Mexico) to learn about how it is to work outside of my primary comfort zone. This not only helped me find different ways to communicate with others but also how to work with different types of people.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could do this all over again, the one thing I would change would be of course when I went on this program. I went to Oaxaca for this internship and my internship ended up being remote. I, of course would have wanted this internship to be in person but in actuality the only reason I was able to have this amazing experience is because of the pandemic.
95 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Marianne
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Brilliant Experience

The teachers I had in the first 2 weeks were great and shared useful tips on local hot spots. I found this to be an invaluable introduction to my time in Oaxaca and a great way to meet new people.

Equally my internship at a printing studio was fabulous and I feel it greatly contributed towards my competence in Spanish.
The housing with Irma, Octavio and Leti the cleaner was one of my favourite things about my experience as they made me feel so welcome and really helped me settle in with ease.

Oaxaca is a beautiful place, just the right size to explore and close to many other must see locations. I would love to go back!

100 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emily
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Great Overall Experience

I spent two months in Oaxaca de Juarez with the Adelante volunteering program for working with kids. My time there was amazing, being able to experience local life and history of the state. The housing location was in a great spot, and my landlord was unbelievably kind. My time at the language school was also great as I met and made wonderful friends from around the world and also received a one-on-one tutor which helped me immensely. I also met great people at my internship. The program truly opens you up to many differing walks of life and exposes you to so many new things - not just originating from Oaxaca. The trip being my first solo travel forced me to become independent and actually rely on myself instead of using others as a travel-buddy crutch. When Adelante says that the program is for independent travelers, they're not kidding. This is where I point out the major lack of communication. I won't go into detail, but the program really is like moving to a foreign place by yourself and figuring everything out by yourself. There were a few rough patches but I didn't let them bother me during my time there. You'll run into problems, like no water or power, but you adapt and overcome. I really enjoyed my experience both the good and the bad, but if lack in communication and cultural confusion bothers you I wouldn't recommend this type of program.

What would you improve about this program?
I would improve the communication between US Adelante, OAX Adelante, the internship and the candidate.
93 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Haley
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Oaxaca

What one pays for, essentially, with Adelante, that one couldn't find by themselves, is great contacts. It's difficult to find internships in other countries for a variety of reasons and Adelante does all the hard work for you. Adelante also helps to provide an essential structure to this internship, defining the number of work hours, the assigned tasks and expectations. This is incredibly important, as so much of the experience is unstructured and up to the volunteer.

What would you improve about this program?
Making the language classes optional.
99 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience

This program was perfect for me, and it was a great way to get to know a new city. It made the transition to living in another place as easy as it really could be — finding me housing, an internship, and contacts within the city that could answer any questions or help show me around. The internship was a fantastic fit, which really showed how much Adelante listened to what I wanted from the experience, as well as they attention they payed to what skills I already had. I learned a lot, met many new people, and got to know the amazing city. I even decided to move back to Oaxaca for the rest of the year to work at the art studio where I was previously interning!

What would you improve about this program?
There is a 2 week Spanish school that I would have skipped if possible, but that part of the program is probably helpful to others.
98 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers