Location
  • Mexico
    • Guanajuato
Length
1 to 10 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
75
Timeframe
Short Term Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
20
Price Details
Our program requires a $20 donation to process your application. We suggest a donation of $180 USD per week ($600 USD per month) included housing in our Volunteer House, plus breakfast and lunch during work days at the Daycare or Preschool. Housing in the volunteer house includes a bed in a shared room, private bathrooms in each room, a fully-equipped kitchen, laundry, wifi, cable, drinking water, and housekeeping daily.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Airport Transfers Domestic Airfare SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance
Aug 12, 2019
May 29, 2023
31 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Welcome to Centro Infantil de los Angeles! We are a 501c(3) nonprofit providing free childcare and preschool education daily to low-income single mothers in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Our services allow mothers and families to go to work and earn an income to provide for their children without having to worry about the cost or quality of childcare.

Our programs put kids on a path to long-term success by working with kids at critical development ages. We focus on preparing kids without means for primary school in terms of academics, social and emotional well-being, nutrition, and physical health. Our highly-integrated programs ensure kids are happy, healthy, and ready to take on the world.

Volunteers assist daycare teachers and preschool teachers with basic childcare and enrichment activities, working directly with children of different ages, feeding and changing them, engaging them in art projects and fun extracurricular classes, and assisting on field trips.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Enjoy a completely immersive Spanish Language experience
  • Work directly with kids from 4 months to 5 years
  • Experience the amazing surroundings of Guanajuato afternoons and weekends
  • Stay in our beautiful, incredible, fully-equipped Volunteer House
  • Make a genuine difference in an impactful volunteer program

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 41 reviews
  • 5 rating 97.56%
  • 4 rating 2.44%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.9
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 41 reviews
Default avatar
Kerry
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering at Centro Infantil de Los Angeles, San Miguel de Allende

I just returned from a week at Centro Infantil de Los Angeles, a day care and preschool in San Miguel de Allende. It is for children aged 6 months to 5 years old from disadvantaged homes in San Miguel. I spent the week in the 4 year olds' classroom. It was a joy - the kids were wonderful, so sweet and full of love and hugs. The teachers were also very welcoming. I helped with various things in the classroom (hand washing, serving lunch, distributing papers and supplies for activities) but mostly gave the kids a little extra attention. I was very impressed by the staff and the organization of the school. There is a volunteer coordinator who helped me organize my stay and transport from the airport. I stayed in the volunteer house just next door to the school - it was $180 US to stay for a week - I happened to be the only volunteer that week. I think all the rooms have their own en suite bathroom. There is a common kitchen and living room. It's really nice. About 25 minutes walk into the center of San Miguel. I really recommend CILA as a place to volunteer - on my last day there was a school assembly - some parents put on a show. Afterwards the whole school sang to me (Gracias a ti, a ti, a ti) - it was amazing and made me cry! Amazing how you can be so touched by people in just a week. Very grateful for the love and welcome I was given at CILA and hope to go back one day.

Pros
  • Very well organized staff and support team - volunteers feel very supported
  • Sweet kids and teachers - a lot of love!
  • San Miguel de Allende is a really special town - safe, friendly and beautiful
Cons
  • I had to Uber home if I went into the center at night because the school's neighborhood was a little rough - but the Uber from the center was only $3 US
57 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Diego
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

real little angels...

What a great experience to share a month with these children. I must say that CILA is doing a wonderful job and I am sure that they provide the essential foundation for all these children to move forward in life.
The activities are very varied, and the children are very comfortable with the volunteers. They are used to receiving people and this opens their acceptance of others which will be very useful for their future. I had a lot of good moments. Imagine how you can feel on a bad day, a few minutes later you enter to the room and 6 children (or even more) jump into your arms? pafff it’s magic, the bad mood of the day flies away.
We get attached to them very quickly, they have a lot of love to give and just need to receive the same. I congratulate all the staff for the excellent work they do and the organizers who make our visits possible. It is possible to come for a week but my recommendation would be to stay there for at least two weeks so that the experience is complete.

What was your funniest moment?
there are many funny moments. especially with children who stumble with certain words, I really enjoyed it a lot.
114 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Clark
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Can't beat this volunteering experience

This is a great volunteering experience - there's a reason I've returned every year for the last four years. I highly recommend this experience for anyone looking to make an impact and likes working with kids. You're not going to beat Centro Infantil de Los Angeles in terms of the quality of the volunteering experience, the location, and the price.

In terms of the volunteering, you'll work/play with kids between 1 and 4 years old at a day care. Each class has a maestra and you will be her assistant, doing things like cleaning, escorting kids to the bathroom, making photocopies, serving food, and changing the kids clothing at the end of the day. You do get a lot of time to play with the kids and at the end of the experience you will feel like you've made a difference in their lives.

The facility for volunteers to stay at is really nice. At most, it's three people per room (although I've never shared a room with more than one other person). The building is beautiful with nice common areas and a rooftop with a killer view. There is a daily cleaning service and they serve you two meals a day at the day care - all in all, a very good deal for the <$200 you pay per week.

San Miguel de Allende is an awesome town with a lot to do including hiking, day trips, hot springs, shopping, yoga, and walking around town. It's such a beautiful city - you've gotta see it! It's also relatively safe and has a great food scene.

When you put it all together, it is truly a great experience. I always miss it as soon as I am on my plane home and feel at home every time I return.

What was your funniest moment?
I wanted to change the order for my tacos and I said, quiero caminar mi orden instead of quiero cambiar mi orden. You had to be there:-)
123 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Patrick
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Outstanding Young Adult Service Opportunity!

For the past two years we have brought high school students to Centro Infantil to serve and work with children attending the day care for a period of one week to four weeks. We're an all-boy, rigorous college prep school from St. Louis, MO -- St. Louis University High School. Community Service is a major component of our curriculum and mission, and we serve those in need both locally and abroad. Having worked with numerous and worthwhile non-profit organizations over the years, Centro Infantil distinguishes itself from other organizations on several levels.

First, the organization of the Voulunteer Program is top notch. Centro Infantil has a full-time Volunteer Coordinator (Ryan) who dedicates himself to working with the volunteers on all levels. He helps set up the itinerary, provides us with a comprehensive volunteer manual, leads an entertaining and informative orientation, and offers many opportunities (some structured and some casual) for reflection about the work our students are doing, its value for the children and families they serve, and how it fits into a bigger picture of our societal needs.

Second, it's a wonderful experience for our students -- their interaction with the children is personal, consistent and enriching. Serving essentially as teacher aids, our students help feed, care for, play with and educate these children (from infants to nearing pre-school) on a daily basis. When not working with the children, they're doing a variety of projects from painting to cleaning or whatever manual labor is needed. They truly experience a wide range of service opportunities during their stay.

Third, Centro Infantil makes the logistics very convenient, safe and affordable. Volunteer housing (adjoining the day care facility) is provided at a very low cost, with a breakfast and lunch provided. San Miguel is a beautiful and safe city that is free of the concerns found in coastal and border towns. It's very comforting to know that I can send my students off to explore in small groups without having to worry about their safety. Ryan is also very helpful in providing options for dining, recreation and transportation.

I fully expect to bring more students to Centro Infantil in the future, and I would recommend this service opportunity for everyone.

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing! From initial contact to our departure from San Miguel, we found the entire experience very enriching!
106 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Highly recommend!!

I have loved my time here at Centro Infantil de los Angeles! All staff and teachers are so kind and truly care for the students. The children are the sweetest and you can tell they really like it here. The children love to sing, dance, play on the playground, and get their hair done before they go home each day -- it is a really great environment for kids. The daycare is right next door to the volunteer house and all the volunteers and staff are very inviting, kind, and helpful, which has made my first time traveling abroad alone very comfortable. Plus it is absolutely beautiful here! Other volunteers and I are going on weekend trips to explore other cities in Mexico, but you don't ever have to leave San Miguel de Allende to see the beauty of the city. I would highly recommend Centro Infantil de los Angeles to anyone who loves kids, traveling, and living in beautiful places.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Bring gifts for the kids! I brought bubbles and it was so fun to watch them enjoy it and play with my favorite thing from when I was a kid:)
107 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Luisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Centro infantil de los ángeles

Volunteering at Centro infantil de los ángeles is so much fun.
The kids are always smiling and the look so happy all the time.
It is also a great place to meet new people to hang out with. You can go on a lot of weekendtrips at the weekend with the other volunteers and there is also a lot to discover in san miguel de allende after work. The volunteerhouse is real pretty and right next to the daycare so you do not need to walk far to get there. You are always free in the afternoons which gives you a lot of experience the City.
The teachers at the daycare are so sweet with the children and it is a lot of fun working with them and helping feeding the kids, brushing their hair and playing with them. Centro infantil de los ángeles is a really nice place to be!

113 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Christian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing stay

I went to centro de infantil with my girlfriend for 2 Month. We both really loved the stay and the Kids where amazing. The teachers at the school and the staff were amazing and they Are so sweet. We had an amazing time going to the city, visiting cafes and just wandering the beautiful streets. We Are planning a trip back in the future, so we can see everybody again and have such a great time once more. From the city, you can take the buses which were great to bigger cities that Are close or go for a weekend trip to Mexico city. Ryan was a great leader there and we spent a lot of time with him and had a great time with him. You just feel like you Are a part of a bug Family when you Are at the daycare. And just enjoy the kitchen staff, they Are the nicest People I have ever met!!
Just go on this trip, it is worth it!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Just enjoy the trip, the time there goes too fast.
104 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Michelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Centro infantil de los ángeles

It feels amazing to be with the kids and witness how much of a difference the daycare makes to them. It's structured and the development of the kids is amazing to witness. It's organized in a great way with the mothers coming in and helping everyday, making the daycare possible. I was amazed at the thoughts that's been put into the development the kids go through, from potty training to preparing for school.
Furthermore, it's really nice to be with other volunteers that you can hang out with in the afternoons and travel with on weekends.
In general, the program is very good and recommendable if you love working with children and want to be part of giving them the best possible childhood that prepares them for a good education - and good life quality and happiness.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was surprised at how well-behaved the kids are, it's amazing how the teachers can handle a whole class themselves in the periods where there are no volunteers.
104 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Yes, kids can volunteer. I think upper elementary school age (7+) would be best suited for the type of volunteer work at Centro Infantil de Los Angeles.