Mexico Guadajara Overview

Volunteer in Guadalajara is unique in providing volunteers with extremely worthwhile work in a city of real need.

Working at the municipal zoo

Get involved working alongside local people at the city zoo. www.zooguadalajara.com.mx

Zoológico Guadalajara is the main zoological park in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and is widely considered the most important in Latin America.

Help at childrens homes in and around Guadalajara

The main aim is to open a new childrens home in Guadalajara, in the meantime, volunteers are needed to help with a variety of tasks in one or more childrens homes around the city. This could vary and be anything from supervising the childrens playtime/watching TV, helping with domestic chores that need attention, help with bathing, dressing, perhaps even taking the children to school and helping at mealtimes. You should never be without anything to do!  No experience is needed and everyone gets two free days to explore and relax each week and with so many volunteers coming and going each week, mostly arriving on their own, there are plenty of opportunities amongst your fellow volunteers to make friends.

Assist with establishing a new childrens home

Volunteers may also be needed to assist with starting a new childrens home for children 0 to 14 years. The person responsible for this new home sucessfully started the childrens home in Puerto Vallarta from scratch and turned it into the one of the best orphanages in the whole of the West coast of Mexico! Volunteers may be involved in any area from decorating and helping the first children to settle in. It's a work-in-progress over the next year or two so watch this space!

Assist at a small adult care home

Volunteers interested in care work, social work, physio or massage therapy may be interested in getting involved with a small care home managed by one lady. All extra hands are needed here, whether just popping in once a day to help with mealtimes, more hands on care work or supplementary therapies. This is a small home with only one permanent member of staff caring for approximately 10 adults with varying needs ranging from physical disability to the terminally ill so any and all help is needed.

Long stay volunteering

Most volunteers stay between 1 and 4 weeks but if you are thinking about a longer stay this programme is ideal with opportunities to try out different places during your stay.

Images from Mexico Guadalajara

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Guadalajara placement map

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Book now on 01603 627 007 and contact people travelling to the same project!

Your memories

We have been sent some of the most lovely photos from volunteers at play and at work, they are truly inspirational.

What next?

If you would like to book over the phone or simply ask more questions please call us on 01603 627 007 See related video ‘How to book’
If you know where and when you want to go, then you can book online.
You can also change your date of arrival or country at any time.

Change lives and volunteer in Mexico Guadalajara 2013 - 2014

Volunteer in Mexico Guadalajara

Volunteer in the steamy colonial city of Guadalajara. Enjoy a mixed variety of projects from teaching English, arts and crafts activities to care work or try your hands at being a zoopkeeper, There is plenty to try when helping in Mexico. Placements can be easily chosen on arrival, according to your preferences, after chatting with the local English speaking volunteer co-ordinator, who is there to support you during your stay. Volunteers travel and volunteer together in groups or pairs, so you will never be short for company whilst volunteering. Volunteers spend their free weekends in a variety of ways from trips to the coast or relaxing at the lake.

Skills and Experience, no experience is required when working in Guadalajara. As long as you come with energy and enthusiasm, you will be sure to fit in and have fun in your volunteering experience. Your volunteer co-ordinator will provide training and support for all volunteers new to English teaching.

Highlights

Opportunity to take part in different activities
A dedicated English speaking co-ordinator, always there to help

Accommodation

Volunteers stay in shared accommodation, in a house. There are 2 to 4 bedrooms in the house, with bunk beds. There is also a living room, dining room and a kitchen.

Local support

An English speaking volunteer co-ordinator provides support during your stay, and can be easily reached for any out of hours advice or assistance by phone.

Project resources and advice

Volunteers are encouraged to take some general activity books or craft materials which do not require language if wanting to volunteer at the childrens home, for example colouring books or dot to dot.

Local facilities

Guadalajara  has all the local facilities that are needed within walking distance, including banks, doctors, cafes and other amenities.

Guadalajara Community is a fairly big city and has most of the amenities and facilities needed, including: cinemas, bars, restaurants, internet cafés and nightclubs. A day after arrival, the co-ordinator will usually arrange a tour of the city and the area surrounding the city. On this tour you will be shown the facilities, shops, and where best to get buses etc.

Not on your own

Although some volunteers travel with friends, the bigger majority travel alone. It is possible to get in contact with other volunteers before your travel, and a lot of people tend to do this. Some volunteers even plan to travel together and set this up themselves before they depart.

When to pay for this project

Accommodation for Guadalajara is paid before you travel. The latest in which to do this is about two weeks before your departure. An invoice will be sent by email when we have received all your flights and form with your personal details.

Fast facts - Project information

Project Duration: Min 1 week - Max 12 weeks
Location of project: Guadalajara and surrounding suburbs and villages
Arrival Airport: Guadalajara (or Mexico City and bus to Guadalajara)
Activities: Choose from: General day-to-day care and play/art/craft with children, zookeeping, informal English teaching, carework and hospital work.
Working Hours: 5 days a week. Weekends free to explore and relax
Getting to the project: Airport pick-up and transfer from Guadalajara airport to the volunteer house is automatically arranged for all volunteers, once flights have been received.
Requirements: Minimum age 18

On arrival

Most volunteers fly into Guadalajara airport and an airport pick up is automatically provided. Volunteers can also fly to Mexico City and make their own way overland by bus (approx 7 hours, ETN charges approx £40 single)

Food

Guadalajara is a self-catering project. There are plenty of shops nearby where you can buy food to take back to the kitchen and prepare. There are also cafés and bars close by where you can go to eat out.

Free time

During the week, volunteers often spend their evenings at the volunteer house relaxing or strolling in the colonial heart of the city. All activities and excursions can be easily organised through one of the many tourist agencies in Guadalajara. Just ask your co-ordinator for advice on what to see during your visit. The most popular excursions are to the lake for the day or to the Pacific coastal resorts for the weekend.

Health

There is a hospital nearby and should you need the use of one, the project co-ordinator will help you with your transfer there.

What to take

Once you have applied and registered with Original Volunteers, you will receive an Information Pack via email that will have further details on the project in Guadalajara; in this email there will be a list of items to take and items that are best not to take.

Things that you will need to organise yourself

Flights to Guadalajara (or Mexico City and overland travel by bus)
Travel Insurance
Any resources you wish to bring
Food

Mexico - Guadalajara at a glance

Mexico is a land of contrasts, a developing country yet one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Attractions in Mexico include ancient Aztec and Mayan cities, Spanish colonial architecture, the Copper Canyon railway, fabulous beaches, cheap tequila and bustling markets selling local handicrafts.
Affordably priced activities in the immediate area include guided hikes, horse riding and on the coast scuba diving, kayaking snorkelling, whale watching and swimming with dolphins.

Climate

Climate: rainy season May to October with high humidity between June and September where temperatures can reach 35! Leave synthetic fabrics at home during this time. However as Guadalajara is higher up so the summer is not so hot as other parts of Mexico. The coolest months are between December and February although the temperature can still average 20 degrees Celsius.

Time difference to the UK: GMT -6hrs

Apply now on-line. There are no set arrival dates for Guadalajara so you can arrive whenever it is convenient for you, just select the month you plan to arrive. You can stay over into the next month. Although there are no set start dates, we recommend arriving between Monday and Wednesday to settle in and make friends before the weekend when volunteers often explore further afield or relax together.

Skills and Experience, no experience is required when working in Guadalajara Community. As long as you come with energy and enthusiasm, you will be sure to fit in and have fun in your volunteering experience. Your volunteer co-ordinator will provide training and support for all volunteers new to English teaching.