Mexico volunteer

One fully funded volunteering opportunity in an eco project in Oaxaca

Deadline passed: No further applications being accepted

The co-operative project in the beach village of La Ventanilla in Oaxaca State which was set up to stop the killing and selling of turtles and their eggs and has grown in to a sustainable development project which generates alternative sources of income for the 25 families who live in the community.

The Co-op now organises guided tours and horse riding along the mangrove swamp. Other projects include a tree nursery, a crocodile farm and nurseries for turtles and iguanas. Volunteer activities might include cleaning and preparation of the eco-friendly tourist cabins, to assist in the community owned restaurant "El maíz azul" ("The blue corn"), helping in the rehabilitation of confiscated animals and the release of newly-hatched turtles into the ocean.

Kite watching: Flying papelottas (kites) off the hill of Isla de Soyaltepec.


Details

Age profile: Over 18 on 1st June 2010.

Travel dates: Summer 2010 for 8 weeks.

This Travel Award includes:

  • Return flights from Ireland to Mexico, insurance, orientation programme and overnight in Mexico City
  • Transfer to Oaxaca city for 2 weeks/30 hours Spanish language classes, cultural activities and homestay with local family
  • Accommodation and meals during volunteer project
  • Volunteer work for 6 weeks on the island
  • Local mentor and support

How to apply

To enter for an award you need to tell us…

“What you could bring to this experience and how you could benefit from participating in it”

You can do this by using any one of the following formats:

  • An essay of not more than 700 words;
  • A project format of not more than 8 A4 size pages combining pictures, clippings, art, drawings and writing in any combination you wish.

Each entry needs to be specific to the country you wish to apply for i.e. you cannot use the same entry for more than one country. You also need to complete a specific Travel Award Application Form. You will need to complete this task and forward it in hard copy with an application form to reach EIL by 5pm on March 26th 2010. Application forms are available from EIL. A selection committee will shortlist a number of entrants and these will be invited for interview in Dublin on a Saturday in mid April 2010. The winners will be announced in May 2010. The decisions of the adjudication panels will be final.

Photos & Videos

Photos: 

Blogs

Blogs: 

31/08/2010 - Roll the credits - Marie-Claire Walsh

Marie-Claire Walsh
31 Aug 2010 - 10:23pm

                                Bare with me here folks, somehow I have to do a final blog which draws a conclusion on my Mexican adventure...but first the final weeks of my time there have to get a mention, some highlights included me discovering Susana the 3 meter crocodile had escaped from her pen, the same morning a deer escaped, all ended well though, only 1 casualty (the fence she bit through!!)...Starring as “the tourist” in a film

09/08/10 - Dr. Dolittle

Marie-Claire Walsh
9 Aug 2010 - 9:33pm

Hola eveyone, hope you are all well. I have decided to do a special blog on the animals here because they are such a big part of my daily life.

The title of the blog is Dr.Dolittle. For those of you who don't know Dr.Dolittle was a fictional doctor who could talk to animals and understand them as well. Now I'm not saying the animals here talk to me.....that would be a little strange.....so I'm not saying that at all.....on the otherhand I talk to the animals here all the time!!

Mexico 27/07/10 - Gastro Wars: The Empire Strikes Back!

Marie-Claire Walsh
27 Jul 2010 - 11:21pm

....I don't even know anything about Star Wars....just go with me on the movie title theme!

So friends it appears I spoke to soon in my last blog about my good health. I have written a poem to explain exactly what happened since I last rambled. Here you go (the space is funny on this, there are suppose to be no spaces only every 6 lines)

                  -1-

21/07/10 - The Chronicles of MC; the Turtle, the Doctor and the Cabin

Marie-Claire Walsh
22 Jul 2010 - 12:38am

Where to begin my friends since I last rambled on, so much has happened! I spent another great week in Oaxaca. Highlights included a trip to a cookery school on a ranch, we cooked a 5 course Mexican dinner that I will never forget, can't wait to hunt down squash flowers in Ireland for the soup....it might be difficult!! Also went on a trip to a nearby town, Teotitlan del Valle, with a micro-finance organisation from the school, called Envia. The idea is that all the money from the trip goes in the form of micro loans to the women of the village to fund their businesses.

05/07/10 - Earthquakes, Elections and Excursions!

Marie-Claire Walsh
5 Jul 2010 - 10:04pm

Hola!

Greetings from Mexico, this keyboard has all the letters so I'm taking advantage and updating my blog! Well where to begin, what adventures I have had since last time. The title of the blog doesn't cover the half of it!

25/6/10 - On the road again...

Marie-Claire Walsh
25 Jun 2010 - 12:23am

Mexico and Ireland combine!...maybe I should quote Shrek for the title of all my blogs!! Well as Donkey says it's time to head off on the road (or sky) for my Mexican adventure tomorrow. It's been a busy few weeks, sorting out everything and getting ready. We had the pre-departure workshop down in Cork last week, my first time in Cork I'm ashamed to say! Had a really enjoyable time meeting all the other Travel Award winners setting off around the globe and the staff at EIL who are very helpful and nice.

24/5/10 - My first blog...

Marie-Claire Walsh
10 Jun 2010 - 3:50pm

Smile!

Hola everyone,

News from Mexico

Brian Denvir
31 Aug 2009 - 12:31pm

Preparations for the Gran Fiesta on Tuesday are coming along well, although the work is beginning to take it´s toll on my body! Repeatedly winching buckets of bricks with no gloves on has left my hands blistered and sore, and bare-footed football has left similar scars on my feet! The day is long, working from  7:30am-6pm with only an hour for lunch, but the progress is amazing, the roof is almost complete and it looks magnificent.

The Road to Shangri-La

Karen O´ Regan
29 Aug 2009 - 1:34am

The road to Shangri-La is supposed to be an ephemeral thing, a mystical path to a hidden valley where beauty and peace prevail. But in the lagoon of Barra de Potosi, through a shallow path in the mangroves, and over a twisty, two-lane cow pat we discover the cliffs of Guamilule, the local mountain. The cliffs rise to the east from the turquoise pacific, keeping any signs of the modern world at bay.There, is a breathtaking untouched beach, with gigantic rolling waves. We surprise two wild, untied horses who roam leisurly on the beach among hermit crabs and tortugas.

¡Buenas tardes!

Brian Denvir
28 Aug 2009 - 10:43am

¡Buenas tardes! Things are really busy in Ventanilla in my last week here, as the whole town is preparing for it`s annual Fiesta de Santa Maria. Every year the men from the village spend about a week building in the village church in preparation for the Mass and Rosaries of the festival. This year, the villagers have sacrificed the money for a big musical performance at the festival in order to build an impressive roof for the church. I have been helping with the construction which is sweaty work because of the lack of shade!

Testimonials: 

1st Blog from Liam Mc Name in Mexico

19 Aug 2010 - 10:03am

I didnt think in one short 6 hour bus journey you could pass through the 2nd biggest city in the world, lush forests, arid desert and massive mountain ranges that dwarf my familiar Dublin mountains.

The Mexico Trip: Maria Conlon, volunteer in Barra de Potosi

31 Mar 2010 - 12:13pm

The pace of life is very different to anything I had previously experienced. Manana (tomorrow) is a favourite expression - and it might get done tomorrow and then again it might not! It’s been a great experience which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Chris Callaghan won an EIL Travel Award that helped sponsor his voluntary work in the Mexican village of Bara de Potosi.

19 Jan 2009 - 8:51pm

To be welcomed into a rural Mexican community was really fantastic and it was an honour to get a insight into the true Mexican culture. Since I have been home I have learned not to take some many things for granted as there is so many more people much less fortunate than us.

Patrick Bowen, an IT specialist and a future Teacher from Co Cork, volunteered for 10 weeks at a teaching project in the town of Amecameca in Mexico

19 Jan 2009 - 8:46pm

I can fully recommend the EIL - Volunteer Abroad programme, Amecameca and the Sanchez family to anyone wanting to teach, learn Spanish or sample a slice of Mexican life.

Clare O'Gorman, a student from Galway, spent 6 weeks volunteering with Volunteer Abroad in Mexico working with the children of Barra de Potosi.

19 Jan 2009 - 8:43pm

Deciding to volunteer with 'Los niños encantados' of Barra de Potosí was the best and most rewarding decision of my life. As soon as I arrived in the village, I was blown away by the warmth and generosity of the community there. I was amazed by the strong social ties the community had, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Arran Sadlier won a EIL Travel Award to Mexico. After an orientation programme and Spanish Language course he went on to volunteer at two projects.

19 Jan 2009 - 8:41pm

Going by a fixed timetable was also problematic seeing as many of the islanders didn't have watches resulting in people turning up at different times for English class. Teaching English worked better by always carrying a pen and notepad as people would often ask for the English of how to say certain things often related to their work or daily life.

Maria Cronin from Dublin volunteered in the village of Barra de Potosi, Mexico.

19 Jan 2009 - 8:33pm

Choosing where to volunteer was a very hard task but I am so glad I chose to volunteer with 'Los ni-os encantados' of Barra de Potos'. It was such a rewarding experience and I would defiantly recommend people thinking about volunteering to do it here.

Mairéad O'Reilly helped the community of Isla del Viejo Soyaltepec, Mexico

19 Jan 2009 - 8:30pm

My volunteering activities mainly consisted of teaching English to the women, teenagers and children, collecting some of the many local legends, making signs for the eco-tourism project and to raise environmental awareness. While I was there I also tried to find a means of recycling plastic, the disposal of which is a huge problem in Soyaltepec. The pace of life on the island is quite slow and there were times when I realised that patience truly is a beautiful virtue! At the same time, I did get things done and I enjoyed the work that I did immensely.

Terms & Conditions

  • Applications should only be made with the full permission of the young person involved
  • Shortlisting may take place and interviews will take place pror to final selection
  • Each successful applicant must complete all necessary supplementary application forms as required by EIL (including parental/guardian permissions if under 18)
  • Selected applicants forfeit their place on the programme should he/she not be able to fully participate on the programme on all the dates as specified
  • Young people will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of maturity and responsibility in order to participante
  • All persons making nominations and all the young applicants agree to accept the decision of the EIL adjudication panel as final.