At a glance
- Work in disadvantaged care centres and kindergartens, supporting local teachers and caregivers.
- Your focus will be on early childhood development, doing activities that stimulate their physical, cognitive, and social development.
- Many of the children come from difficult backgrounds or have special needs and the centres we partner with rely on the help of volunteers like you.
Is volunteering in childcare in Mexico right for me?
This project is perfect for anyone who loves working with children. It's also a great option if you're interested in studying childcare or early childhood development, and want practical experience.
It will also help you develop important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and planning. You can apply these skills to any career you pursue.
You don’t need previous experience to join. You'll support local staff and caregivers and Projects Abroad staff will be there to guide you. We also run regular workshops for all Childcare and Teaching volunteers, and our online resources is a great facility for you to draw from.
You can join this project at any time throughout the year. We encourage you to stay as long as possible, so you can have a bigger impact on the children you work with.
What will I do on this project?
Your main role in Mexico is to support local teachers and caregivers. Your work will cover the following areas:
- Support early childhood development through fun games and lessons
- Make educational resources like flashcards and posters
- Participate in workshops surrounding local childcare and educational practices
Your work will focus on the following areas:
Improve children’s learning and development through play
You can help improve early childhood development by teaching them educational songs, doing arts and crafts, and playing organised games outdoors. These activities will include coming up with creative ways for them to learn, while making sure they have fun and remain engaged.
Improve the children’s learning environment
Childcare volunteering in Mexico also focuses on preparing resources for educational lessons. These include posters, flashcards, and any other materials you think could be useful. As a result, future volunteers and teachers can build on your work and use it to teach kids long after you've left.
Learn about childcare and educational practices
Projects Abroad staff run regular workshops for volunteers. These workshops offer up great insight into the Mexican childcare system and the background of your placement. It will be a great source of information for you regarding your work. You can also use this time to exchange ideas and discuss challenges you’re facing.
Where in Mexico will I work?
Guadalajara
Guadalajara has winding cobblestone streets, gorgeous colonial architecture, and a serene urban area. Many of the images characterised as ‘Mexican’ have their roots here. The modernisation of the city allows volunteers to experience both old and new, all within the cities’ confines.
The care centres in Guadalajara where you’ll work vary in size. The children come have various different backgrounds.
What is a typical day on this Childcare Project like?
Each day in Mexico starts with breakfast at your host family’s home. Then, you’ll head to your placement using public transport, or walking if you’re close enough. We’ll show you how to get there on your first day.
Your workday will start at 9am and finish around 5pm, Monday through Friday. It will be filled with lots of running around and activity, and it will undoubtedly go by in a flash!
The majority of your day will revolve around hosting the next lesson, overseeing play time, or conducting activities. These activities will aim to help with physical advancement and cognitive development. Play-dough, arts and crafts, and colouring are all great activities that help refine the children’s motor skills.
Your evenings, however, will be much more laidback. You will get the opportunity to spend your free time with your fellow volunteers, and explore the city.
What are the aims of this project?
The aim of this project is to improve early childhood development in Mexico. Our volunteers play a vital role in helping children reach the developmental milestones typical for their age.
Mexico is still recognised as a developing country, and this is reflected in its education system in which imbalances still remain. The country also suffers from economic inequality, and many families continue to rely on the struggling public school system.
Today, there is an increasing amount of evidence pointing towards the importance of early years education. The care centres we work with are overcrowded and understaffed, and we need your help to make sure each child gets the education they need. Projects Abroad has elected not to work with children in orphanages in Mexico, but rather focus on community-based programmes that allow children to remain within their families.
By supporting early childhood development, you’ll give young children the skills they need to cope with the demands of first year when they start school. In line with this, we’ve identified four long-term, sustainable goals to work toward in Mexico:
- Promote early childhood development
- Improve hygiene
- Improve English
- Improve the level of stimulation each child receives
Volunteer with children in Mexico and help us achieve these goals.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Guadalajara. They'll welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and learn about yours. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Mexico and have a unique experience.
We'll try to ensure you live with other Projects Abroad volunteers or interns at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your programme fee includes three meals a day. This is great news because nothing beats authentic Mexican food. Get ready to sample the most delicious tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
With beautiful beaches, arresting art galleries, and buzzing restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Mexico. You’ll have plenty to do during your free time on your project in this dynamic country.
There’s something captivating about touring through old buildings. If you’re into neo-gothic architecture, treat yourself to a trip to the Templo Expiatorio del Santisimo Sacramento. It’s a work of art with its ornate steeples and glowing stained glass windows.
There are also plenty of museums, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in the country’s rich history. For something different, you can spend the day appreciating the wildlife and lush vegetation of Las Peñas Ecological Park.
You can’t take a trip to Mexico without tasting authentic Mexican cuisine. You can spend an evening enjoying pozole or tamales at a local restaurant and watching the vivid orange-red sun melt into the horizon.
We have a host of different projects in Mexico so there’ll likely be lots of other volunteers in the area during your trip. So you can choose to travel and explore in a group or on your own.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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