The Aldeas de Paz work center in Chalma is made up of a group of young professionals, committed to the social and cultural well-being of their community. The main objective is social integration, through cultural and recreational activities with the different sectors of society, elderly, youth and children. Aldeas de Paz is promoting a new community center that is located in one of the most important pilgrimage sites on the continent. Chalma’s needs and problems are huge, but also there are a lot of solutions that we are promoting. We want to promote social change but also to face one of the big challenges in town: look after abandoned dogs. Dogs attach to pilgrims while they walk to town and they don’t take them back with them. Every year, dozens of new dogs arrive in Chalma and the local population doesn’t have the capacity to shelter all. One of the main tasks of the community center is to recover the history, culture, and traditions of Chalma through proper and systematic documentation (taking photographs, drone videos, interviews and organizing the international folklore festival in its fifth edition in 2023). This project seeks to generate community well-being in a town that is a well-known tourism center with diverse needs. We are also carrying out educational and occupational therapy activities with different sectors of the community. There is a lot to do and all volunteers are welcome!
About Aldeas de Paz programs in Mexico
Our Mexican programs are focused on socio-environmental conflicts management and transformation. Aldeas de Paz has partnered with local grass root NGOs that are committed to these tasks and that are helping us generate local change and impact. It is possible for any volunteer to divide its time on the different locations and programs. A two weeks minimum stay is required in any program. We encourage volunteers to take advantage of the different areas to visit in Mexico and we propose activities to do and places to see. Help us establish these programs and let’s start generating local changes in the different communities where we are working in Mexico. With Aldeas de Paz you can travel around Mexico and get to know new projects, people and challenges. This program is the first of its kind with Aldeas de Paz!
Volunteer placement, apprenticeship or internship
You can join this program as a volunteer, apprentice or intern. As a volunteer you are free to commit any number of hours per week. That's up to you! As an apprentice or intern however you probably have to fulfill requirements set by your school or university. Please inform us of your school or university internship requirements in advance so that we can work out your personalized work plan together. Also tell us about your personal expectations and goals. We are happy to give students academic credit or provide a report outlining the learning outcomes and deliverables achieved during your placement.
Requirements
No previous experience or special skills are required. A volunteer/intern needs to be enthusiastic, willing to learn, ready for a challenge and has to have a desire to take initiative; friendliness, care, commitment and patience are among important qualities. Motivation and desire to learn about the community development field as well as passion for community work and grassroots development. We seek that the volunteer experience supports both a comprehensive experience for the person who participates and for all the members and beneficiaries of our community. Each volunteer will receive a personalized schedule according to his/her needs and availability of activities. A minimum time commitment of 4 hours/ 4 days a week is expected for all volunteers. We expect that volunteers adapt to program needs with flexibility, responsibility, commitment, patience, and perseverance, among other significant qualities.
It is necessary for volunteers to meet certain requirements:
● At least 18 years of age at the start point of the volunteering period.
● At least intermediate Spanish competence (A2 completed) is suggested. We accept volunteers with less Spanish (will limit possible activities).
● Multimedia activities and documentation activities (no Spanish is required).
● Respect for the other and openness to discover new ways of life and cultural practices.
● Preference will be given to those candidates who have work experience with people in vulnerable situations or with a social sciences/anthropology background.
● A valid medical insurance throughout your stay is mandatory.
● Candidates will be interviewed through video call by the NGO staff.
● An ideal volunteer is proactive, result-focused but still patient and willing to engage in activities autonomously while still having our support and supervision.
