Overview
Teach Indigenous Children in Mexico

Join this overseas volunteering project to help the underprivileged children of Chiapas – one of the poorest regions in Mexico – by contributing towards their limited education. Volunteers on this Mexican project are based in the picturesque colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, from where you travel to nearby rural villages to spend the mornings working in local schools, and afternoons providing educational reinforcement for children and adults in first-time education. Volunteers will concentrate on literacy and numeracy in your classes; GVI Phoenix project staff will be on hand each day to help in the classroom.
Volunteers have the chance to explore at the weekends to see the many spectacular Mayan sites and landscapes Mexico is home to... or you could even nip across the border to explore nearby Guatemala.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Great project, beautiful area - no more words can describe it!

Dom Williams, Founder of the Phoenix Project Mexico

What Difference Does This Project Make?

In Chiapas, an overwhelming percentage of the indigenous population lives in deep poverty. Access to education, medical care and affordable markets is limited. This projects aims to raise the level and availability of education in these areas, and to implement nutritional food programs for the children.

Highlights

Working in small Mexican villages in the rural areas of indigenous Tzotziles and Tzeltales, teaching literacy and numeracy, being based in the beautiful colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, travelling to both coasts of Mexico, going on a weekend trip to the Mayan Ruins of Palenque, and learning Spanish.

Location

Volunteers are based in the picturesque colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in the highlands of Chiapas, Southern Mexico, close to the Guatemalan border and 14 hours from Mexico City. The town is filled with winding cobbled streets, ancient churches and vibrant markets, and surrounded by spectacular scenery that contains renowned ancient Mayan sites.

Field Conditions

You will live with local families in comfortable though basic accommodation, where you will receive three meals a day. All volunteers will be based in the same town and travel daily to the villages for your work.