This orphanage overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Gap year volunteers are needed for community support
and helping children particularly in their summer holidays. We organise summer camps for the orphans which involve
sport, art, painting, drama, swimming and fun activities.
Description of Project
This is a vibrant orphanage situated in a beautiful, sleepy Mexican town overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Some of the poorest and
most neglected children of the town have been abandoned or come from difficult family backgrounds of neglect and have nowhere else to
live. In spite of this the orphans are fun loving, cheerful and full of laughter. The orphanage offers the children that span the
ages of one to 12 years old a caring home and base for growth and education. The older children go to school each day but during the
school holidays we urgently need volunteers to provide stimulating activities for them. It currently offers a home to 48 children but
as and when money becomes available, the numbers will increase. We try to offer a well-resourced centre to a small number of children
rather than taking in more than we can look after properly. Their lack is sometimes financial but more importantly they lack the love,
care and attention that most young people are offered by their parents. We hope that volunteers will begin to fill this gap.
This project is ideal for gap volunteers who wants to work with orphans and disadvantaged children. Volunteers are needed throughout
the year but we are currently focusing on supporting small groups who may have a few weeks to spare in the school holiday period.
Summary
Project Code: M18
Main Activity of Project: Caring for, teaching and supporting orphan children.
Minimum Period of Stay: Two weeks.
Cost: Three week summer break: £1600 (includes orphanage donation). For full details of our prices please see our costs page.
Volunteer Responsibilities / Activities
Working in teams of between two and four people you would be asked to coach sports, teach art (possibly coordinating a wall
mural), drama, help with English and help with just about any fun activity that children might enjoy as a part of their summer,
Christmas or Easter holidays.
These children have had backgrounds of abuse and neglect. The more care, love and support we can give them the greater their
chances of growing into decent, well rounded people.
Accommodation / Food / Language / Time Off
The formal working hours are 8:30am to 5pm, five days a week. However, with nearly 50 children living at the orphanage, volunteers
are more than welcome to work in the evenings and at week ends. There is a lot to do.
During your free time there is superb swimming, snorkelling and surfing just a few minutes walk from the orphanage. The beaches are
superb. Behind the orphanage are stunning forests and hills for walking and mountain biking. The town is sleepy but has a daily craft
market, internet cafes, shops and restaurants. This is a community project and you would be invited to peoples houses for meals, fiestas
and celebrations. You would live with a wonderful local family and enjoy your meals as part of a family group.
You could make a real difference – to others and yourself!
Outreach International need volunteers to work abroad in schools,
hospitals, orphanages, with the disabled, animals and animal rescue, wildlife, physiotherapy, medical projects, sports and on humanitarian and conservation projects in South America, Central America, Africa and Asia, including Ecuador, Mexico,
Costa Rica, Cambodia, Nepal, the Galapagos Islands, Kenya and Sri Lanka. We're always looking for Gap Year students or anyone who wants to take a career break, Summer holiday, Easter or Christmas vacation break or a few months or a year out volunteering
overseas.
