Description

In Guadalajara, Projects Abroad has established a unique Culture & Community project ideal for creative volunteers with an artistic flair. Based in Tlaquepaque, a district of Guadalajara located around 30 minutes by bus from the city center, volunteer placements can be arranged in a local ceramic workshop.

Tlaquepaque, along with Tonala, is famed for its production of traditional Mexican crafts is home to a large number of workshops. Local artisans predominantly produce ceramic and pottery works, which are sold in local markets and to customers around the world.

Projects Abroad works with Ceramic 1, a family owned workshop founded around 25 years ago. In the early days, the workshop only produced decorative tiles, but today a team of around four artisans work to make wall plaques, jugs, wash basins and tiles decorated in both traditional and modern styles. The majority of their products are made to order and clients include Mexican hotels as well as German and Canadian customers.

This project enables creative volunteers to become craftspeople and get involved in the production of basic ceramic works from start to finish. Previous volunteers have come from all walks of life -- including gap year students, career breakers and mature travelers. Your working day will start at around 9am and usually finishes at around 1pm, a convenient time to head home to your host family for lunch.

Your placement will be broken down into phases and you will spend time working on each stage of the production of ceramics. First off, you will learn and assist in making moulds before mixing clay and casting various ceramic items. Following this, you will be able to hand paint your own designs onto your creations, taking inspiration from your experiences in Mexico and the work of the artisans around you. Finally, you will learn how to glaze your product before it is fired in the kiln; the final stage in the production of ceramics.

Completing these phases usually takes one month; however, this project is available for one or two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to accomplish as much as someone volunteering for a longer period. In particular you may not be able to take some of the items you have made home, as the ceramics are only fired in the oven every two or three weeks.

Highlights

Ceramic 1 is a friendly workshop with a relaxed atmosphere that allows volunteers to get involved in the production of their own ceramic wares. You will learn about the production process and the local artisans will be wiling to chat about their work, depending on your knowledge of Spanish!

Guadalajara is a fantastic city for anybody interested in art and traditional craft making. Many workshops throughout Tlaquepaque and Tonala are open to the public for browsing or buying and there are regular street markets selling large quantities of locally made handicrafts. In addition, Guadalajara is home to many art galleries and the World Heritage site of Hospicio Cabañas houses a large modern art collection as well as stunning murals in the chapel by the highly acclaimed Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco.

Qualifications

None.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The price of each placement includes all your food and accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, full travel and medical insurance plus support and 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Arts
• Community Development
• Culture
• Volunteering

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-80

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992