Social Work Volunteering in Oaxaca, Mexico

Had a great trip to Italy. I met a ton of people from all over the world and we worked together educating about issues around refugees. We worked during the day and had fun at night and on the weekends. I am still in touch with many of the people I volunteered with. Thanks

Oaxaca was everything I hoped it would be. I got so much experience improving my Spanish by speaking with the locals, and everybody I had the pleasure of interacting with was extremely kind and gracious to me. I also had SO many opportunities to expand and explore my artistic journey, including painting a mural, which led to two more opportunities for me to create art for businesses outside of the program. I made so many friends, and re-discovered my true passion for art and illustration. This trip sparked my interest in traveling solo more often, and I can confidently say Mexico has such a magical soul.

I love helping the old people , and I love those who do this because it gives them a spirit of life and enhances their psychology for the better. I also love animals and playing with them gently and I hope that I will enjoy this volunteering because it will have a great impact on my psychological state

My experience with VFP way back in 2009 was remarkable. Living in Germany and building a labyrinth at a World Heritage Site as the only native English speaker in my group was a truly immersive experience. I didn't feel like I was coming into a place from the outside so much as I felt part of a community. Our group really bonded and while we had a primary task, many of the day to day decisions were made by the group, one of my first experiences with really being responsible for myself.

I entered this program to learn about what being a psychologist is like. Understandably, this is a difficult task, due to the confidential nature of the work. Despite this, through Adelante, I was able to spend time with two psychologists in Oaxaca learning from them, shadowing their sessions, and even conducting my own therapy sessions. I would recommend adelante as they work diligently to ensure you have a positive and impactful experience. I did not feel I had a major impact doing the work, but this was less due to Adelante and more due to the nature of the work. If you are like me and are thinking of pursuing a career related to counseling, I would recommend this program. I know I would not have been able to have this experience in the US. If you have any further questions about my experience, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. A more in depth review of my experience with Adelante can be found here: https://www.goabroad.com/providers/adelante-abroad/programs/internships-oaxaca-mexico-169229.

I spent three months in Oaxaca studying psychology. Understandably, this is a difficult discipline to study as an intern due to the often confidential nature of the work. Despite this, I felt that the program coordinator Carlos did a great job connecting me with local psychologists to learn, assist with presentations, practice Spanish, observe therapy sessions, and even lead sessions on my own. I wanted to learn what it would be like to work as a psychologist and I feel Adelante helped me reach this goal. I also was afforded plenty of time and flexibility to travel throughout Oaxaca and to spend time with my brilliant housemates. The language courses were much-needed and I felt much more prepared going into my work placement having that introduction. The best part of this experience for me was the housing placement. Myself and the girls I lived with were placed with an extremely hospitable family from Oaxaca. Talking with them was the best practice I had for my Spanish. They were also some of the most pleasant people I have met and I felt they really embraced me as part of the family. If you are thinking of traveling with adelante, I recommend it. It was extremely affordable compared to other programs I have seen. The process was as stress-free as possible, from the pre-departure materials and interviews, the arrival and integration with language classes, and the departure, everything was well-organized. It was also important to me to have independence and to be able to tailor the program to my goals, and this was fulfilled. Everyone I worked with from Adelante was pleasant and helpful. If I decide to study away again, I will likely choose adelante. If you are thinking of traveling to Oaxaca, also, I recommend it. Some of the best food I’ve had on my travels, some of the kindest people I’ve met, and some of the best places to visit, from the vibrant city to the ruins to the mushroom mountains and to the beaches on both sides. One could spend a lot of time studying and traveling Oaxaca, and by the end, they will want to make it home. Carlos was great as a program coordinator. If you have any concerns about speaking Spanish, I entered the program knowing a decent amount of Spanish but mostly unable to communicate at all with native speakers without great trouble. Through the classes and being integrated I quickly grew in confidence and was able to communicate much more clearly. if you have any specific questions about the program you want to ask a former participant, I am happy to chat. My email is [email protected]. Bon voyage.

I did a legal internship in Oaxaca for three months and had the best time. I had great roommates, a kind host family and the best internship placement. The spanish lessons at the beginning were so helpful and I can definitely say that my spanish has improved and I also learnt so much from my internship. The internship isn't too intense and leaves you with plenty of time to explore the city and participate in other classes and activities. This was the experience of a lifetime, really helped with my university application and I will definitely be returning to Oaxaca!

I spent 3 months doing a business/marketing internship. I applied on late notice and everything was organised for me very quickly and I am hugely grateful for that! My internship was wonderful. All my colleagues were extremely accommodating of me and I have gained a valuable experience from working with them. Oaxaca de Juarez is a truly beautiful city with lots to do - after 3 months here, it feels like a second home. I cannot recommend Oaxaca enough! I had one of the best experiences of my life! Thank you Adelante!

In compliance with my university, I needed to complete an unpaid internship or study abroad for academic credit. I said why not both? Adelante Abroad helped me find an internship that aligned with my values and introduced me to an entirely new place I had never been before. Oaxaca is a special place that any creative should go to at least once in their life. This is the center of where your experience can be extremely impacted because of Oaxaca's huge artisan community. Therefore, when it came to my experience and my internship they helped contribute to how much I learned and grew as a designer and a person.

I had a fabulous time during my time in Oaxaca de Juarez. I found the introductory Spanish lessons at the local language school to be invaluable. The teachers shared some really useful tips on local hotspots and made lessons interesting and fun. Equally my internship with a Printing Studio was a great experience and I loved being part of their team. I really noticed the positive impact that the placement and language school had on my competence in speaking Spanish. One of my favourite things about my time in Mexico was the housing. The landlady Irma, her son Octavio and the cleaner Leti all made me feel so welcome and helped me settle in with ease. I would say the program is catered for more independent people but would recommend it to anybody as an incredible opportunity. I would love to go back!

I've been always active with many local associations . And i would love to experience something new abroad . France can be 1 grear chance for me to deal with the local community and to help in any kind of project

VFP made the travel and volunteer process very simple and it was very easy to communicate with them when additional information was needed. They worked with an agency in Nepal called VIN (Volunteers in Nepal) which was also excellent. Our host family made the experience really incredible. They were kind and very concerned for our safety and well-being. My partner and I remain in contact with our hosts and VIN through Facebook and have made life-long friends. Through VIN we were also able to feel involved and contributed to the reparations after the massive earthquake last year. I would recommend Volunteers for Peace to anyone.

This trip was amazing and Volunteers for Peace was an excellent organization to go through for my first international volunteer experience. Living and working with such amazing people, from our hosts to other volunteers, the project was enlightening and exciting and allowed all of us outsiders a chance to be welcomed into a vibrant, warm culture.

My time spent in Haiti has forever changed my perception of what's important in life. Volunteers for Peace, VFP, allowed me to experience life in a society where things we take for granted are not readily available and are scrounged for daily. Mere existence in Duchity, Haiti involves foraging for food, hunting for wood or charcoal to cook with, collecting water at a community water source, and cleaning clothes in an overused creek. I was overwhelmed with the opportunity to witness and live (if only for a short time) the joy and rhythm of Haitian life. Immediately upon my arrival, I found myself immersed in Haitian culture; for this I am forever grateful. I was able to witness the dangers of idleness and feel the uncertainty of tomorrow that brews in the youth of Duchity. The residents of Haiti lack opportunities to better their situation, but VFP has joined forces with a local energetic resident to help establish an adult vocational school to empower the Duchity residents with trade-skills that can be used to earn income and better lives. Volunteers for Peace has a strong commitment to empowering local residents. They understand that meaningful help for a person, group, community, or nation must come from within that person, group, or nation. They embrace this concept fully. Their affiliation in Duchity, Haiti is helping to assure residents learn to help themselves. I was honored to have been a part of their exceptional program.

My VFP trip to Alaska took place several years ago, but it's still worth reviewing here, because I've done additional VFP trips since. VFP has always impressed me with its customer service, affordability, and attitude that "Peace begins one friendship at a time." Our work in Sitka, Alaska, was varied, thanks to our excellent local hosts. We did everything from working with injured eagles at a raptor center to painting tiny furniture at a preschool. During our free time, our hosts took us fishing, camping, hiking, and kayaking in some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Our lodging was simple but comfortable (mattresses on the floor at a large church) and groceries were plentiful. While I doubt that those particular hosts are still organizing projects like this one, I highly recommend working with VFP if you want a meaningful and affordable volunteer travel experience!

One of the unique features of traveling with VFP is that they partner with a few organizations that will accept entire families to volunteer -- and most importantly, these programs are very affordable compared to others I've researched. A few summers ago, my husband, 10 year-old daughter, and I went to Sardinia to volunteer with Legambiente, a large environmental agency in Italy. We lived and worked with three other families from three different countries. Our lodging was in a former boarding school in a tiny village. There was a huge, modern kitchen, shower facilities, and a washing machine. The hosts brought plenty of groceries to us on a regular basis and we shared the cooking and cleaning duties. Our actual work was simple -- cleaning up trash from Sardinia's beaches, planting some trees, etc. (Children didn't have to do the physical labor; parents would take turns keeping an eye on them.) Usually this would take only a couple of hours each day, then we were free to go into town, to the beach, etc. Our hosts treated us very well, although for them it was their vacation time (!) so they often just socialized with each other, not with us. But the other families and mine became good friends; we still stay in touch.

In 2013, I volunteered in Reykjavik with SEEDS, Iceland's VFP counterpart. Volunteering is apparently not a common pursuit among Icelanders, so SEEDS has taken advantage of 1) Iceland's booming tourist industry and 2) tourists who do like to volunteer. The SEEDS program I did involved helping a soccer club called Throttur with their annual international tournament for teen players. The Throttur hosts provided a comfortable living space, groceries, and free passes to the city's top swimming pool facility, right across from our lodging. The work was physically challenging, but not difficult -- cleaning up the fields each day, setting up beds for the players and coaches, etc. Working with VFP for travelling is awesome. They offer a ton of choices, the fees are exceptionally low compared to others volunteer-abroad programs, and the staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and quick to respond to questions and concerns.

I've been involved with VFP for several years, both as a project participant and as a local project organizer here in the U.S. All together, I've been a part of 11 projects. Working as a camp counselor in Turkey was my favorite. Genctur, VFP's counterpart in Turkey, was excellent to work with. The Genctur staff were flexible with our situation, allowing family of three to participate together: Two of us were counselors and one was a camper. Our main purpose as Americans was to encourage the campers to practice their English with us while we enjoyed typical camp activities like games, swimming, arts and crafts, etc. We even learned some Turkish. The other staff were very nice to work with and the facility was clean and comfortable. And the camp food was really good, no kidding! If you like residential summer camps, and you like teenagers, I can recommend this project without reservation.

What an incredible experience! I went looking for an adventure, what I found changed my life. I couldn't be happier about my journey. I met some of the best people in the world and lived among the locals and they treated me like I was family.

No amount of International Relations coursework or even studying abroad could prepare me for learning the ins and outs of navigating cultural barriers and different work expectations. The program truly opened my eyes and taught me how to be more accepting and understanding. I volunteered at the end of March in Bavaria county in Germany. The first week we experienced hail and torrential downpour and yet there were people still working on our labyrinth! Needless to say, I found I much more value my health over my work. However, it did clear up and we managed to finish even with our reduced time given the weather! It was rewarding; next time though I think I will go during the summer.