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17 Jan 2025
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Description
We are a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to enhancing quality of life and well-being for all by providing educational programs and professional development to children, teens and adults in the local community. It means radiance or shining light and this is what we try to be for our community - a shining beacon of hope.
We achieve this by being a centre of learning that promotes education, art, music, dance, science, health and wellness. This includes programs to establish educational and cultural projects for the local community and to provide opportunities for university faculty, students and colleagues, both locally and internationally, to participate in shared learning experiences.
Additionally, it serves by providing additional support to the primary schools and pre-schools in the immediate area during the regular school year. It offers community out-reach programs to promote the love of reading by teaching parents how to read to their children, domestic violence prevention workshops, environmental education, guitar, cooking, nutrition, Zumba, swimming classes, theater and art, and health and wellness through community gardening.
The organisation will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2024. It was founded by Todd and Veronica, a Mexican/US couple who live next door with their two sons, aged 11 and 13. We are supported by Chelo and Don Juan, who assist with various projects. It is not only a physical space, rather it is a community fully supported by the loving efforts of dedicated volunteers.
We have a large, open space with a court that can be used for basketball, volleyball, pickel ball and other activities. We have a soccer field, a pool, bicycles and our resident horse, Agatha, who is just waiting to be ridden! We have 5 rabbits, several chickens, a composting area and are currently growing sunflowers, tomatoes, carrots, beans, corn, rosemary and cilantro.
Inside the building we have 3 stories with lots of open space, toys and learning materials for children, a fully equipped kitchen, computer room, library, musical instruments and even a professional bread oven.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Since the creation of the organisation we have had the honour of having more than 500 volunteers from different parts of the world. The period of stay can be for days, weeks, months or even a year. In this experience you will be immersed in a rural Mexican community with traditions, a sense of unity and cooperation.
It is a space where you can explore your talents and share your skills with the local community. We encourage anyone who is willing to conduct workshops for the community to share your knowledge, language and culture and help enhance the quality of life of all. This is an excellent space for intercultural exchange with anyone from children to adults to professionals.
In return, you will be immersed in rural Mexican life and welcomed by the local community. Often the local families will invite you for dinner or you can join in the local activities. Depending on the time of year there is Dia de Los Muertos, the Town Festival and various religious holidays. We can also teach you how to prepare products with nopal cactus, make corn tortillas or fresh cheeses.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Every day is different here, however, we hold daily classes at 4pm where any member of the community can join in. This could be anything from music, art, zumba, sport, computers etc. Often there are multiple classes running at the same time and there is always something new and exciting happening, with various visitors coming to utilise the space.
Twice a week we hold equine therapy sessions, using our resident horse, Agatha, to help teach children with learning disabilities and autism. We also hold classes for early childhood learning for ages 1-4pm, twice weekly. During the warmer months, Feb - Oct, we hold weekly swimming lessons for the community. Veronica is our certified teacher for children with disabilities and we have a number of other teachers who come onsite for their classes.
During your stay, you will either coordinate or support our teachers with different activities and classes. The activities could include:
- Music classes
- Sports
- Arts
- Dance classes
- Swimming lessons
- Summer courses
- Hydrotherapy
- Reading circles
- Literary productions
- Culture of your country
- Attention to children in early education
- Children with school lag and disabilities
- Computers
- Languages
- Training
- Maintenance of orchards
- Compost
- Ecological projects
- Earth Keepers kids camp
- Equine therapy
- Training for adolescents and adults on addictions
- Gender equality
- Sign language
- Leadership
- And much more!
In addition, you can assist with the development of educational materials and programs, organisation of the community library, advertising, design, updating social networks, video editing and support in fundraising events.
We welcome volunteers who have previous experience or education in any of the above areas or beyond who are willing to run workshops and share your knowledge with the community. We are open to your offer, please let us know what special expertise you'd like to offer, the more variety the better!
This opportunity is also open to those without previous experience but who have a positive attitude, flexibility, creativity, love and responsibility to work with children, youth and adults.
We recommend this experience for volunteers who speak Spanish and for those interested in learning or strengthening their Spanish in an authentic context. Spanish proficiency is preferred but not required.
****In addition, one of our current goals is to build a new volunteers dormitory so we are looking for volunteers with professional experience in carpentry and/or masonry****
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Sign language (American): IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
*Note that we speak Mexican sign language, not American We are happy to share and teach the Spanish and English language, there is plenty of opportunity for language exchange here.
Accommodation
Volunteers are welcome to stay in the organisation building, located in a rural area 45 minutes from downtown Guanajuato, with public transportation. In the facilities we have shared rooms, kitchen, bathrooms, showers with hot water, TV and strong WiFi. Alternatively, you are welcome to stay outside and travel in daily for volunteering if preferred.
We offer daily breakfast, Monday - Friday, and the occasional lunch or dinner with the family. We eat meat but can cater to various dietary requirements.
When organizing your own meals, there is a fully functioning kitchen available for use. There is a local shop 5 minutes walk away where you can get basic food supplies or larger supermarkets in central Guanajuato.
What else ...
You will work from Monday - Friday and have weekends to explore the area. Guanajuato is a UNESCO World Heritage Site has been named one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico with winding streets full of music, color and culture. There are a number of hikes you can do nearby, as well as visit wineries, hot springs, old mines, Pueblos Magicos or the stunning San Miguel De Allende is only 1 hour away.
Guanajuato generally has a warm climate during the day, especially during rainy season which is from June - October. The evenings can be chilly but it never freezes or snows.
There is a local bus that runs once per hour and takes you to central Guanajuato in about 40 minutes. It costs 10 pesos (less than $1). We are also often travelling by car and can offer you a lift when possible.
Guanajuato holds the International Cervantino event every October which showcases music, theatre, dance, opera and more. There is also a lively Dia De Los Muertos celebration and events during Semana Santa and Fiestas Navideñas (Posadas). In nearby San Miguel there is a yearly Jazz festival in November.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have good wifi connection
Space for parking camper vans
Yes, no problem, we have lots of space
Can possibly accept pets
Yes, most likely, if well behaved
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (6)
I stayed one month. I can barely begin to describe in this short space all the things we did and the warm, familial welcome I experienced with Todd, Veronica, Chelo, the neighbors, and the kids.
You must be self-motivated. No one… read more
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I stayed one month. I can barely begin to describe in this short space all the things we did and the warm, familial welcome I experienced with Todd, Veronica, Chelo, the neighbors, and the kids.
You must be self-motivated. No one… read more
I… read more
The communication with Todd and Veronica was really fluent and clear. We loved sharing moments with the boys, Chelow and with all the family during a good meal.
For the work, we worked the week and we had week end free. Our job was sometimes to help… read more
Todd, Veronica, Chelo and the boys are so open and friendly. They welcomed me into their home (and their fridge!) with open arms and made me feel like part of the family from day 1. Nothing was too much trouble and the communication lines were open.
The… read more
