Support Towards Community Sustainability

Support towards Community Sustainability: Empowering a Small Mayan Community

GET INSPIRED

For Dani and Majo part of their soul-searching journey came to fruition when they decided to place at the centre of their dream project the regard for life. Once they did it, they knew they wanted to support and promote projects conceived together with courageous entrepreneurial women interested in their own well-being as well as the well-being of their families, their communities and their land. More than ten years later, Dani and Majo have enjoyed developing projects and working in a Mayan town together with the women in the community. Their projects are aimed at looking after and “raising” (which is the term used by the Mayans) their land. Special care is given to ensure the well-being of the land guardians, mainly women. On the understanding that when women are fine, their families and communities most likely will follow.

As we assess options for projects we want to get involved with, many of us lean towards our internal values. As it is paramount for us to choose those projects that are congruent with what we believe is important and meaningful. For example practices focused on protecting and nurturing the land that has provided for centuries to some communities.

Come and partake with wise Mayan women and men, together with Dani and María José to create and share solutions to keep building food sovereignty while keeping respect for the land in order to continue enjoying its benefits.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG´s) 2030 Agenda

TOPIC	DESCRIPTION
	Yucatan Peninsula
	+21 yrs old
	From 3 months
	From 50 USD/day PLUS ** REGISTRATION FEE TO SECURE YOUR PLACE: 75USD WHEN SENDING APPPLICATION + 224USD WHEN ACCEPTED
	Volunteer's House
	Full Board except Sundays when only breakfast is provided
	Included
	Arrival Transfer

A thorough and comprehensive project that aims at the heart of the wellbeing of a Mayan community through social and solidarity economic practices, ensuring that the natural resources management responds to a sustainable model. The program is keen to welcome international volunteers who are interested in learning and enjoying what small indigenous communities can share with them while helping the team with admin, marketing, and research activities.

If you are hardworking, keen to learn about close-knit communities, interested in preserving the environment, enthusiastic and ready to support the team in the use of your skills and are interested in learning new ones, come and join us in sunny Mexico.

Project Goals

To promote community entrepreneurship led by women to have dignified jobs that provide community wellbeing
Create job and training opportunities for women and the youth in the community
To generate a sustainable management model for the local natural resources

Requirements

Education in either of the areas related to the activities listed below (“Your help” section) is DESIRABLE but NOT required
Experience would be beneficial in both or alternatively either of the areas, however it's not a must.
Interested in small community projects
Keen on written and verbal communication
Interested in numeric and admin procedures
A ‘can do it’ attitude and problem- resolution ability
Leadership and teamwork player, but also able to follow instructions
Willingness and desire to help and learn from others
Level of Spanish: Intermediate. English is desirable but not required

Your help

Depending on your skills and interest you may support in ONE or more of the following areas:

Support to community manager: content material for social networks and webpage
Graphic design for marketing material
Logistics support and PR (national and international alliances)
Support for the development of funds procurement strategies and research
Documentation and registry
English classes (if English is the native language) to organizational staff
Translation of material as needed (if English is the native language) by the organization to carry out funding activities and reporting of activities as necessary

Virtual Orientation

We are deeply commited to helping you be as prepared as possible to enjoy and fulfil your expectations for joining a program in Mexico. For that reason, there is an orientation course comprising of three distinct aspects prior to your arrival. Dates and time will be agreed upon the HUV team and the volunteer in advance.

The aspects to cover include:

Mexico and its culture
Volunteering in Mexico and learning about your chosen destination
Follow up throughout your chosen project

Arrival and Onsite Orientation

Arrival/Departure airport: Local nearby airport.

Volunteers will be welcomed upon arrival at Merida airport by a caring staff member of the organization hosting you. Arrange for a flight that arrives no later than midday. You will be given the option to either have light lunch or drive you to the project site and into your accommodation before enjoying a meal. The staff member will be happy to help you with any information needed on the community or any advice needed on your arrival.

Orientation will take place on Monday morning after you have a light breakfast.

Accommodation and meals

Volunteers will be hosted at the Volunteer’s House run by the organization. Rooms are dormitory style and may be shared by up to 3 volunteers depending on the time of the year and the number of volunteers onsite. The rooms are basic, but they have all standard amenities for a comfortable stay.

All meals are included (full board), except for Sundays when only breakfast is provided. Some of them are self-service, others prepared by staff members and a few more prepared as a team including the volunteer. Mexican people have a high appreciation of mealtimes, and it is a special time to relax and socialize, thus be ready to enjoy the experience.

Project Availability: All year round

Duration: You can choose dates from a minimum of 12 weeks up to 24 weeks. Arrivals are expected on a SUNDAY, and you can choose the minimum stay and subject to availability (and visa conditions) you can extend your stay through arrangements with the local team.

** if the fees for the time you are interested in volunteering for the project of your choice is not listed, please send us an enquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Volunteers will share their work with local peers for around 6 hours Monday to Friday.

*TIME*	*TYPICAL ACTIVITY*
8:00 am	Self- prepared breakfast
8:30 am	Personal time at the volunteer’s house or at your own choice
10:00 am	You will join the office as they start their daily activities. Most of your time your time will be spent supporting the project or projects that are being developed. The specific activities will depend upon the activities you have chosen to help with as well as the phase the projects are at time of your visit
2:00 pm	Lunch time is shared and enjoyed at the Food Processing Centre
3:00 pm	You will be back at the office for the remaining of the day. You may visit some of the project sites in the community
5:00 pm	The office finalises operations at this time and you are free to enjoy any leisure activity you may choose, including bike riding around town, visit the Mayan cultural centre, swim at the local Cenote (deep well)