MEXICO
Project TEN center in Mexico works in the lovely village of Santiago Yancuitlalpan near the outskirts of Mexico City since 2021. Jewish volunteers from Israel and around the world will join local Mexican volunteers and work in our education projects with youth and children from the community.
What We Do
The majority of Project TEN Mexico work is based in the villages of Santiago Yancuitlalpan and Zacamulpa within Huixquilucan municipality in the State of Mexico. We work together with the Jewish community of Mexico city to promote higher educational activities in the villages. Together with Bitui, CADENA and Keren Hayesod Mexico we partnered with the Municipality of the villages to work together at least four times a week with the children of the community in three different schools. We focus on Informal methods of education and creating strong bonds of trust between the community and Project TEN. We set up sustainable thinking games activities, sports, music and reading and are involving children and youth of all ages to take part of the change we wish to see in Huixquilucan.
We don’t forget the parents! Once a week we host women groups in Huixquilucan and split our time with the women and children to create strong leadership initiatives.
Enrichment Program for Volunteers
TEN volunteers undergo training before and after arrival at the Center. The training is designed to prepare participants for group life, the volunteering experience, and it enables a connection to the wider global context in which the Project TEN operates. The delegation opens with a week of orientation of in-depth familiarity with the Center. During this week, the volunteers meet the local staff, get to deeply know the work, visit volunteering locations and are exposed to the local culture and lifestyle.
During the three months of volunteering, there are regular weekly meetings that are led by the Center’s Directors and Coordinators and in collaboration with local professionals. The meetings cover various topics such as international development, education and community, Sabbath and holiday activities, language and group time. The purpose of the meetings is to process the volunteering and group life experiences, to provide tools for the professional implementation of Project TEN’s educational and ethical model, to expose the volunteers to the culture and lifestyle of the community in which they live alongside their own identity as Jews, as Israelis and citizens of the world.
In order to work in Central America properly our volunteers have ongoing Spanish lessons, it is a great way to ensure meaningful work with the community around us. Do you speak Spanish? You should choose to volunteer in this beautiful landscape while enjoying rich cultural and historic communities.
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Volunteers
Residence: The volunteer house is located in the outskirts of Mexico City and we travel daily to Santiago Yancuitlalpan. The Directors and Coordinators and volunteers share a communal home and the volunteers share communal rooms, showers and bathrooms (4-6 per room). The house has a laundry room, a living room and a fully equipped vegetarian kitchen. Volunteers can spend time in the yard or on the roof of the house overlooking the beautiful valley.
Saturdays and Holidays: Every second Saturday, participants are free to go and travel around the country. The program welcomes religious and secular participants. All activities on Saturdays and Jewish holidays are suitable for traditional observers. However, every participant is free to keep the Sabbath as they see fit.
Hiking and Travel Recommendations: Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest in terms of population in North America. In and out of the city there are hundreds of heritage sites, hiking trails, museums, parks, restaurants, and attractions. Mexico is waiting for you to discover it, a few hours drive and flight there are hiking trails, stunning beaches and a rich cultural life.
Cost
The 3 month cohorts cost 5,000 Israeli Shekel. This includes: accommodation, three nutritious meals a day, clean water, transportation to volunteer sites, professional staff in the field, basic Wi-Fi and security. The cost does not include: flights, health insurance, vaccines, visas and free weekends.
