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4 Reviews
87%Overall
Rating
Program Description
ProWorld Volunteer Programs in Mexico
Description
Join ProWorld in Mexico on a variety immersive volunteer projects. Programs in Mexico last from 1-26 weeks, and allow you to see the world from a new perspective while giving back to local communities.
ProWorld works with individual volunteers to ensure they are placed in a project that matches their skills and interests. Projects are dynamic and change throughout the course of the year, as well as the volunteer needs at each project. Final project placement for volunteers (especially during the peak season months of May-August) will be determined by site teams based on community need, while also taking into account your skills and interests.
Ratings and Reviews
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Oaxaca Mexico
100%Overall
Rating
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Volunteering in Oaxaca
90%Overall
Rating
I loved Oaxaca! It is a beautiful place with lots to do and a great community of expats.
I was able to work with two different projects that I was interested in - a bicycle/environmental organization as well as a support group for young women. I also lived with a great host family and loved the excursions ProWorld took us on (we went to Monte Alban ruins and Hierve el Agua, a petrified waterfall and pools).
Even though there were a few things I wish ProWorld had done better (like communication with the local NGOs I worked with), overall, the in-country staff were extremely supportive and helpful whenever I asked for help.
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
Working in a rural Oaxacan clinic is the best thing I've ever done (so far!)
90%Overall
Rating
Thinking about interning or volunteering with a ProWorld health program in Oaxaca? Great! Let me tell you why you should go for it...
If you're like me, everything about ProWorld's options sound great and exciting, but you still have some questions before committing. Is ProWorld a credible company? Will I have a good support system from ProWorld? Will I gain valuable experience? And perhaps most of all, is Mexico safe?!
I graduated from university in May 2011 with a bachelor's in international affairs, focused on global public health. I needed/wanted to gain on-the-ground experience in my field before returning to school or settling into a job, so I decided to join ProWorld Oaxaca for 6 months working in a rural health clinic and the state HIV/AIDS clinic. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was privileged enough to observe and experience some extraordinary things, from taking patient vitals to giving talks on TB to caring for injuries to watching minor surgeries. I spent most of my time in a rural pueblo, allowing me to get to know the community one on one. And, I made lasting friendships with my coworkers in the clinic, making sure I will return to Oaxaca.
What is great about interning with ProWorld is that you get to design your internship around your interests and what you hope to accomplish. Obviously there are some limitations, but the staff truly want to help you get as much out of this experience and as close to your goals as possible. If you are having trouble with your internship, or need help reworking it in some way, they will be glad to assist. ProWorld has worked in Oaxaca for over 10 years and has strong ties with community partners. Aside from internship-related questions, I could also talk to the ProWorld Oaxaca staff about anything - which bars are the best to watch the soccer match? where can I catch a certain bus? how do I approach my host family about x problem? etc. I never felt like I was navigating things alone.
Finally, Oaxaca itself is an amazing place. It is gorgeous, the people are friendly and genuine, the food is delicious and the nightlife is actually pretty good! And I truly never felt unsafe in my entire 6 months in Oaxaca. I'm from DC, and I'm sure many areas of DC are much more dangerous than Oaxaca. Bottom line: you always need to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions in any (especially foreign) city, but Oaxaca is not a crime-ridden place. Although northern Mexico is plagued with violent crime, Oaxaca is a world way from that. Believe me, my parents were foreign service officers and if they thought Oaxaca was unsafe (which they did at first), they would NEVER have let me go.
Oaxaca is a hidden gem and ProWorld has great programs allowing you to discover it in the most interactive and personal way. I had such a great experience, I am a;ready applying for jobs in Oaxaca less than a week after returning home. Apply to ProWorld and you won't regret it!
9 of 20 people found this review helpful
Volunteering is very different on paper than in real life
70%Overall
Rating
My expectations of this summer were very different than my experiences. This was partially because I didn't know what to expect but also because I was not able to make as much of an impact in my internship as I would have hoped. My first month was spent with a poorly-matched organization but my second month, spent in a public health clinic, was much better fit to my abilities and interests. Despite the difficulties I encountered with my internship, I loved my host family experience and it made the whole adventure worth the frustration!
I volunteered in Oaxaca with a group from the U of A and it was an amazing experience. I had never volunteered overseas, so i was pretty nervous, but the Proworld staff were so helpful and very accessible. When we arrived in Oaxaca, we had a ride waiting for us. The 10 of us stayed at a hostel and were picked up everyday from staff to take us outside the city to build a school.
I felt safe and supported throughout my entire stay. Proworld staff had set up to have lunches prepared every afternoon by the families involved in the project.THe staff went over and above when they helped us navigate around in the evening and even spent hours with us when one of the volunteers got the infamous "travellers sickness."
Our project was one that the community requested and helped to complete. I worked alongside the principle, children, mothers and fathers to get the job done. With all the extra help we were able to build two classrooms and a basketball court. It felt amazing to be able to provide for such a hardworking group of people. I learned a lot about myself and about a new culture. I learned that even though the idea of travelling and volunteering overseas is daunting, it is as easy as buying the ticket, and I would do it again through Proworld in a heart beat.