An Overview, Top Tips, and Recommended Organizations
Many international volunteers, especially those from North America, find Mexico and Central America to be inviting and exciting places to serve. Easier and cheaper to get to than Africa and Asia, this region offers a huge range of volunteer opportunities from working with street children in Mexico City to counting butterflies in the rainforests of Cost Rica.
I first volunteered in Central America in 1986, and I still recall the feeling in my muscles while mixing cement with a shovel on a sister city project in Nicaragua; the sound of Mayan mothers patting homemade tortillas into shape; and the taste of fruit juice served in little plastic bags from a corner street vender in Managua. In Mexico and Central America, I fell in love with Spanish, Latin food, and the Meso-American approach to life.
Since then, I have interviewed dozens of volunteers who agree with me. Mexico and Central America are inviting, culturally rich places to volunteer.
Popular options for volunteers in Mexico and Central America include:
Working with children. Due to the tourism industry and economic globalization, there is a demand for volunteers to teach English. Throughout Latin America, vibrant nonprofit and faith-based communities provide a plethora of opportunities to work with young people in orphanages, afterschool programs, and cultural centers.
Providing health services. Many clinics and hospitals in the region are underserved and volunteers in the health sector, especially doctors, nurses, PAs, and physical therapists are in demand.
Promoting environmental conservation. From sea turtle conservation to promotion of fair trade coffee and sustainable agriculture, there are abundant opportunities to volunteer to help protect the environment.
Here are some top tips for volunteering in Latin America:
Study the language: Your ability to volunteer effectively in Mexico or Central America will be greatly enhanced if you speak at least some Spanish. Consider making language study part of your volunteer experience -- take a Spanish class before leaving home, start off your volunteer experience with a Spanish language program, or volunteer with an organization that offers language training as part of the volunteer experience.
Of course, Spanish is not the only language spoken in the region. In Belize and the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, most locals speak English or English-based Creole. Among indigenous communities in Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama, Spanish is widely but not universally spoken.
Consider regional differences: In Mexico and Central America, regional differences within countries are almost as wide as between countries. For example, in Mexico, you could volunteer with impoverished communities just south of the Rio Grande, a sophisticated cultural center in the underappreciated capital Mexico City, an indigenous community in Oaxaca, or an environmental organization in Baja.
In most parts of Guatemala you’ll experience the indigenous majority which has kept Mayan languages and cultures alive despite centuries of repression, but in the capital you will find significant pockets of Mestizo communities with connections to Europe. In Panama you can experience African influenced communities as well as Kuna and other indigenous communities that have preserved their land, art, and language. Consider these regional differences as you plan your experience—are you most excited by the idea of living in the rainforest in Costa Rica or working with Mayan children in a Guatemalan school?
Know the history. The best volunteer programs in this region will provide not only opportunities for meaningful service you opportunities to learn about the culture, history, and politics of the country where you are volunteering. Especially in Central America, the United States has a history of intervention as well as international citizen solidarity. It will serve you well to learn the context of international volunteering in the region.
Protect your health. Dengue fever, hepatitis, and intestinal disease are common throughout Latin America. Make sure to get all recommended shots and evacuation insurance before you leave home. To avoid serious stomach troubles, I always travel with acidophilus and a back up pre-filled prescription for antibiotics. Do not assume you can get a prescription filled away from home. In an emergency, call your embassy and get an embassy- recommended doctor. Don’t swim outside of designated areas and even then only after you know about local currents.
If you prepare yourself well, chose the right volunteer program, and make an effort to stay safe, volunteering in Mexico or Latin America can be a transformational experience that enriches your life with new skills, heightened cultural understanding, and deep friendships.
Recommended Organizations
Here are top organizations to consider for Mexico and Central America based on six years of research for the book I co-wrote, How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas.
For professionals with more money than time: Cross Cultural Solutions is a reputable organization with short-term opportunities in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Earthwatch Institute offers opportunities to help scientists gather data with researchers ranging from counting caterpillars in Costa Rican forests or tagging conches in Belize.
For high school students: Amigos de las Americas has decades of experience providing meaningful service and leadership opportunities. Global Routes combines overseas travel and service for young people.
For college students. Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS) provides summer language study and internships. Break Away is a wonderful resource for students interested in alternative spring breaks.
If you want to learn Spanish while you serve: I recommend Pop Wuj, a language school in Guatemala run by indigenous Mayan teachers. Most language schools offer opportunities to volunteer, but at Pop Wuj, volunteering is an integral part of the language experience. ICADS, mentioned above, also does a great job of integrating the two.
For family or intergenerational trips: Global Volunteers provides family opportunities in Mexico and Costa Rica and Exploritas, formerly Elderhostel offers special intergenerational trips for folks volunteering with their grandchildren, including Chocolate and the Maya: A Service Adventure in Belize.
For medical professionals: I suggest Health Volunteers Overseas.
For longer term volunteer options: Visions in Action offers programs in Mexico that are appropriate for progressive and independent volunteers who do not need much support. World Teach offers more support and provides opportunities to teach English in Costa Rica.
International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA), www.volunteerinternational.org, is an alliance of non-governmental organizations involved in international volunteer work and internship exchanges.
In many parts of the region, if you already speak Spanish, you could consider setting up an independent volunteer experience.
