FAQ

Where is it?
The headquarters of Project Amigo is located in the small (pop. 1,200) village of Cofradía de Suchitlán. Cofradía is located about 20 km (12 mi) north of the city of Colima (the capital of the state of Colima) on the west coast of Mexico. Volunteers will be housed at the Project Amigo guest quarters in Cofradía. The facilities where you will be working are located in Colima, Cofradía, and surrounding rural villages.

How do I get there?
You (or your group) will make your own air travel arrangements into and out of Guadalajara (GDL) or Manzanillo (ZLO) or Colima (CLQ). Project Amigo will provide ground transportation to and from the airport, as well as transportation for all group activities while in Colima.

Who's in charge?
Project Amigo staff in Mexico includes founders and directors Ted Rose and Susan Hill; Administrator Beto Sanchez; Administrative Assistant Anilú Mendoza; our volunteer coordinators; and our Operations Manager and AmigoBus driver, Diego Martinez.

Where will I be staying?
Project Amigo provides very comfortable housing for our volunteers in the Hacienda and in four nearby homes. Our requested contribution assumes double-occupancy. If you would prefer a room by yourself, please let us know and we will accommodate you, if possible. We request an additional donation of $125.00 for a private room.

What is the weather like?
Temperatures during the day range from the low 70s through the mid 80s in the winter, which is the dry season. It is somewhat warmer in Colima, and is cooler at the higher elevation of Cofradía. Evenings in Cofradía are cool and comfortable. The rainy season is from June to October.

Can I eat the food, drink the water?
Most meals will be provided by Project Amigo. The food and beverages you will be served at the Hacienda, the homes of Rotarians, or restaurants we take you are safe to consume. Safe drinking water and snacks are also available at all work sites. You should not drink tap water anywhere. And should you venture out on your own, avoid water, ice, dairy products and fresh vegetables everywhere but in first-class restaurants. The kitchen at the Hacienda was recently remodeled to maximize cleanliness and good hygiene. All fruits and vegetables are sterilized before they are placed in the refrigerators. All food handlers have taken a 6-week course on proper food preparation and storage given by PHN Kathleen Zamboni. NOTE: To protect our environment and reduce plastic waste we will provide you a plastic water bottle to refill and reuse during the week. You may wish to bring your own refillable water bottle to take on activities away from the Hacienda.

Is the volcano dangerous?
The Colima Volcano is an awesome presence looming over Cofradía and Colima. The volcano is active, but you will not be in any danger. Neither Colima nor Cofradía is located in the danger zone for lava flows. During the day you can usually see smoke rising from the top, and at night from Cofradía or surrounding areas you may see glowing red lava Rotary Club streaming down the sides. International scientists are constantly monitoring the volcano.

What will I be doing?
Each day you'll have different activities depending on the focus of the week. On a Literacy Week you'll be sorting and organizing books, then you'll deliver the books and bookcases to schools, and finally you'll be reading with the kids at the schools. The December Fiesta Week requires sorting and wrapping of gifts, then organizing and hosting a fiesta for a couple of hundred kids. Our Vision Weeks will focus on conducting vision clinics: testing vision, dispensing glasses, and promoting good health habits. And there is always time for working and playing directly with the children, reading to them, doing art projects, taking them on field trips, or just playing frisbee or kicking around a soccer ball.

Are there social events?
Work weeks usually begin with an informal pot-luck reception with the Colima Rotary Club, or a traditional country fiesta hosted by the Pihuamo or Coquimatlán Rotary Club. Other social activities include a home visit with a Rotary family, a meeting of the Colima Rotary Club, and a day at the beach. At the end of the week there is an opportunity to shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs in Tlaquepaque, the arts and crafts center of Guadalajara (for those departing in the afternoon from Guadalajara only).

Are there cultural activities?
In addition to work and recreation, we offer a variety of educational and cultural events: visits to local museums and archeological sites, Spanish language lessons, Mexican cooking classes, and speakers on Mexican culture, history, or ecology.

What about shots?
Colima is not a Malaria zone, and no special inoculations are required. Persons with chronic lung diseases may find the occasional ash from the volcano, or smoke from the burning sugar cane fields, to be a problem. Please refer all your health-related questions to your health care provider.

What should I bring?
Essentials: You MUST have a valid passport to travel. Be sure to check the expiration date. IMPORTANT NOTE: A MINOR WHO IS TRAVELING WITHOUT BOTH BIRTH PARENTS MUST BRING TO THE AIRPORT A NOTARIZED LETTER OF PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO SIGNED BY EACH ABSENT BIRTH PARENT. In the case of a deceased parent, a certified copy of the death certificate will be required in addition to the notarized permission letter signed by the living parent.

Sundries: You may want to bring sun screen, bug repellent, anti-itch cream, a sun hat and a flashlight. You should bring prescription drugs and specialized supplies for any medical conditions you have. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Colima, but don't count on getting the specific brand of medicine you are used to. Do bring plenty of recording media for your cameras or video recorders, as there will be plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Club mementos: Please bring a few of your Rotary Club Banners to present to the clubs you visit here.

Gifts: One or two evenings you may be the guest of a local Rotary family or the family of one of our scholarship recipients. It would be nice to bring them a small hostess gift. Something inexpensive but characteristic of your hometown would be appropriate. Project Amigo has a coffee mug collection and we would appreciate any you would like to add. The best gift you can give the children is your affection.

What do I wear?
Bring light cotton clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for working and walking. Jeans are OK for both sexes. Women may want to bring a casual dress or slacks or skirt for evening social events, Rotary meetings, or church. For men, casual slacks and shirt are appropriate for these same events. Sweaters or light jackets make the cool evenings more comfortable. Shorts are inappropriate at work sites or around the village of Cofradia. They are acceptable at the beach on our beach day, but not in the village. We ask you to take them with you to change into upon arrival at the beach. Beach-type sandals are not appropriate at Rotary Clubs or for home visits.

Is there a dress code?
Project Amigo is proud of the confidence, respect and trust the local people have placed in us. We are guests in Mexico, and it is important to remember that your actions and activities reflect not only on you, but on the Project and on your country. While you may see a few local people wearing provocative clothing, it is not becoming on our visitors and will cause stares and gossip. Likewise, body tattooing and facial piercing have not arrived in the villages in which we work. We ask that tattoos be covered. Facial piercings (eyebrows, nose, chin, tongue, etc.) should be removed before departing for Mexico. Pierced earrings are OK - FOR GIRLS/WOMEN ONLY. We will ask men and boys to remove theirs while they are here - so it's best to take them out before leaving home. We appreciate your cooperation by dressing conservatively. Ten minutes of poor behavior on your part can undo sixteen years of goodwill and effort on ours.

What about donations?
Project Amigo maintains on its website a list of current needs for everything from blankets and book bags, to school buses and dental equipment. Toothbrushes and multiple vitamins are always needed. The most efficient and safest method to send donations is for volunteers to bring them with them. However, Project Amigo has very little storage space. If you are interested in bringing donations, PLEASE CHECK WITH US FIRST.

What will I encounter going through customs going into Mexico?
At your departure airport, or on the airplane, you will be given two forms to fill out: a customs form and a visa application. Fill these out before you land in Mexico. At the airport in Mexico you will go through a two-stage process. First is immigration (Migración) where you will show your passport and visa application and receive permission to enter the country. (Keep this visa stub in your passport - you'll need it again when you depart!). After you have picked up your luggage, you will go through customs (Aduana). You hand your customs form to an official who will direct you to push a button. If you get the green light you can proceed through the exit door. If you get the randomized red light, your luggage will be inspected. You should have no more than $300 usd of new merchandise per traveler.

What about returning to the USA or Canada?
You are allowed to bring back, duty-free, $400 US worth of items you purchased in Mexico for your personal use. You can include 1 liter of liquor in this $400 exemption. Before re-entering the U.S. or Canada you will fill out a customs form listing purchases and their value. Some items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, some archeological artifacts, items made from endangered species, etc. are prohibited or restricted. Check with U.S. or Canadian customs if you have any questions about specific items.

Is there laundry service available?
Yes, good laundry service is usually available from your housekeeper.

Will my electrical appliances work in Mexico?
Yes. Mexico uses the same current and outlets as the US and Canada (110V), so you can bring your hair dryer, laptop computer and electric shaver.

How do I change money?
Cash: The best exchange rate is obtained by making a withdrawal at an ATM cash machine using your bank's ATM or debit card. You may also use your credit card at a cash machine. You need to have your PIN. Cash machines are found at airports, at banks, and in many large retailers and malls. (Remember that you asking for an amount in pesos when you do a cash withdrawal. If you want to get about $100 US worth of pesos, you will be requesting $1,100 pesos as the desired amount.) CREDIT CARDS AND CHECKS Credit cards are accepted at hotels and better restaurants and large retailers. They receive an excellent exchange rate. Checks from US or Canadian banks are useless.

Travelers checks: We do not recommend that you bring travelers checks. The exchange rates are lower than for cash and the process can be time-consuming.

How do I make and receive phone calls?
Outgoing calls: Calls can be made and faxes sent from the Project Amigo office in Cofradía. If you have a USA or Canadian card, you may be able to use it if you know your carrier's access number from México. USA 800 #'s don't work from México. Please tell your family that your emergency phone number in Mexico is: 011 52 312 395-4485 LONG DISTANCE CALLS If you are calling to the US from Mexico, you need to dial 001, then the area code and number. Long-distance phone calls are not included in your donation.

Incoming calls: It is easy for your friends and family to leave messages at the Project Amigo office phone. The number from the US and Canada is 011 52 (312) 395-4485. Or they can fax to our USA fax number: (775) 259-2773. Faxes using the USA number come to our office computer and are retrieved when we download our e-mails. CAN I ACCESS E-MAIL? We have free wireless Internet access at the Hacienda, and there is also a small internet cafe a block from the Hacienda which is available at a low cost.

Can I meet my sponsored child?
Yes! The children are very excited to meet their sponsors, and you will enjoy a special relationship with your amigo that is extremely rewarding. Your sponsorship money bought a Christmas gift for your child, but you may want to bring a small gift with you or take the child out for a snack or to a clothing store. Please do not give your sponsored child money. It is important that you comply with Project Amigo's goal of promoting friendship, not begging. Before leaving the U.S. or Canada you may also want to ask other members of your club if you can take letters or pictures of them to their sponsored children. It means a lot to the children to receive letters from their sponsors/