Volunteer Work Weeks

Each winter volunteers come to Colima to work, meet the children, visit with Mexican Rotarians, and learn more about the people and culture of western Mexico. Work can include distribution of fun children’s books to poor rural schools, interacting with junior high and high school scholarship recipients at their homework clubs, helping prepare for the annual Christmas Fiesta for 250 children, or reading and playing with children who need some extra attention. Please see our volunteer work week schedule and read what some of our volunteers say about the fun they've had!

About vision work weeks

Optometrists and lay people will enjoy this opportunity to screen poor children and adults for correctable vision problems. More than 1,200 patients will receive the glasses they need. You will have the opportunity to work in several towns and villages.

About literacy work weeks

Participants will have the opportunity to provide meaningful hands-on service through the preparation and distribution of mini-libraries and books of one's own destined for children in poor rural schools. Local Rotarians will work alongside our team members to attach bookplates and to assign approximately 160 fun children's books to each mini-library. The books of one's own will be sorted by grade-group for distribution on work weeks during the winter season.

Distribution of the mini-libraries and books of one's own will include members from local Rotary clubs, and will give participants the chance to see remote rural villages. Participants on the Literacy Work Weeks year after year tell us they felt it was one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences they had ever had.

The libraries and books of one's own are provided by Rotary Foundation Matching Grants between Rotary clubs in District 4150, Rotary clubs and Districts in the US, and The Rotary Foundation.

About the Christmas Fiesta

Scheduled to also give visitors the opportunity to experience Mexico’s traditional celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe, participants on this work week help prepare for the annual Christmas Fiesta. This is the time of year when sponsored children receive gifts of new clothing and shoes, and work week participants prepare and wrap the clothes. Later in the week, they distribute the gifts to the children so they can wear their new outfits and shoes to the Fiesta. They also decorate the Colima Rotary Club, fill piñatas with candy, and be sure that the children have the time of their lives at the party. They will also enjoy a traditional posada at the Colima Rotary Club’s evening meeting mid-week.

About youth work weeks

Youth work weeks give young people the opportunity to provide hands-on service and make friends with students in Colima, Mexico. The week focuses on preventive dental health programs (teaching children how to brush their teeth properly; applying topical fluoride in some areas where tooth decay and tooth loss is prevalent in the population; and distributing books in poor rural schools. Interact youth will work with Project Amigo’s scholars and the Colima Rotary Club to take 200 children on the annual outing to Colima’s Sea Turtle Preserve. Interact groups must provide one adult chaperone per five students.

Social events and social activities

In addition to work and fun, each Work Week includes some optional educational events, including visits to local museums and archaeological sites, Spanish language lessons, speakers on Mexican culture, history, or ecology, and a Mexican cooking class.

There will be plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy Mexican hospitality during your stay in Colima. The week begins with a reception by a local Rotary Club, and includes a home visit with a Rotary family, a Rotary Club meeting, and (usually) a day at the beach. The work week ends with an opportunity to shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs.

Transportation

You (or your group) will make your own air travel arrangements into and out of Guadalajara or Manzanillo. Project Amigo will pick you up at the airport the afternoon of the first day of the Work Week and deliver you back on the last day. We advise you to make airline reservations early as there is limited air service at convenient hours. If your travel plans are different from this schedule, please contact us and we can help you make other arrangements. Extra fees may apply. Project Amigo will provide transportation for all group activities while you are in Colima.

Accommodations

All Work Week volunteers will stay in Project Amigo accommodations located in Cofradía de Suchitlán, a small pueblo about 12 miles north of the city of Colima. This gives our volunteers the added treat of experiencing authentic Mexican village life.

Reservations

As soon as you know when you would like to come plese send us an e-mail. Or you can fill out the online registration form. A deposit of one-half the total cost for your group is requested to save your place. (Note–making a deposit is a separate step from completing the registration form.)

All-inclusive price

The requested donation of $1,200 per person includes double-occupancy accommodations, all meals, all transportation within Mexico, entertainment and cultural activities, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Add $125 for a single room. The donation does not include transportation between the U.S. and Guadalajara or Manzanillo or long-distance phone calls.

Please e-mail us for further information about any of our Work Weeks. We will be glad to send you more details, lists of items to bring, and answers to all your questions. (See our FAQ).

Upcoming work week Calendar

We hope you’re available to join us! Please see this year's calendar...and mark yours! Please register today!

Year's calendar

Literacy Work Weeks

March 3-11, 2012
November 3-11, 2012
March 9-17, 2013

Christmas Fiesta Work Weeks:

December 8-16, 2012

Vision Work Weeks:


January 12-20, 2013