Mexico Volunteer Programs from $25/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

This will be hard to put into words. I was seeing everything for the first time. This was my first time doing something like this, as well as my first time ever leaving my own country by myself.
There are so many unique experiences ive had, but the most intense would have to be my first and last day at pastoral del amor.
My first day... i walk in to a 300yr old building surrounded by nuns. I was kindly greeted and then introduced to the 'kids', who ranged from ages 12 - 50. I didnt expect that. I worked with the kids for a few hours doing various art projects. When lunch time rolled around, that is where i got my first real dose of reality. I had to spoonfeed some of them. I had never done that before. Iwas afraid id hurt them.
They were so helpless. It really hits you in that instant just how vulnerable and reliant on you that they are. You realize in a millisecond just how much in life we take for granted. They have to live like this... every minute of their life. This is their reality. They have no mothers, no fathers. Just you and the nuns.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and reached out my left hand. I gently lifted up a bib to a 19yr olds chin. I said hello, but she couldnt speak. She could only stare. I smiled anyway, hoping it helped. I tilted her head back, and with my right hand i slowly poured a spoonful of some sort of pureed tomato liquid into her mouth. She didnt swallow. I wasnt sure what to do so a nun came over to show me. I needed to tilt her head back more and rub her throat to stimulate the muscles into swallowing. Once i got it right, the girl who could not speak would swallow... then let out a short but genuinely happy little laugh.
Fast forward to my last day. The day it sunk into my head that i was truly leaving. I was so sad. The kids were sad too. I promised them i would come back. I think about them every single day. I finally found my purpose.

This was my first time traveling alone and honestly, it was the time of my life! I always felt safe, and that if i ever needed anything i'd get assistance right away. I did animal care and you really get attached to the animals and grow bonds. I would recommend this to anyone! Its super affordable, and honestly, you wont regret it! Merida is also an extremely beautiful city and very easy to learn how to get around once you've been there a few days. The in country staff are also super friendly. I didn't know any Spanish when I went, and it was easy enough to find my way around, and i defiantly learned some by the time i left.

When I landed in Merida, the local staff made me feel like home. I was worried about adjusting to a new environment but being around like minded people and an extremely helpful and comforting program staff, it felt like home, a different home in a different country. There are so many fun things to do in Merida, where you can wind up after a long days work, not once was I bored. It was a perfect volunteering program in a perfect location; excellent organisations to volunteer for, diverse range of volunteering activities, very flexible and friendly local program staff, plenty of activities and you have no choice but to live like a local and do all the things that locals do. It was a life I would go back to any day.

If you would like to read more about IVHQ volunteering experience, click here : https://lifeofavolunteerblog.wordpress.com/

My husband and I brought our two boys aged 10 and 12 to Merida Mexico over spring break to volunteer in the Childcare program. We had a great time with the beautiful children of Xcuyun Mexico. I think we learned more than they did, they taught us numbers and colors etc. It was a bit challenging for us as we did not speak much Spanish but the kids made fast friends with my boys and we had so much fun. The staff at IVHQ were great at helping us get around and navigate the city, and also set up some amazing tours. Our homestay was amazing, the house was next to the park and the food was great as was the accommodation. Angelica, our host was so gracious and welcoming. We would definitely volunteer with IVHQ again in the future.

As I worked at an animal shelter for cats and dogs, the dogs of course were in need of regular baths. However, the staff was very limited (only one employee besides the volunteers), so the animals could not get all the attention they needed. Luckily, there was an expat-team that came to the shelter every single friday to bathe, brush and walk the dogs. Friday was definitely our all favorite day! We learned so much about every single dog and got to know the animals' characters so well... Those expats were honestly some of the most inspirational people I've ever met!! Animal lovers just rule.

I did a Mayan agriculture project outside of Valladolid. It wasn't my intended program, not did I sign up for it. Nonetheless it was probably better than my original choice. We stayed in a small farm near Temozon with a Mayan family. Their food was amazing and the family itself were the sweetest people I've ever met.

Had I gone on vacation I would have ended up in Cancun or playa del Carmen, and it wouldn't have been the same. I probably wouldn't have gotten to hold and be kissed by a spider monkey. I wouldn't have learned basic Mayan. I wouldn't have learned the joys of sleeping in a hammock. But most of all, contrary to the tourist experience, I found many similarities with my own culture. This trip obliterated that idea of otherness.

Short stay in Merida, but managed to make it to Cholul to teach english to young kids. Had a nice time, and did my best to help them learn as I had not had much experience with teaching/volunteering. Very worthwhile, and highly recommended.

I had to take 1:30 of buses to et to my placement both ways, which was pretty surprising (i did not expect it) and took of lot of time each day. And it was only 10km (15 min by car) from the house.Placement was really nice and fun but only 3h and we spent 3h to get there... it felt as we spend more time in the bus than at placement.