Volunteer with Low-Income Kids at NGO in Mexico - From $150 per week

I could write a really sappy description of the Casa de los Angeles and the smiling faces and comfortable atmosphere but the bottom line is that my internship at the Casa de los Angeles launched my career.

At the age of twenty-one I taught ESL english classes, conducted research in Spanish for a thesis, worked with multiple aged groups in a preschool setting, organized fundraising projects and learned about non-profit management. The directors allowed me to operate way beyond my prior experiences and in so doing greatly increase my personal capital.

In large part of my experience at the Casa I was accepted to Teach for America, which in turn greatly strengthened my law school applications. In addition, I was hired on at the University of Oregon during a down economy BECAUSE of experiences interviewing client mothers and doing home visits.

The Casa is an excellent place to challenge yourself and grow. You have to be able to define your own experience, however. The directors are really busy and won't give you much oversight. I didn't even know where I would be staying until a week before I got to San Miguel. You have to be willing to solve your own problems in terms of living situation, transportation and supervision. The large network of former volunteers can help out with that. You just have to be proactive in planning your experience!

Casa de los Angeles...it really is a house of angels! I had the opportunity to spend 4 months with Casa and it's a 4 months I remember with great fondness. From the moment you arrive at the center(s) you become absorbed in the Casa family. Your days may be filled with work, but I'll be honest, I've never had so much fun working! The teachers do a wonderful job at providing lessons and activities. The kids do a great job at learning and having fun.

San Miguel de Allende (SMA) itself is a treasure. It's an old colonial town...cobblestone streets, beautiful/warm colored buildings, lively...so much character! If you haven't completely depleted your energy with all the buzz and excitement at Casa, you'll find plenty to do in SMA. Salsa dancing every night of the week, a variety of art classes or workshops, brush up on your Spanish with a class or private tutor, there's always something to find at the mercados. Don't forget to eat, every corner has a tasty treat or two! Not too far out of town are a variety of natural hot springs, a nice place to relax and unwind. You're also only a bus ride away from several other towns/cities that each offer their own character and charm.

The town of San Miguel is absolutely beautiful, as are the people, however there is certainly much to improve, and Donna is helping in a truly amazing way. As a volunteer, I helped teach the children and assist the teachers in making sure the young ones were happy, healthy, and always smiling. On an average day I would spend a small amount of time at the guest residence, about a 15 minute walk from the new center, and the majority of the day helping serve the kids food, play with the kids (they have endless energy), and help their teachers with the lessons of the day. It was a truly amazing experience, and left me with lasting memories of the benefits these children had over many others being able to grow up with a proper infant to elementary education.

I interned with Hogar de los Angeles for ten weeks in the summer of 2010 and it has been one of my favorite volunteer experiences of all time!

Why you should volunteer here:
1) The daycare structure is amazing.
As a (soon to be) graduate in social work I can't tell people enough how INCREDIBLE this daycare is. The mothers receive free childcare and in return volunteer one hour each day in the daycare center. It's truly an empowering model because the mothers build friendships with each other, get to know their child's teacher and meet volunteers! It's uplifting and inspiring to be there.

2) The staff is helpful and kind
No matter how elementary your Spanish skills may be, the staff at Hogar de los Angeles are patient and understanding. They're used to having volunteers around and know how to make you feel included and useful. I still keep in touch with the teacher I worked with and it's been almost two years! Also, Donna (the founder) and Miguel (the director) are great at getting volunteers oriented to the pace of life in San Miguel and have a genuine interest in you! They really care about you having a good experience.

3) San Miguel is beautiful
Enough said. As part of the "patrimonio de la humanidad" the buildings are impeccably preserved and distinctly colonial. Sometimes it feels like you're in Disneyland or something (visitors frequently draw similarities between la Parroquia and Cinderella's castle)! There is so much to explore and almost always something going on (whether it's a concert, crafts fair, horseback riding, outdoor zumba classes or conversation practice at the library). Just get a copy of Que Pasa? and you're set.

4) The kids. Oh, the kids!
This is the whole reason to come down, of course--the children! I had the privilege of working with a rambunctious class of two year-olds and they were hilarious, friendly and cheeky all at the same time. Like the teachers, the kids are also used to lots of volunteers coming in and out so they're always down to play, even if your Spanish isn't the best.

For detailed information about "what it's really like" to volunteer at Hogar de los Angeles, please check out my blog from 2010. This is seriously a special place.

http://aprilinsanmiguel.blogspot.com/

My stay at Casa, though it was short, had a big impact on me. It was a pleasure to wake up every day to go and spend time with these wonderful kids. Every smile, every kind gesture and every time you see them learning something new made me fill my heart with love. I just felt glad to be a part of their life at least for a short time and the only hard part of this stay was actually to leave. Even now, after a couple of months I think almost every day about these lovely kids and yearn for a return to see them again.
San Miguel, though you can see a lot of Americans on the streets, leaves a magical impression because you feel like in a typical colonial mexican town. For those of you who have also super worried parents and friends who heard about the dangers of Mexico, I've been traveling some through Mexico and San Miguel seems for me the safest place of all. All inhabitants are really friendly.
I definitely recommend a stay at Casa for everybody who wants to get captured by the life of little angels.

My experience volunteering at Casa de los Angeles was AMAZING. It was a life changing experience, and I think about things in a very different way now. It has almost been a year since I volunteered at Casa, and I still think about the kids and my experience all the time. My heart is being called back to Casa, and I hope I get to back someday.

The staff is incredibly friendly and very helpful. My biggest challenge was that I am only a beginner Spanish speaker, so communicating at times was difficult. However, somehow we always understood each other, and it usually turned into a laughable situation! The kids were amazing and were by far my favorite part of the trip. You become very close to them very quickly. Volunteering at Casa de los Angeles makes you want to continue to do good and serve others wherever life takes you.

The first time I entered the door of Casa de los Angeles, I felt at home. The beautiful children, caring staff and teachers, and kind mothers made me feel a part of the family and community. Casa de los Angeles has a direct impact on the lives of the people it serves. I was so happy to be a part of this change and loved caring for the children daily.

Also, San Miguel de Allende is a hidden treasure. It's the most beautiful city I have ever visited and there are countless things to do during the evenings and weekends. It is fun to explore and enjoy the Mexican culture.

I highly recommend this volunteer experience to everyone!

Everyone is super friendly, the teachers as well as the coordinators! The volunteer house is a great place to hang out with the other volunteers and san miguel de allende is a really beautiful mexican town with markets and small tiendas!