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Mexico Community Development Internship (short-term) (Directory Program)

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  • Locations: Puerto Morelos, Mexico
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Calendar Year, Fall, J-Term, Jan Term, Janterm, May Term, Semester, Spring, Summer, Summer I, Summer II, Summer III, Summer IV, Trimester, Winter
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: GVI 
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: English Housing Options: Dormitory, Hostel/Hotel, Other
Program Description:

Mexico Community Development Internship (short-term)

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Travel to Mexico’s Riviera Maya to further your career in sustainable development or education. Intern at the local Mexican branch of Save the Children, where you will assist staff with helping children learn and grow. During your time on this internship, there will plenty of opportunities to learn and practice your conversational Spanish.
 
PROGRAM FOCUS
 
Experience life in the Mexican Carribbean while working at a centre run by the international charity, Save the Children. Here you will support local staff with providing an effective learning environment for students. Activities might include helping children read a storybook, facilitating educational games, or assisting children with their homework. You might also conduct health-related workshops teaching children how to react to an emergency. 

During your time on the internship you will master teaching techniques, lesson planning, and classroom management. You will also learn about how fundraising is conducted for a global non-profit like Save the Children. The internship also includes leadership training.

The program also offers participants an opportunity to practice their conversational Spanish skills. If you aren’t fluent in Spanish be sure to speak to one of our enrolment managers about booking in-country Spanish language lessons. Competency in the Spanish language will be necessary when working on this program and those who are not fluent will require a minimum of 20 hours of lessons.

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 LOCATION
 
GVI’s base camp is in the town of Puerto Morelos, situated on a stretch of the Carribean coastline known as the Riviera Maya. Puerto Morelos is the oldest town on the Mexican Carribean coast.  The Riviera Maya is a top tourist destination, and there are many spots for snorkelling and diving in this area. 
 
While the biggest industry in Puerto Morelos is tourism, fishing comes in a close-second. The fishing trade is essential to the economic well-being of this Mexican community.  Volunteer work in Puerto Morelos focuses on community development and marine conservation. Volunteers assist the local community in planning and implementing sustainable practices aimed at making a positive impact in Puerto Morelos. 
 
This may mean assisting the local community with beach cleans, to reduce environmental pollution. It could also involve volunteers contributing to marine conservation by running environmental awareness workshops with school children and the broader community. Another way that sustainability is promoted is through programs focused on the conservation of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and other marine life.
 
These programs look to find the balance between the usage and maintenance of natural resources in Puerto Morelos. Volunteer work in Mexico that’s focused on marine conservation has an immediate effect on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, as well as on the well-being of other marine life in the Riviera Maya.
 
By contributing to sustainable development efforts on land and in the sea, this volunteer work in Mexico can go a long way in contributing to the sustainability of the Puerto Morelos community.
 
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
 
  • Gain experience in teaching and international development. 
  • Learn how to raise funds are for non-profits. 
  • Earn your GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, a qualification recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
  • Earn your ILM Endorsed Leadership Certificate. 
  • Practice your conversational Spanish. 
  • Experience the beaches, reefs, and culture of the Mexican Caribbean.
  • Live and work with other GVI participants from all around the world.
 
If applying for this program to obtain credit from an institution, GVI can supply learning outcomes and support in the application.
 
For more information, check out our video https://youtu.be/vKuzdAOzQDg