📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Like every year, Nataté International Volunteering calls everyone interested to participate in our summer camp aimed at children from a Tzotzil - Tzeltal community, which takes place within the center "Kuxul Lum" (a phrase that in the indigenous language Tseltal means living land), a self-sustaining community project of bio construction and permaculture development, which Nataté works throughout the year.
Summer Camp offers a social twist to establish an educational and recreational dynamic, as most of the children do not have access to formal education, because in many cases they help their families with small commercial or domestic activities. The main objective of this camp is to give these children a chance to learn and have fun in a multicultural environment.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will work between 5 and 6 hours a day. Throughout the two weeks they can be involved in inviting the children to participate in the camp, making it more attractive for them and parents to attend. According to the number and ages of the participants, groups can be organized to better facilitate activities. Some of them may be related to the theme of the camp with artistic activities (workshops to make masks, painting, macramé, music); recycling; games (in teams, recreation, brain teasers); skills (construction, coordination), as well as teaching other languages (words, songs, games). The final program of activities will be defined by the volunteer group prior to the start of the camp.
Project coordinators together with the volunteers, will create a structure for your daily project. Everyone is expected to participate in making group decisions and to assume some responsibilities.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will stay in a space destined by the center Kuxul Lum. They will have access to all the basic services, including hot water. There is no Internet service but you can bring personal electronic devices. In some nearby places there is cell phone service, cash machines and supermarkets. Each volunteer will participate in cleaning in cleaning common areas. The project includes three standard quantity meals per day (300 grams per portion), any additional food must be paid for by the volunteer. Any dietary restrictions should be informed before the start of the camp.
📍 About the location
The camp takes place in the community of San José Ocotal in the city of Teopisca, 40 minutes from the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, with an altitude of 1,780 meters above sea level. In Teopisca you can find supermarkets, pharmacies, health clinics, restaurants as well as tourist attractions. Within the community of San José Ocotal, there is a presence of indigenous Tzotzil and Tzeltal peoples, and we ask much respect for their customs.