Mexico Arts and Crafts and Community

Sample Itinerary
  • Who? Groups of 5 – 20 school students aged 16+
  • When? Projects have flexible dates and run all year round
  • Where? Guadalajara, Mexico.
Volunteers painting crafts in Mexico
Volunteers painting crafts in Mexico

Groups on our Arts and Crafts and Community project in Mexico will be based in Guadalajara dividing their time between learning traditional ceramic techniques and working in a care home for children who have had difficult lives. You will start your working day at Ceramic 1; a family owned workshop founded around 25 years ago, learning about each stage of the production of ceramics – from making moulds and mixing clay to casting your own ceramic items. You will paint your own designs and then learn how to glaze your product before it is fired in the kiln.

The afternoons will be spent in the care centre where you will be working with children whose parents are in prison. You will serve lunch, help with the children’s homework and then have free time to play games and organise sports and other activities. Helping with a drawing or learning the words to the latest pop song will go a long way towards building self-esteem and confidence for a child who has very few other people to whom they can turn.

Mexico is a real meeting-place of cultures; a modern, industrialised and well-educated country that's full of history. American, Spanish and Indian influences all come together to make it a fascinating place that mixes developed and developing worlds. Your placements and host family are based in the large city of Guadalajara where Projects Abroad Mexico is based. Living in Mexico is an experience difficult to match.

 

Sample Itinerary

Placement: Ceramic One Centre & Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos (Care Home)Project: Community Arts and Crafts
Region: Guadalajara, MexicoSupervisor’s: Jorge Aguayo

  • First week

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    Day No.DateWeekdayTimeActivity
    101/08/2010Sunday18:25Arrival in Guadalajara International Airport
    19:00 – 21:00Introduction to Host Family & Dinner
    202/08/2010Monday9:00 – 13:00Comprehensive Induction and tour of Guadalajara
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at traditional Mexican restaurant
    14:00 – 17:00Overview of Project Work
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00 – 20:00Quiz Night
    303/08/10Tuesday09:00 - 12:00French Language Lessons
    8:00 - 10:00Introduction to Ceramic One Centre
    10:00 – 13:00Begin ceramic sessions
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at host Family
    14:00 – 17:00Introduction to Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos (Care Home)
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    404/08/10Wednesday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at the Host Family
    18:00 – 21:00Salsa lessons
    505/08/10Thursday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 - 18:00Dinner at the Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    606/08/10Friday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 - 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    707/08/10Saturday09:00 - 13:00Shopping in Guadalajara
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch
    14:00 – 17:00See the City Sights
    16:00 – 18:00Rest and Relax
    18:00 – 19:00Dinner
    19:00Rest & Relax

  • Second week

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    Day No.DateWeekdayTimeActivity
    808/08/10Sunday06:00 – 09:00Travel to Puerto Vallarta Beach
    09:00 - 13:00Rest and Relax on the Beach
    13:00 – 15:00Lunch
    15:00 – 17:00Souvenir shopping
    17:00 – 20:00Travel back to Guadalajara
    20:00 – 21:00Dinner at Host Family
    909/08/10Monday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    1010/08/10Tuesday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    18:00 – 21.00Visit local Footbal Match
    1111/08/10Wednesday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 – 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest & Relax
    1212/08/10Thursday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 – 18:00Dinner at Host Family
    18:00Rest and Relax
    1313/08/10Friday8:00 – 13:00Ceramic session at Ceramic One Centre
    13:00 – 14:00Lunch at Host Family
    14:00 - 17:00Care work at Proteccion a los Hijos de los Presos
    17:00 - 20:00Farewell Dinner with Staff
    20:00Packing for Departure
    1414/08/10Saturday Departure
    1515/08/10Sunday Departure