Mexico
 Mexico is a truly magnificent country where culture mixes with the beautiful landscapes of white sand beaches, rainforest and deserts.  It extends from the Gulf of Mexico on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west; from the border with the United States to the north through the exotic lands on the southern borders with Guatemala and Belize. Mexican cities consist of everything from modern and crowded metropolises to small colonial towns. The Mexican people are proud of their heritage, largely derived from the Maya and Aztecs and are welcoming and joyful hosts. The official language is Spanish, but in total over 66 indigenous languages are still spoken around the country.
 The Yucatan Peninsula is a perfect example of the blend between the development of the nation and the depth of its cultural heritage. Also called the “The Gateway to the Mayan World”, the Yucatan has vast natural and cultural wealth. The capital of this region is the city of Merida, a large colonial city with a unique culture and warm weather throughout the year. Music and dance fill the streets at night. Theaters and art museums abound. Yucatecan culinary specialties will quickly win you over. Ancients pyramids in the region take you back to a past of greatness and you can feel the deep identity that makes Mexico a singular and magical place.
 ELI teams with different organizations in Merida and the Yucatan that work on conservation and promotion of their natural and cultural sites. From volunteer work with sea turtles on the coastal islands off the Peninsula, to long term internships in tourism and marketing, you can experience all that Mexico has to offer while giving back to the community.
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Volunteer in Children’s Homes in the Yucatan
Volunteers can work with an orphanage or at a child welfare organization in the city of Merida or in one of the Mayan Villages around the Yucatán. The children come from a variety of situations including loss of one or both parents, physical and sexual abuse and extreme poverty. Some of these children are in the orphanage on a temporary basis and others stay until they reach the age of 18. The orphanage provides shelter, education and all the child's basic needs.
There are two types of centers, the Casa Cuna receives children from birth to 6 and provides basic care for boys and girls that are being abandoned, neglected or are waiting for adoption. Volunteers will spend time with the children leading activities and games, helping at meal times, and teaching basic skills to the children. Volunteers are welcome to assist with the children's daily activities and with chores around the center. The second type of center is the Casas Hogares for children ages 6-18 where the children are divided into Boys Homes and Girls Homes. The children in this home are looking for shelter and are referred by other organizations or sent by their family when they are unable to take care of them. Volunteer will spend time with the kids, playing games, leading social and cultural activities, teaching, and giving them the attention they need. Participants are welcome to get involved with sports or art activities and act as role models and positive influences for these kids. Please, keep in mind that this position requires a basic to intermediate level of Spanish, especially in the rural areas, where only Spanish and Mayan dialects are spoken.
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International Camps in Mayan Communities
The International Camps in the indigenous communities of the Yucatan aim to address social and environmental needs, infrastructure and community education in Ek Balam.
Ek Balam is a mixed community of Mayan origin on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Tourism is a recent industry in this region, which is enabling families to increase their income and their potential to succeed.
During the camp, participants join the indigenous community and work together on projects that are aimed at improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Ek Balam. Participants collaborate on projects such as cultural education, clean energy, construction and improving infraestructure.
This program is open only through the end of this year. Don't miss out!
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Internships in Mayan Communities
This is a unique opportunity for students, professionals and experts who want to use their knowledge and skills to help indigenous communities in the western region of the Yucatan. These positions require a minimum commitment of 3 months.
Interns are assigned a project based on their skills and work closely with the host community. Currently these projects are in the areas of Conservation and the Environment, Community Development and Microfinance.
The main objective is to promote the social, economic and environmental development of rural and indigenous communities, so they can make good use of natural resources and strengthen their culture and social integrity.
Participants must have an intermediate to advanced level of Spanish, be flexible, and respect the needs of the local community.
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Microfinance and International Trading Development
The field of Microfinance provides financial services to low income or small business owners in order to give them access to loans, marketing tools, and education to help them grow. Microfinance programs help small business owners improve their skills to help them run more successful, efficient, and competitive businesses. ELI works with a microfinance institution (MFI) in the Yucatán that helps small businesses to position their products in the international market and promote the trade of local products. Interns in this program can work in a wide variety of projects in different departments within the organization including business skills development, developing export plans, marketing, branding, design, and promotion. Interns will help develop, improve, and promote local products outside Mexico. This program requires a minimum commitment of 2 weeks and participants should have a background in finance, marketing, international business, design or other related areas. Please keep in mind that an intermediate level of Spanish is required.
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| Length of Program |
Program Fee |
| 2 Weeks |
US$940 |
| 4 Weeks |
US$1140 |
| 6 Weeks |
US$1340 |
| 8 Weeks |
US$1540 |
| 10 Weeks |
US$1740 |
| 12 Weeks |
US$1940 |
Application Fee: $100
(refundable only if we are unable to find a placement that matches your request)
The Mexico Programs can last up to 6 months. Each additional two weeks costs $200.
Spanish Classes
May be arranged
Program Includes:
*Airport Pickup in Mérida
*Orientation tour of city
*Volunteer Placement
*Accommodation With a Host Family
*Breakfast and Dinner Each Day
*24/7 In-country support
Program Does Not Include:
*Round-trip Airfare
*Required Travel and Medical Insurance
Accommodations
Volunteers in Mexico stay with local host families. ELI believes that this is the best way to fully immerse oneself in another culture and get the most from an international experience. All families are carefully screened and are well-respected members of the community. Participants will have either a private or shared bedroom. Bathrooms are shared with the host family. Volunteers will be provided with breakfast and dinner daily.
Arrival Dates
Arrival dates are flexible except that no arrivals will be scheduled for Easter week or Christmas.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included in the program fee. We prefer to let participants decide what kind of coverage they need. Please see our FAQ page for information on travel insurance.
All prices are listed in US Dollars. The program fees reflect the costs ELI faces when setting up a program. We work hard to keep our costs as low as possible. ELI is a registered 501(c)3 non profit. US taxpayers may be able to deduct some or all of the program fees. If you are outside the US and wondering what these costs translate to in your currency, click here for an online conversion tool that will give you the approximate current exchange rate.
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