Ocuituco/Patrimonito

Participation Fee: $2700 mexican pesos or 150 Euros:  includes food, accommodation and administration costs
PROJECT DETAILS: The Patrimonito project is part of the World Heritage Program implemented by UNESCO’s World Heritage Center in cooperation with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service. Patrimonito integrates international workcamps as a means to raise awareness for the local population about the importance of protecting their local heritage, to demonstrate the value of non-formal education and to create spaces for cooperation between the World heritage managers and the local population. The 2013 Patrimonito edition proposed by VIMEX comprises workcamps in 8 out the 14 ex –convents situated in the Slopes of the Popocatepetl volcano and Ocuituco is one of them. The former convent of Santiago Apostle in Ocuituco dates from 1534 and was the first Augustinian convent built in New Spain. Although their construction has undergone several modifications since it was inaugurated in 1533, the original source in the cloister shows six lions quarry, carved with great skill by Indians. The building of the former Augustinian convent in Ocuituco began on June 8, 1534 Corpus Christi Day, dedicated to the apostle Santiago, patron saint of Spain. This monastery consists of main parts in this kind of sets such as: court, temple, monastery and gardens, also is considered the oldest in Latin America.
WORK: Volunteers will participate in the implementation of actions to sensitize the local population to the importance of preserving their heritage through painting workshops, puppet shows, drawing among others. Parallel improvement work is carried out of the building under the guidance of a professional restorer. Also carried out actions will be done to identify and value the intangible heritage of this region. Through environmental awareness activities. They will also take part in the following tasks: Cleaning fragile parts with the supervision of the archeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History  (INAH).
Presentation of the volunteers’ countries and cultures, international dinners with the local population, participation in the local festivities, visiting places in the surrounding areas. Organisation of the official inauguration with the Municipality and with the local people. Doing presentations to explain the project, the goals and the importance to protect the ex convent. International volunteers will be involved with local youth doing activities in the afternoons and evenings linked to the intangible heritage, trips around local places to know. During the biggest Festivity of the Municipality the volunteers will know the local cuisine and its customs.
ACCOMMODATION: In a house in the town
LOCATION: Ocuituco is located half an hour from the city of Cuautla.
NEAREST STATION: Cuautla, Morelos
ACCOMMODATION: In a house in the village
FOOD: Meals will be prepared by volunteers. It has everything you need to cook and care for the food.
LANGUAGE: Speaking Spanish will be welcome in order to get in touch with the Mexican people.
REQUIREMENTS: Good disposal to the team work, dedication, be responsible and enthusiastic to work. Bring clothes according with the activities. Please bring your own insurance and sleeping bag.
HOW TO ARRIVE: From the airport Benito Juárez to the VIMEX office.
FREE TIME: The volunteer will have the opportunity to visit historical and tourist places of greater relevance in Mexico such as the Convent Route, Route de Zapata, the archaeological sites of Xochicalco and Chalcatzingo and the magical town of Tepoztlan. Walks with local young people, excursions will also be part of the free time program.
REMARK: You can take the Intensive Spanish Course that we offer to the volunteers in our camps before to go to your camp. See the information and conditions at the section of the Spanish Courses 2013.
The meeting point will be at the VIMEX office before the camp starts because all the volunteers will go together to the project