Summer Camp VIII

Project: Foreword. San Cristobal de las Casas is located in the heart of the Chiapas highlands nestled in
the Mayan valley of Jovel. It is considered one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. Nevertheless
there are still a lot of social and economic problems and as we know and as always, children are the first
victims.
The local host is the “La Casa en el Arbol” language school, founded in 2005 by a group of international
volunteers, which is eager to cooperate with Natate to promote sustainable social and economic
development. According to the philosophy of Robin Hood, “La Casa en el Arbol” uses the school's profits
to organize social solidarity projects and give scholarships to local children from the streets during
summer camps.
During this project, the volunteers will coordinate environmental workshops, activities, and games for 24
children coming from various socio-economic backgrounds in two groups, aged 4 to 6 and 7 to 11. The
objective of the project is to foster the love for nature in the children, raise local awareness, and to teach
them the importance of daily actions for environmental protection.
Work: Volunteers will create a space for education and recreation, which will focus on environmental
themes.
Together with a professional educator, the volunteers will lead activities like games, handicrafts
workshops, planting trees, building vegetable gardens, dividing rubbish into “organic” and “inorganic”,
producing organic fertilizers, cooking, singing songs, recycling workshops, and painting walls with
ecological messages, etc. The goal of this camp is that the kids will learn, enjoy, and take away valuable
skills and lessons to apply in their daily lives. The volunteers will function as teachers and coordinators
during these activities and it is hoped they will share aspects their own cultures. As the main work will
involve kids, the volunteers are required to speak an elementary level of Spanish in order to realize more
effective work with children, although volunteers will have the possibility to improve their knowledge of
Spanish here at “La Casa en el Arbol” Scholastic material donations are welcome! During the volunteer
camp, several activities (museum tours, conferences, local food tasting, etc.) will be organized for the
volunteers. A taste of the country after a good day of work!!
Accommodation: Volunteers will stay in shared rooms in a convivial youth hostel in San Cristobal de las
Casas, located five minutes walking distance from the Natate office and ten minutes from the historic city
centre. They will have access to all basic facilities, including eco-kitchen and eco-bathrooms. Be prepared
for hand washing your own clothes (or send them to a laundry). Try to be environmentally friendly as
possible and use resources with care and modesty, especially because your behaviour is part of the
project ;)
Location: San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. This charming town is one of those places you
can't miss while travelling through Mexico. Set in the pine-forested Jovel Valley at 2,200 meters, yet still at
tropical latitudes, the weather is usually mild and pleasant. San Cristobal’s atmosphere is a mixture of
both traditional Highland Mayan culture and cosmopolitanism within a colorful and lively colonial town.
The combination of kaleidoscopic indigenous costumes and crafts, authentic Mexican flavour, and modern
international bohemianism give the town a fresh and vibrant atmosphere. Bustling open-air markets,
thriving pedestrian avenues, shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs abound. The nightlife is
excellent and there are many popular festivals throughout the year.
San Cristobal is centrally located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, which is one of the most biodiverse
regions in the world. It is a strategic point from which to explore waterfalls, white-water rivers, lagoons,
mangroves, tropical jungles, deep canyons, ancient Mayan ruins, and magnificent Pacific coast beaches, all
within a half-day’s travel. Guatemala is also a few hours away. Volunteers will have a wealth of
opportunities to discover and experience this natural and cultural richness.
Language: English is the most common language used in workcamps, however, being able to
communicate in Spanish can be very useful. Taking the opportunity to learn or improve your Spanish while
here, will greatly enrich your experience!
Comment: You are invited to join the Intensive Spanish Week Program for Volunteers, or also a Mayan
Language Week Program if you are a Spanish speaker and you would like to discover the richness of the
Mayan living culture. The courses take place a week before your workcamp.
Terminal: The closest international airport: Angel Albino Corzo, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas (TGZ). Bus
Terminal: OCC San Cristobal de las Casas.
Extra-fee: Since we do not receive funds to support your participation in the camp, you are asked to
contribute 2,950 Mexican pesos (170 euros aprox.). It includes accommodation, food, administrative
costs, transportation within the project, and some extra activities. The fee has to be paid by volunteers to
campleader or to Natate’s Workcamps Coordinator upon arrival to the meeting point.