PROJECT: This project is looking forward to bring together a diversity of cultural expressions. The youngsters of Zacapoaxtla Town this zone tend to reduce the value of their own cultural heritage and there's a risk of losing it and they do not know much about the importance of the social work as professionals or volunteers. Creating awareness of cultural expressions and heritage a group of international volunteers is invited to create forums about reflection and multicultural meeting with the aim of inspiring to preserve and disseminate the culture and traditions of the region od Zacapoazta town an share with the culture of different volunteers from all over the world through dance, music, workshops and working groups. In order to provide the space for expression the project organizes along with the international volunteers, the 1st. Intercultural Forum: Identity and tradition, in which diversity is conducted through activities such as roundtables, presentations, performances of dance and music, participation in the festival of San Pedro in the city of Zacapoaxtla as well, visiting schools of the region, and more!.
WORK: Volunteers will take part in the following activites:
1.- Participate in the organisation of the 1st. Intercultural Forum: identity and tradition, where volunteers and students of the ITSZ will give talks about culture and traditions of their countries and bring cultural expressions inherited by their family or communities.
2.- Participate in roundtables about the importance of cultural identity and experiences of development of cultural heritage.
3.- Learning about traditional dances of different communities of México at Puebla State, knowing its origin, clothing, the meaning of the choreography and have fun learning some steps.
4.- Take part in the organization and participation in the presentations of the traditional dances from each community.
5.- Participate with local media in order to disseminate the event.
6.- Participate in a workshop of cultural handicrafts to get to know the creation of local products. Volunteers will have the chance to share their local traditions and show local handicrafts from each country.
7.- Volunteers with the help of media professionals will produce and film a video about their experience during the Workcamp
LOCATION: Zacapoaxtla City is nestled in the cool elevations at Puebla State, belonging to the Sierra Madre Oriental. The extinct volcano Apaxtepec, southeast, attests to the volcanic origin of the topography. The region is known as the "Puebla´s State Switzerland" for his abrupt separated by deep valleys where rivers run mountain ranges, these, fed by streams rushing down the steep slopes, cause numerous waterfalls such as La Atepolihui or Veil Bride 300 m high, the highest in the area. The climate is temperate and humid, with frequent rain and formation of dense fog banks. The town was founded in 1540 by Jacinto Cortés, who later became a minority missionary of the Order of San Francisco, known as Brother Belts. At its center is the Plaza de Armas or the Constitution, also called in Spanish Zocalo; picturesque portals flanking three sides. In between a monument of commemorative commune in the battle of May 5 against French stands; it was built in 1888 by zacapoaxtecos who participated in the combat and had its capital in some of the weapons used in the battle. Around Zacapoaxtla there are countless sites of extraordinary beauty like the Paulco Valley cloistered in an immense canyon, where there is an aquaculture breeding center for rainbow trout. The Zacapoaxtla-Cuetzalan road crosses the valley and climbs to the summit Paulco highlight of this mountain, descending sharply to the coastal plains, where the vegetation becomes tropical, with lush palm trees, impenetrable thickets and dense ferns groups growing on the hillsides. Below, the extension of the coffee plantations are awesome.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES: During the weekends, the volunteers are able to enjoy the marvelous Cuetzalan sustainable community and get to know Archaeological Sites and Magical Towns. You must have a walk through Xochitlán de Vicente: Ancient Caves and La Cueva del Diablo (Devils Cave). Volunteers will have a tour and will learn about the Handcraft workshops of the region, Cantona: Archaelogical Site. Volunteers can also visit Cholula, the biggest pyramid of the world (coronate with a catholic Church built in the time of the conquest of America by Europeans that in comparison to the pyramid looks very tiny!) and the beautiful city of Tlaxcala.
HOSTING: Volunteers will be hosted in a particular house with all services at disposal: Hot Water, Electricity, Restrooms, Showers, Kitchen,
Fridge, Laundry room, Safety Box and Wi-Fi connection.
SPECIAL REQUIRMENTS: Warm Clothes for rain or cold weather, jeans and working shoes. Do not forget to bring a raincoat, working gloves and boots. Sunglass, Sunscreen and a Cap. Volunteers who know or practice any type of arts or traditional expression of their countries or have had some experience about cultural heritage will be very welcomed!.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR VOLUNTEERS: For all the volunteers accepted in the Vive México Workcamps there are FREE SPANISH courses all year round at the Vive Mexico International Cultural Center at Morelia City, come and take place in a FREE Spanish course one week before your workcamp starts!.
EXTRA FEE: 120 EURO
INCLUDES (only during the project days), Hosting (according to the conditions specified at the project description) 3 meals a day, Local transportation with project purposes, Administration and organization expenses, tools and materials.
DO NOT INCLUDE: Airfare to Mexico, Transportation from international airport to the project place, Leisure activities, Insurances