Childcare and Community in Mexico

If you enjoy working with children or are interested in a career in education or childcare in the future, join our Childcare and Community Programme in Mexico!

Working within underprivileged communities, you will spend time promoting and improving early childhood education in underfunded and understaffed schools.

Your work here will contribute to a much bigger picture, including the following four goals:
> Promote early childhood development
> Improve hygiene
> Improve English
> Improve the level of stimulation and support each child receives

This means that the impact of your work will continue long after you have left Mexico!

During this programme, you will also be gaining many transferable personal and professional skills. These include:
> Planning
> Communication
> Teamwork
> Problem-solving
> Leadership

These skills will help you with any careers you wish to pursue in the future, and the experience will help you to stand out amongst other candidates.

Day 1
Speeding across the Atlantic Ocean volunteers mentally prepare themselves to enter this new and exciting culture. The group lands at Guadalajara International Airport, where they’re met by the friendly face of a Projects Abroad staff member and driven to accommodation in Guadalajara.

To help students settle into their new environment, our staff will give them an induction. This includes things such as:
> A tour of the local area
> How to use local transport
> Information about the country and culture
> Safety information and procedures

After a long day, students are given time to relax by playing games and enjoying their first taste of authentic, home-cooked Mexican cuisine.

They enjoy an early night, getting a good rest to prepare for a week full of hard work and new experiences.

Days 2-6
Students begin by visiting the school/daycare they will be working at for the duration of their project. They will be shown how to get to their placement and a tour of the building on arrival. Students will also be introduced to the staff they will be working with. Once familiar with their surroundings, the students will be introduced to the children they will be working with for the next two weeks.

The students’ role whilst working in the school/daycare, will be to assist the teaching staff, as many are understaffed and overcrowded.

By creating teaching materials, assisting with lesson plans, and implementing fun, educational activities, students support early childhood development in local children. In time, the students will better understand the children they are working with and work with the teacher to support each individual’s needs.

Days 7-8
Museo Regional de Guadalajara (museum)
With the guidance of a resident, students are shown around Guadalajara. Here, there are many opportunities to interact with locals and practice speaking in Spanish.

The group also visit the uniquely beautiful Templo Expiatorio del Santisimo Sacramento.

On Sunday, while mass is celebrated inside the church, they will see the outside plaza come to life with food and dancing. Here, students can also visit the Visit the Museo Regional de Guadalajara. They can learn about the first settlers in the area, and see archaeological artefacts and indigenous artwork.

After a busy week, students will want to spend much of their weekends relaxing. The beach is on their doorstep, so they spend their days sunbathing before cooling off in the powerful Pacific Ocean.
They spend their evenings playing games, reading books, and thinking over their reflective diaries.


Days 9-13
Students get involved in their placements by running arts and crafts activities, helping to refine the children’s fine motor skills. Meanwhile, English lessons, singing songs and reading develop their ability to speak and read English.

Working with staff, the students have developed planning, communication and presentation skills. They have developed real connections with both the staff and children and feel proud as they recognise the impact they have had over the past two weeks. As the second week of volunteering comes to an end, students say goodbye to the staff and children. They are sad to go but know they are always welcome back.

Day 14
Saying Goodbye
What a wonderful week it’s been. Volunteers have learned about Mexican culture and developed a connection with the local children. They have helped promote early childhood development and improved their English skills.

But now it’s time to say goodbye and pack their suitcases. Volunteers should do this with pride at how much they’ve helped and how they’ve grown as people. Plus, they should feel welcome to return to this amazing part of the world any time they like. Their support will always be appreciated by the school/daycare staff.

The volunteers load back onto a bus and are driven to the airport. They say goodbye to the driver and then head off to board their plane home. During the flight, they browse their reflective journals and think about all they’ve achieved. Already, they’re thinking about how they’ll use these new skills and experiences to have more adventures in the future.

All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place with every 9 students.

Disabled facilities can be offered on request.

Projects Abroad provides an individualised service and schedule planning which is backed up by excellent pre-departure preparation and by a dedicated and highly experienced local team in each destination.

We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student which promotes self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.

Please contact us so we can support you with your trip planning.