Mexico Volunteer Locations: Xalapa

Covered during much of the year by the mist that rises from the deep ravines that surround the city, Xalapa rests on a strategic point of the Sierra of Veracruz in an area that descends abruptly from the foothills of the Cofre de Perote at an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level to 1,100 meters at the costal plain. Within this geographical strip there is a variety of elevations and microclimates, which all together form one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world, known as the Mountain Cloud Forest or Mist Forest.

History of Xalapa

The area around Xalapa has been a great cultural region since pre-Hispanic times and the first inhabitants can be traced back to the 9th century B.C. The intense undertaking of Spanish colonization began on August 19, 1519, when Hernan Cortes, set up camp here on the third day of his expedition to Mexico-Tenochtitlan.

With a population of about 400, 000 inhabitants, Xalapa (also spelled Jalapa, and pronounced ha-LA-pa) is now the capital of Veracruz and an attractive hillside university city. Located 66 miles (106 km) north of the port or a one-hour bus ride away. Xalapa is also known as the "Athens of Veracruz" because of the strong cultural influence of its three major universities, and also for the wide variety of cultural events like its theater, museums, and street art. Xalapa also has the widest collection of Diego Rivera's paintings in all Mexico, at a gallery called “Pinacoteca Diego Rivera”, in the downtown area.

The world wide famouse “Jalapeño” chilis are named after an old factory of canned chili peppers called "La Jalapeña" located in this city.

Volunteering in Xalapa:

Orphanages
Our volunteers work with 2 local orphanages in the Xalapa area. One (MECED) is actually a halfway house for runaways or child workers and it houses around 15 young boys. Casa de la Madre Angelica is an orphanage that currently houses 21 young girls from ages 2-18. We also work with a boys and girls orphanage that houses children that have suffered some sort of abuse, neglect, or malnutrition at home. Our volunteers teach English, painting, dancing or any other recreational activity that they feel they can organize during the afternoons. We strongly encourage volunteers to help with tutoring in different school subjects.

Schools
T2T volunteers teach English in various primary and secondary schools around Xalapa and at rural areas in the outskirts of the city. English has been part of the public education program for many years but only at the secondary and preparatory levels, the English that is taught is quite basic. Through these programs Travel to Teach hopes to be able to give kids a head start with their future education and also an open door for future employment.

Troubled Kids and Teens
T2T works with several organizations that are currently working with Xalapa’s Street Children and minors with addictions or in vulnerable family situation. Volunteers are welcome to teach English but they can also help around or set up a shop for the kids (painting, dance, sports, etc). These organizations offer not only psychological support but also give these kids a place to go to instead of the streets. They also help the families to find ways of reintegrating themselves.

Special Needs Children
This is Travel to teach´s newest project. Meced is an art school for children with special needs. Our volunteers work with the teachers in various art classes: painting, ceramic, photography, theatre and IT. These types of schools are not common for children with special needs, so they need all the support they can get in order to keep things running. All of our volunteers are welcome to join in these classes.

Womans Groups
More and more women are finding different ways of bringing in some much needed “extra” money into their households, some of them abandoned by there husbands, others single mothers and some are just trying to help there husbands support the family since their salaries are only enough to get by with. They do this by learning different crafts like embroidery, crochet, and knitting or by furthering their own education. T2T gives them a hand by teaching them or their children (while the moms are doing their shops) English, and if we have the opportunity…computers.

Some of these groups also give violence awareness shops and sometimes provide medicines to rural communities; volunteers are welcome to get involved in any of these projects.

Outskirts of Xalapa
We work in various communities in the outskirts of Jalapa during the week giving children and women English classes. These rural communities mostly consist of farmers and brick makers and their families, so if it was not for these projects kids form these areas would not be able to take any English classes on their own. Volunteers are also welcome to teach any other type of recreational activities that they feel comfortable giving or support us in Home Violence awareness shops.

Medical
Volunteers can befriend patients or assist medical staff at Homes for the Elderly or a Clinic for the terminally ill. We also have an open invitation for any volunteers that have good knowledge in the nursing or medical area to help us give First Aid Classes in the outskirts of Xalapa, where it is very much needed since medical services are not close by.

The Elderly
Elders are very well respected in Mexican culture, however with the recent high migration rates and the influence of western culture more and more of them are being taken to Homes and many of them don’t have any relatives in the area. Travel to Teach volunteers are welcome to help out at various Homes for the Elderly were they can help out in the English Class that is given by one of these retired English teachers, give them some yoga or stretching seminars, help out with the cooking, help the staff take care of them or just spend some much appreciated time with them reading or listening.

Tortuga
Is an environmental community that is setting up its head quarters in the Mist Forest of Xalapa, you can visit them during the weeks or weekends and learn and practice environmental living, natural building, and organic farming. You are also welcome to work in the Rancho Viejo community teaching English to the kids or the adults, setting up a sports team with teenagers, or just helping out with building the community.

Vovamos Mejor Veracruz
Vovamos Mejor Veracruz Is an organization that works with different rural communities around Jalapa, our volunteers are invited to join them during the weekends giving English, painting, or dance shops to the children.

Animals
One of our newest projects in Xalapa involves mans best friend, Amigos de los animals A.C. is a non profit local organization that shelters, protects, and defend animals in general, en specially cats and dogs, they take in animals that have been run over, mistreated, sick, or abandoned. They also offer medical attention to pets with low income owners. Volunteers can donate their time to bathe or cure the animals, help clean the installations, supervise the newly adopted animals or help out at charity events.

Volunteer Introduction and Classes

Nervous about teaching?
We are well aware that some of our volunteers have little or no teaching experience, this is why Travel to Teach provides volunteers teaching support by experienced teachers during their stay along with and Introductory Course for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, this course provides volunteers with the basics they need to know in class room management, teaching techniques, and some very good tips to use games in your classroom.

Spanish Cooking and Salsa Classes
At Travel to Teach we feel that our volunteers need to take advantage of their stay to get to know Mexican culture as closely as possible so we offer our volunteer the opportunity to join in Basic Spanish lessons, Salsa lessons and Mexican Cooking classes as part of our programs.

Around Xalapa

The nearby colonial town of Coatepec offers some interesting sights. Only a 15-minute drive from Xalapa, Coatepec is Mexico’s coffee-growing capital. Here you can tour a coffee plantation and see the toasting process. Coatapec’s Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero, a former sugar plantation and home of General Santa Ana, provides a good picture of what life was like on a colonial-era hacienda. Another well-preserved colonial building is Posada Coatepec.

If you enjoy shopping you can visit the town of Naolinco which is about 1hr bus drive away, here you can purchase or order to be made any leather product that you can think of made by local leather artesans. More adventurous types can go rappelling, mountain climbing or rafting in nearby Xico or Jalcomulco. Cascada de Texolo (Texolo Waterfall) is located 19 km (12 mi) southwest of Xalapa, in the town of Xico. This 80 meter (264 ft) waterfall drops into a canyon with abundant vegetation, which is home to numerous animal species. Jalcomulco is located 39 km (24 mi) southeast of Xalapa. This place offers various natural attractions, such as the mouth of the Pescados (or Antigua) River. At this spot you’ll find long downhill paths that cut through diverse ecosystems. (In fact, you can enjoy the state’s natural beauty and a few of its archaeological sites while navigating its four main rafting rivers.)

Cofre de Perote National Park is located 50 km (31 mi) west of Xalapa, off Highway 140. This is one of the most visited nature areas in the state of Veracruz. It covers an area of 117 km² (28,899 acres), which consists mostly of forested mountains. At the foothills of the Cofre de Perote volcano you’ll find various routes where you can set out on a climb that takes about 6 to 10 hours.

Río Filobobos is located 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Xalapa, in the town of Tlapacoyan. This river has a 25 km (15 mi) run with class II and III rapids. From September to November the river has class IV rapids. Along the route you’ll see the 20-meter (66-foot) El Encanto waterfall, which is formed from the waters of a natural pool that is 25 meters (82 ft) deep.

Safety in Xalapa:

Natural phenomena does not affect all regions in the same way. Fortunately, there have been no natural disasters in Xalapa, nor has the city been affected by what has happened in areas close-by. Xalapa can be considered a safe place as long as you avoid being imprudent, like going out alone to unknown places at all hours of the night. If you do not know the city, go about accompanied by your host family or by friends. We suggest that you ask them about the neighborhoods that should be avoided.

Weather and Clothing:

In summer, the climate is warm, but with frequent showers, so bring summer clothes (shorts, T-shirts, blouses, short or long skirts, pants) and a raincoat or light jacket and an umbrella. In spring, the climate is quite variable. In March, there are still some cold nights. In May, it is very hot, so bring summer clothes, but do not forget to pack a sweater. In the fall, the climate is variable with warm days, afternoon winds and foggy nights. Be prepared and bring suitable clothing for those unpredictable temperatures. In winter, the temperature drops a lot, so bring sweaters, coats, raincoats, pants, blouses and long-sleeved shirts, an umbrella and a pair of sneakers or walking shoes. In Xalapa, there is never any snow, so that in spite of the cold, it is not extreme. However, there is no heating, nor air-conditioning in the houses.

If you want to avoid undue attention in the street, it is advisable not to waer tight-fitting clothes, low necklines, or mini-skirts, or mini-shorts.

Electrical Appliances:

The voltage for domestic use in Mexico is 125 you will probably need an adapter for some electric appliances if you come from places other than the U.S.A, Canada or Japan.

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