C.A.M. accepts volunteers (via Experience MexECO) to assist teachers and therapists in the classroom.
Below is a list of comments from previous volunteers:


Sarah Lounsbury - C.A.M. Intern 2005 – 2006 from IICRD, Canada

El Centro de Atención Múltiple is a great environment to be in if you are looking to volunteer somewhere!  The children are energetic and a real pleasure to work with. The teachers are very caring and fun to be around.  I was warmly welcomed and feel part of the team of staff here at CAM.  This school year there are many volunteers working together to make positive changes at the school.  Volunteers can spend their time in the classroom assisting students with their school work, and assisting teachers with classroom preparation, or outside of the classroom organizing fundraising events, helping to raise awareness of the school, or doing construction work on the school property. If you feel passionate about child rights, enjoy working with children, or feel that you could be an asset to CAM´s team please contact the school.

My role at the school is to fundraise and to assist in the classroom.  I am helping to prepare for the yearly local fundraising events, which include a music concert and an auction.  I am also seeking out international contacts to work with as partners.  Every afternoon I help out in a classroom, rotating each day into a different class.  With the younger children I do a lot of singing, dancing, colouring, and physiotherapy activities.  With the older children I help with colouring, math skills, and workbook activities.  I also help out in the physiotherapy room.  Working with the children has been very rewarding. 

Living and working in Mexico is a unique experience.  I am living in the small town of Melaque.  I have met many friendly people, who enjoy life, and who are happy to help if I need anything.  Living near the beach is great. In my spare time I have been learning Spanish, learning how to surf, volunteering with Experience Mex-ECO´s Sea Turtle Conservation program, and taking weekend trips to visit other Mexican towns.
 



Ruth Amanuel - C.A.M. Intern 2004 – 2005 from IICRD, Canada

“I often think how lucky I am to be living and working in Barra de Navidad, Mexico. My typical day starts with breakfast with my Mexican host family. Whilst chatting with the family I always appreciate their generosity in making me feel so welcome in their home, and making me feel like one of the family.

Since my work at C.A.M. starts at two in the afternoon I spend my mornings working on various projects for the schools. On a given day it could be networking within the community to raise awareness about the school, developing a website for C.A.M. or planning for the annual fundraising events. I also take time for myself and spend some mornings studying Spanish, catching up on my E-mails, or relaxing by the beach.

By mid-afternoon I take the local bus to school. I am often greeted with hugs and kisses from the school children, ranging in age between 4 and 18 years old. A typical class at C.A.M. has an average of 13 children, all with different needs. My main responsibility at the school is supporting the teachers in the classroom. For example, within one classroom a teacher has to attend to a child who is deaf, another with cerebral palsy, and others with Down syndrome. My main role as an intern is to make sure that each child can receive extra attention and care. Working at C.A.M. has given me the opportunity to witness the challenges of disabled children in Mexico.

During the evenings I may stay home and watch my favourite telenovela (soap), or go out for some tacos with friends. Whichever way I spend my days, I am grateful to be absorbing a new culture and gaining work experience here in Mexico. ”


Kathleen Smith - C.A.M. Intern 2003 – 2004 from IICRD, Canada

“I arrived in Barra de Navidad/Melaque in September 2003 to begin a six month internship sponsored by the International Institute of Child Rights and Development (IICRD). One year later I find myself still working within the community and living amongst my Mexican friends. The warm environment of C.A.M. ‘Cihuatlan' makes everyone feel welcome; the kids and teachers are all accustomed to coexisting with people of various capacities and cultural backgrounds, making them very tolerant and accepting of newcomers. In addition, the days begin with songs and dances that give the school a fun, light-hearted, summer camp ambiance.

My work at C.A.M. consisted of two parts: my work inside the classroom, and fundraising outside of school. Work inside the classroom was one of the most fulfilling experiences that I have had to date. I mainly acted as a support network for the regular teachers, assisting them with their classes and offering help to students requiring extra attention. I particularly enjoyed working with the pre-school children, as their teacher regularly came up with innovative and creative projects to work with the students. The most rewarding part of my work within the classroom was seeing the progress of each child. The fundraising aspect of my work was also very gratifying as it really left me with a sense of accomplishment. Through the different benefits and events we put on during the 2003/04 scholastic year, we succeeded in making C.A.M. ‘Cihuatlan' more recognised within the community, were able to install a telephone line in the school, purchased a computer and internet services, and completed phase one construction of a physiotherapy/recreation field.

Life outside of the school is another experience in itself. The Mexican people are probably amongst the most inviting and caring of people. I felt secure from the start knowing that many people were ready and willing to help me in any way possible so that my transition from life in Canada to life in Barra went as smoothly as possible.

The past year I have been living with some fellow Mexican teachers in Jaluco, a small town off the highway between Melaque and Barra de Navidad. In the morning I awake to the call of the rooster and begin my day. Walking down the dusty roads to the town centre, where I buy tortillas and vegetables, I usually pass by the local chickens, donkeys, men on horseback, and elderly people swaying in hammocks under the shade of palm trees. One thing that is never lacking is the local greeting, ‘hola' – whether friends or strangers, people never fail to say it! ”
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