Volunteering
Volunteering is usually coordinated through the Hispano-Maya language school. There are a few different opportunities to involve oneself in the community here, and volunteers are always appreciated. Below are examples of ongoing projects here. At times there are specific projects, and those can be examined with more specific dates or upon arrival to the town. There are also special volunteer projects for anyone who has experience in health, construction, engineering, and water or trash management.
Teaching Projects: (Through Escuela-Hispano-Maya) Almost all of the schools in the area are short of teachers and resources. Also, the teachers rely most on memorization as a teaching method. Fresh minds, ideas, and energy are always welcome in the schools in all subjects.
Drinking Water projects: (Through IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral) While there are a number of natural springs in the region, they generally are located quite far from people's homes. The IMDI supports neighborhood associations and residents of small hamlets in constructing cement holding tanks and distribution networks to bring drinkable water from springs high up in the mountains directly to family dwellings. The months of intensive labor needed for implementing these drinking water projects are provided voluntarily by the community members themselves. The projects are complemented by IMDI's active promotion of latrine construction and programs for domestic waste awareness. The IMDI has also built several municipal clothes washing areas for communal use.
Reforestation Projects: (Through the Municipality or IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral). Most Todosanteros depend on wood for all cooking, building materials, furnishings, and bathing (almost all homes have an earthen sauna called a chuj). As a result, there is a vital need to maintain and rebuild healthy forests in the region. The IMDI is the primary sponsor of a large nursery in the municipal center of Todos Santos that currently produces over 100,000 seedlings per year and employs three full time workers. It also supports several smaller nurseries in outlying communities and 3 in the neighboring municipality of San Juan Atitán; as well as carrying out over 25 educational presentations each year in local schools and neighboring villages. The reforestation project focuses on the planting of native species and actively discourages chemical based agriculture in favor of organic methods. The IMDI also promotes the use of more efficient stoves instead of open cooking fires on the house floor.
Women's projects: (Through the Municipality or IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral) - The IMDI makes a special effort to organize and support women through the sponsorship of micro businesses such as bakery and weaving cooperatives. The Municipality works more with the general education and empowerment of women through presentation and cooperative development activity. Their project focus changes every month to two months. More specific information is available upon request.
Teaching Projects: (Through Escuela-Hispano-Maya) Almost all of the schools in the area are short of teachers and resources. Also, the teachers rely most on memorization as a teaching method. Fresh minds, ideas, and energy are always welcome in the schools in all subjects.
Drinking Water projects: (Through IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral) While there are a number of natural springs in the region, they generally are located quite far from people's homes. The IMDI supports neighborhood associations and residents of small hamlets in constructing cement holding tanks and distribution networks to bring drinkable water from springs high up in the mountains directly to family dwellings. The months of intensive labor needed for implementing these drinking water projects are provided voluntarily by the community members themselves. The projects are complemented by IMDI's active promotion of latrine construction and programs for domestic waste awareness. The IMDI has also built several municipal clothes washing areas for communal use.
Reforestation Projects: (Through the Municipality or IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral). Most Todosanteros depend on wood for all cooking, building materials, furnishings, and bathing (almost all homes have an earthen sauna called a chuj). As a result, there is a vital need to maintain and rebuild healthy forests in the region. The IMDI is the primary sponsor of a large nursery in the municipal center of Todos Santos that currently produces over 100,000 seedlings per year and employs three full time workers. It also supports several smaller nurseries in outlying communities and 3 in the neighboring municipality of San Juan Atitán; as well as carrying out over 25 educational presentations each year in local schools and neighboring villages. The reforestation project focuses on the planting of native species and actively discourages chemical based agriculture in favor of organic methods. The IMDI also promotes the use of more efficient stoves instead of open cooking fires on the house floor.
Women's projects: (Through the Municipality or IMDI: Instituto de Mam Desarrollo Integral) - The IMDI makes a special effort to organize and support women through the sponsorship of micro businesses such as bakery and weaving cooperatives. The Municipality works more with the general education and empowerment of women through presentation and cooperative development activity. Their project focus changes every month to two months. More specific information is available upon request.