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Volunteer
Strengthening the Pimpollo community—and enhancing connections between cultures—doesn't just happen. It takes individuals like yourself who step up to help. Volunteering with Friends of Pimpollo means you'll connect with a network of leaders here in the States and inspiring figures down in Mexico.
Live on-site
Every year, Friends of Pimpollo sends various young adults down to Pimpollo to serve as role models for the children and to implement various programs. Past and possible activities include:
- Implement a literacy program
- Facilitate child sponsorship reports
- Act as liason between FOP and Pimpollo staff
- Assist teams before and during visits
- Establish a play room
- Teach English classes
- Give art classes
- Organize field days
- Work with the youth group, Nuevo Despertar
- Provide one-on-one homework assistance
Volunteers can live onsite at Pimpollo and receive free room and board. A number of specific 3-6 month positions are available, as well as a one-year internship that includes airfare and a living stipend. We recommend that interns have college level Spanish.
To get an inside look into life at Pimpollo, click here to view journal entries and emails from past volunteers. Or to view job descriptions and learn about the program, download our volunteer and intern information packet. Click here.
Sound like this might be up your alley? Contact Valarie Hamm at val@friendsofpimpollo.org for details.
Join a Team
In addition to supporting the children of Pimpollo, our mission includes expanding the hearts and minds of gringos. That means we send teams and individual volunteers down to Pimpollo throughout the year. These teams can include:
- Skilled groups of health care workers
- Grade school or high school community service teams
- A "working vacation" community service project for your employees
- World service internships for college students and recent grads
- A group of interested adults who just want to hang out with the kids
Team visits are hands-on affairs that require only love and a willingness to help. Every year, 30 to 50 volunteers pay their own travel and lodging expenses and travel to Juchitan. Over the course of five days, the teams undertake ambitious construction projects such as electrical system improvements, sewer system repairs and building lockers for each child. Other team members paint and clean the facilities. Still others take children shopping for shoes and other personal items.
Team trips don't end with projects, however. Much time is just spent hanging out with the wonderful children and staff at Pimpollo. Time spent walking through the grounds, looking at someone's treasured photos, reading a book out loud, leading an arts and crafts project or playing a vigorous game of basketball are equally important parts of the Pimpollo experience for team members and children alike. Anyone who comes to Pimpollo with an open mind and generous heart will leave with one, or several, special friends and the beginning of a lifetime bond.
Interested in joining a team? Email Deb Parosa at info@friendsofpimpollo.org.
Give your time
If you'd like to volunteer but aren't able or interested in working onsite at Pimpollo, we could still use your help. As a volunteer-based organization, we often need assistance with specific tasks, from bookkeeping to stuffing envelopes to graphic design.
If you'd like to volunteer your time or materials, please contact Ellen Dukehart at ellen@friendsofpimpollo.org. |
