Mexico

Program Duration

This is a six-week summer program.

Preparation

Community building among the members, articulating personal and group goals, prayer and faith. A week of preparation is spent in the Toronto area during which significant time is given to sharing, and learning about the history, politics and economics of Mexico. There are also workshops on communication skills, group decision making, conflict resolution and “going cross-cultural.” Residence in Toronto is at Zacchaeus House, a Catholic Worker Community offering hospitality to the homeless.

While In Mexico

The group flies to Mexico City where they will travel by bus south to Juchitan. They will live and work at “Ciudad de Los Ninos” with orphaned and handicapped children being cared for by local women supported by Bishop Arturo Lones Reyes, known as the “Bishop of the Poor.” The group may have the opportunity to meet with him as well as visit a coffee cooperative and other local initiatives while at the orphanage. From there the group will travel to the state of Guerrera where they will live with families in mountain villages. There will also be some exposure to local cooperative projects and human rights organizations. The group will then travel back to Mexico city for the flight home.

Follow-up

On return to Canada the group will spend a week at Strawberry Island in Lake Simcoe, reflecting on what has been learned and experienced. They will prepare presentations to share insights and perspectives gained with school, college, church and community groups when they return to their own homes helping develop a growing community in Canada committed to more just and constructive relationships with the Third World.