Website Angeles de Amor
Teacher, Workshop Leader
Tasks & Responsibilities:
Interact with individuals with disabilities at the organization; help with chores around the office; work in the farm and help with cooking for residents at the organization; assist physical education and drama classes; be alert and ready to help with whatever needs to be done. Participate and lead arts and crafts classes; the organization uses these workshops to make crafts to sell for a source of income. There is an opportunity to develop and lead workshops according to volunteer interests and skills (meditation, yoga, dance, etc.) Listen patiently in order to develop relationships with residents, learn about and understand their distinct disabilities, capacities, personalities. The organization is working on building a cafeteria and volunteers could be involved in this process. This organization bridges medicine and psychotherapy, offering basic services to adults with disabilities. It is devoted to recognizing the special needs and distinct abilities of adults with disabilities. There is an opportunity to critically analyze the marginalization experienced by many as they are unable to receive basic health services due to their socioeconomic circumstances and lack of adequate resources for individuals with disabilities in the region.
Qualifications:
Individual should be self-directed/self-motivated, autonomous, flexible, alert, and willing to do whatever needs to be done in the moment, as no structured leadership is consistently offered. Although responsibilities may not be directly communicated, volunteers should be ready to step in when there is work to be done. Work is often accomplished from 9:30-noon; Mondays and Wednesdays are farm days; Fridays are cooking days; Tuesdays and Thursdays are Physical education and drama classes. Intermediate to high level of Spanish speaking skills is preferred; volunteer should be willing to work with residents at the organization in order to communicate with them effectively and become sensitive to their needs.
Learning Opportunities:
This position would be ideal for those interested in psychology, therapy, non-urgent care; meditation and alternative medicine; physical therapy, yoga, meditation; arts education; farming, gardening, and cooking; learning about how a non-profit organization is run and operated. Working at this organization offers volunteers the opportunity to learn about how disabilities impact lives in the specific socio-cultural context of San Cristóbal, Chiapas; how individuals deal with different disorders despite the circumstances and challenges of the public health system of the area.
