Experiential Learning & Reality Tours

  Mexico

• Other Cities in Mexico: 
Rural Areas
• Cuernavaca: 
Cuernavaca
• Mexico City: 
Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Throughout the Year

Description: The Sociedad Cooperativa de Production Rural "Los Surcos del Maiz" and the International Center for Cultural and Language Studies (CICEL) invite you to participate in our Summer Reality Tour in beautiful Central Mexico.

    * Meet the other Mexico Profundo - its struggle for life and traditions.
    * Share traditional and nutritious foods with indigenous and rural Mexican peoples.
    * Enjoy natural environments while learning and participating in the struggle for a better life in Mexico.

What is a Reality Tour?

Reality Tours give participants the opportunity to travel to other parts of the world to discover first hand how people live and the challenges that they face. Much of what is portrayed in the mass media does not give us the "real" picture of life in the majority of the world. This is an opportunity to learn about how people from all parts of the world are interconnected, how we all contribute to global problems and how we can work together to try to solve some of these problems. This will be a powerful learning experience that challenges your perceptions and worldview. Reality Tours are not designed to provide immediate solutions, but rather to give participants a sense of what is really happening in other parts of the world with the hope that participants will take what they learned back to their home communities. Also, in our case, we distribute any income to a community project or activity, in this case, the women's cooperative "Los Zurcos del Maiz" will receive all funds raised through the program.

Highlights: This program provides the opportunity to meet with diverse community groups and individuals that work for social justice and community empowerment in the state of Morelos in Central Mexico. Participants from all cultures will have the opportunity to visit local communities and learn about indigenous culture and to explore issues of spirituality, traditional life, art, social movements, agriculture, migration issues, health, traditional medicine and more!

Visitors will have the opportunity to visit with community leaders, traditional healers, social activists, non-governmental civil organizations, youth organizers, and to visit environmental and sustainable development projects and women's cooperatives, among others. The program includes visits to ancestral and archaeological sites and the opportunity to celebrate the history and beauty of the people of Morelos with other trip participants and new friends in Mexico.

About the organizers: Sociedad de Producción Rural "Los Surcos del Maiz"

A community group that coordinates an educational and productive project in the rural area of Temixco, Morelos, half an hour from the city of Cuernavaca, Morelos. Los Surcos del Maiz' main objective is to promote community empowerment and local self-sufficiency through educational and practical activities in their community; all activities are focused to provide opportunities to improve their lives in all forms. This women's cooperative promotes the participation of children and elders in their project.

Qualifications: Experience working with:
    - sustainable development
    - social work
    - micro-finance projects
    - and, or community development
    - knows basic Spanish language

Cost in US$: USD 575

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 above

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

CICEL's Mission Statement: We aspire to work together in search of alternative, positive and traditional ways of living, healing and strengthening of the community. We believe in the art of listening as an important aspect for effective dialogue and communication among peoples of different cultures and backgrounds. In the spirit of our interconnectedness, our programs offer all participants an opportunity for self-empowerment; to experience another perspective of knowledge and culture, as well as to participate in the transformation toward a better world

Year Founded: 2000