The SYJ stand for Skolta’el Yu’un Jlumaltic, which means ‘Service to Our People’ in Maya-Tsostsil. SYJAC emerged in the year 1993 through the initiative of Don Samuel Ruiz Garcia, then the Bishop of the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, in response to the violent expulsions of indigenous peoples and communities from their places of origin, supposedly for religious motives. From the beginning, SYJAC has worked as a program for social justice with an ecumenical perspective. The organization seeks to be the link between the needs of indigenous communities and the people, organizations, and institutions desiring to meet these needs. Their mission is to accompany, strengthen, and disseminate economic, social, cultural, environmental, and indigenous rights through the fomentation of integrated processes within communities, groups, and institutions. Currently, one of the most important functions of the organization and uses of its facilities is as a provider of childcare and education to indigenous youth.

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 Support the childcare and educational activities of the center.
 Lead/assist with recreational activities.
 Conduct workshops and trainings.
 Enhancement of facilities (light construction, painting, decoration, etc.)
 Promotion of organization activities and fund-raising.
 Administrative assistance.

Interest in working with children and investigation of issues related to indigenous peoples preferred. Spanish proficiency required.

Volunteers will stay in the volunteer house in San Cristobal de las Casas. Housing is shared: 2 volunteers/bedroom. Rarely, 3 volunteers may share a bedroom. Male and female rooms are separate.

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

Minimum of 3 months; up to 1 year.

any

1700 pesos/month. Meals are paid by volunteers.

Nataté Voluntariado Internacional offers opportunities to collaborate with community development projects in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is relevant to say that Chiapas has a long history of struggle for social justice.
Medium and long-term volunteers collaborate over a period of 1 to 12 months. During this time, participants will involve themselves with the various work associated with each project while having the opportunity to get to know Mexico from a more local perspective; within this framework, individual activities will contribute to common project goals.
Security conditions in Mexico are at some times and in some places dangerous. However, media sources have exaggerated the dangers in most cases. The vast majority of the isolated events of violence that have been publicized of late have taken place near the border with the U.S., far from Chiapas. The areas in and around San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, where volunteer projects are located, are very safe.
Nataté Voluntariado Internacional, as an organization, is interested in sustainable social and community development. For the most part, our work consists of creating links between international volunteers and local communities through a process of coordination with local non-profit and philanthropic organizations.
Nataté aims to activate the personal development of volunteers by offering a wide range of projects from which volunteers may choose according to their interests and needs. At the same time volunteers will develop and reinforce skills and abilities including: Understanding and engaging with the local culture;
 Learning the language(s) (Spanish and local indigenous dialects);
 Sharing your culture with locals and other volunteers;
 Exchanging of ideas and experiences;
 Making friends;
 Promoting voluntary service.

Participation in the projects proposed by Nataté requires a monthly fee that is paid by volunteers. This fee ranges between 1,500 and 2,900 pesos, depending on the project. Nataté is a non-profit organization and therefore does not receive external funding. For this reason participation fees are required to cover the costs of management, administration, promotions, communication, accommodation, and food for three of the projects. In addition, fees cover administrative costs of Nataté, including rent, utilities, salaries, etc.

Nataté provides housing for volunteers working on projects within the municipality of San Cristobal de las Casas. The volunteer house is located in the city center, near the offices of Nataté, and includes six bedrooms, which are shared by volunteers. Home stays are also available but most volunteers enjoy sharing a common space and social life. The volunteer house has a living/dining room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a small patio.
For most projects, food costs are covered by volunteers.
The exceptions are for projects coded NAT11, NAT15, NAT16, NAT17, and NAT18, for which meals are included in the participation fee. Otherwise, volunteers may cook their own meals in the house. Supermarkets provide a wide selection for preparing meals. Vegetarians and vegans will have no problem accommodating their specific dietary needs. In addition, eating out is a pleasure as Mexican cuisine is a rich variety of exotic and delicious foods. Traditional and regional dishes are available at very economical prices.
In the case of projects that are located outside of San Cristobal de las Casas, accommodation and meal plans are different. Relevant detailed information is provided in the project descriptions.

For travel to Mexico it is recommended that volunteers search and compare prices of flights on their own or with the help of volunteer organizations or travel agents. Note that prices vary by season and airline.

 Arrival Airport: Mexico City (MEX, Internacional Benito Juarez) International flights arrive in Mexico City. From there it is possible to take a bus to San Cristobal de las Casas. The bus trip is approximately 14 hours but is much less expensive than connecting by air.
 Arrival Airport: Tuxtla Gutiérrez (TGZ, Llano San Juan) The nearest airport to San Cristobal is Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas. Connecting flights are available from Mexico City. From Tuxtla it is is possible to take a taxi or a much cheaper collective transport (colectivo) to San Cristobal de las Casas. Colectivos depart from the OCC Bus Station at 9:00, 13:00, 16:00, and 20:30 and arrive in San Cristobal del las Casas approximately 40 minutes later.

The arrival station is OCC San Cristobal de las Casas. Taxis are available from the station and will take you the Nataté office for about 25 pesos. From the station volunteers can also walk about ten blocks to the Nataté office. It’s a scenic stroll passing the central plaza (where a tourism office offers city maps), the main cathedral, continuing along a pedestrian avenue to the Santo Domingo church and craft market, and finally arriving at the office (1.5 blocks East of Santo Domingo along Real de Mexicanos). Printing a map of San Cristobal de las Casas before arriving is recommended.

San Cristobal has been called “El pueblo mas magico de los pueblos magicos” or ‘The most magical of Mexico’s magic towns.’ The city has maintained its colorful charm and colonial heritage through the centuries since its founding in 1528. Narrow cobblestone streets part solid blocks of vividly plastered buildings with tiled roofs, supported by rough-hewn wooden beams. Settled into a pine-forested valley at 2,200 metres, yet still at tropical latitudes, the weather is usually mild and pleasant.
The state of Chiapas is home to various indigenous groups descended from the highland Mayas. Thus, San Cristobal del las Casas is a cosmopolitan town, surrounded by indigenous villages, whose inhabitants, many in their traditional dress, mix with the populace of the city, including a large international contingent, to create a rich multicultural tapestry. The culture of Mexico, and Chiapas in particular, is thriving in San Cristobal del las Casas. Volunteers have a wealth of opportunity to discover and experience this cultural richness. Open-air markets, shops, boutiques, restaraunts, bars, and clubs abound. The nightlife is excellent and there are many popular festivals throughout the year. The surrounding region offers many sights and adventures such as waterfalls, white-water rivers, tropical jungles, ancient Mayan ruins, and magnificent beaches, all within a half-day’s travel. Guatemala is a few hours away.
Nataté provides a warm welcome to volunteers, including an orientation and familiarization with the city. We also organize many special events such as group trips, international benefit dinners, language and cultural exchange, film showing and forums, and nights out on the town. Volunteers stay in close contact with Nataté through weekly meetings and frequent casual visits to the office. The staff of Nataté is available to volunteers from 9:00 to 5:00, Monday-Friday for any issues volunteers may have and 24 hours/day for emergencies.

San Cristobal de las Casas and the surrounding areas are very safe. Due to its popularity with travellers, the government of Chiapas ensures a secure and hospitable environment. Nonetheless, as with any travel experience, volunteers should always be aware of their surroundings, not wander alone at night, be careful trusting casual acquaintances, not drink to excess or use drugs, and always ensure the safety of their valuables.
Volunteers are asked to inform Nataté of their travel plans, including destination and date/time of return. They should consult Nataté staff as to recommended destinations, routes and modes of travel, and other details. It is very important during their stay, that volunteers keep us informed of their whereabouts whenever possible. This being said, volunteers have a great deal of independence and are trusted to use common sense and caution at all times.