Job Discussion Forums

[dsherter]

A while ago I posted about looking for a reasonable place to volunteer - I'm glad to report I found a wonderful place with which I'm currently involved. I'm posting this in the hopes that some of you will also be interested and might want to link efforts with me, or work there on your own.

As I'm not certain how rules and regs might constrain me from posting the actual name of the non-profit, I will not do so here. However, I encourage anyone interested to e-mail me at [email protected]. I will gladly call and/or e-mail anyone who's interested.

The organization is a private, government funded non-profit, located in colonia Roma close to Chilcinpango metrostop and metrobus stop. It provides food and shelter for children with cancer and their families. There is a seperate shelter for men - this shelter houses boys and girls and their female relatives.

I've been there perhaps five times in the last couple weeks. There is an almost endless number of things you could do as a volunteer - you will be asked for a c.v. and proposed list of ways you can help by the social worker, but once known to them, the field is wide open. I'm reading stories to kids, and I've started looking into charitable donations of Ensure supplements for kids undergoing chemo, but the administration - which seems to boil down to one social worker and a few admins at this spot - is very open to ideas.

The families have come, many of them, from distant corners of Mexico to get free treatment for their kids at local Public Hospitals which, it seems, are obliged to provide a certain amount of pro-bono treatment. Some of them have minor, local employment, others not. Some of them are able to be in contact with their extended families, others have had to leave their support networks of relatives and friends behind. The needs are varied and many - I'm just beginning to get a clearer idea myself, but include: education (most of the kids have had to drop out of school), recreational activities for the kids and just company and time to talk.

I think that there's room for organizing volunteer groups to provide structured activities for kids and family i.e.
Outings
Tutoring
Activities: crafts, games, etc.
(which Id love to try) which would be of great help to the kids and their families, but I also think DIS-organized, spontaneous, sincere involvement would be helpful and welcome. Again, I will gladly provide more detail through e-mail or by phone, as well as direct contact with the social worker through whom I'm working.

I hope to hear from you!

Dominique