Delegation 89 summary objective:
Participants in delegation 89 will help advance the Zapatista autonomous educational systems in Chiapas, Mexico. While our construction skills are always inferior to those of our indigenous hosts, the humbling experience of working side by side with our Mayan companions collectively raises our spirits while we raise schools of hope in the Mexican southeast.
Delegation 89 summary description:
No special linguistic skills, construction, or artistic experience are required. Basketball, rural cooking, and dancing skills ~ plus a sense of humor are very useful; patience and resilience are required! Respect for Mayan community authorities and processes are vital. An experienced, fulltime translator/guide will live and travel along with the delegation. Delegates will sleep and eat in rustic buildings or tents in isolated rural, Zapatista civilian centers and communities. Successful participants may be able to arrange extended volunteer work in Chiapas after participating in this delegation.
Cost for Delegation 89:
Two weeks of the minimum weekly wage of each participant's home. For example U.S. residents pay $7.50 X 40 hours = $300 X 2 weeks = $600 USD. (Airfare not included.) Note: Cost varies by country of residence because the price is equal to two weeks of the minimum wage of the resident country. Price includes ground transportation after arriving in San Cristobal, two meals a day, sleeping in rustic buildings or tents, six days with full time guide/translator, coordination of delegation, and donation to an autonomous Mayan educational project.
Getting there and getting away
Delegation 89 will begin at 5pm,Sunday, June 20, 2010 in the tourist destination city of San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico (exactly meeting place to be announced). The closest airport to San Cristobal de las Casas is Tuxla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico at airport Llano San Juan (TGZ) and participants should allow two hours for travel between Tuxla Gutierrez and San Cristobal. Long distance buses to and from Mexico City or Cancun to and from San Cristobal de las Casas are also available.
Schools for Chiapas Travel Refund Policy
Schools for Chiapas does not provide medical, travel, or any other type of insurance for individuals visiting Chiapas, their delegation participants might consider purchasing insurance from a third party if that is appropriate to their situation. Schools for Chiapas will provide 100% refund of all trip fees upon receiving written notification of cancellation at least two weeks before trip begins. Schools for Chiapas will refund 50% of fees upon receiving written notification of cancellation during the last two weeks (less 24 hours)before the trip is to begin. No refunds for any reason will be made to participants who cancel their trip less than 24 hours before the trip begins or leave at any time after trip begins.
Travel FAQ | Application for Travel
Trip Price Calculator:
We set the prices of most of our delegations according to the approximate weekly minimum wage in your country. This trip costs the equivalent of 2 weeks' minimum wage. To find out how much you should pay for this trip, select your country from the list below. If your country is not in this list or you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
