LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

AT-A-GLANCE

DURATION: 7 days/6 nights

IDEAL FOR: High school or college students looking for a unique experience abroad. It would be perfect for your sorority/fraternity or service club!

PRICE: Starting at US$850 / person

Overview

This is learning by example and learning by doing. Connect with the founders of inspiring projects and support their work with your questions and time spent volunteering.  This itinerary is structured as an ethical alternative to “voluntourism.”

What’s Included

ACCOMMODATION: Hostel-style accommodations

MEALS: 50% of meals, the rest on your own.

TRANSPORTATION: A mix of public and private transportation. Airport pick-up/drop-off is included.

EXCURSIONS: One of three excursion options (depending on season and availability)

EXPERT FACILITATION: Our guides translate conversations between English and Spanish

FAIR PAYMENTS AND LOCAL IMPACT: Please read more about our Responsible Tourism Guarantee

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Settling In

Includes transportation from the airport to your accommodation, orientation on local health and safety norms and a special welcome dinner.

Day 2: Engaging with our Community

Visit three Mexican entrepreneurs in their homes and hear their stories. Enjoy a traditional lunch and debrief over dinner.

Day 3: Sustainable Communities

Meet with founders of a local school and learn about their efforts to create sustainable schools and communities. Explore sustainability and ethics in international projects through Q&A with community leaders and a workshop with your group.

Day 4: Learning from Leaders

Visit Sayulita and San Pancho to learn from cultural and community center leaders. What are these organizations doing to support education, environmental initiatives, community activism and cultural preservation?

Day 5: What’s Your Cause?: Social Entrepreneurship

“What’s your Cause?” activity on entrepreneurship led by our founder and director, Elly Rohrer, and social ventures and then head out to meet a mother, chef and entrepreneur in a hands-on tamale-making workshop!

Day 6: Future Trajectories

Present your Social Venture ideas to the group, reflect on the week and set future goals. Celebrate your projects in historic Puerto Vallarta, exploring the city’s cobblestone streets and enjoying dinner at one of our favorite taco spots.

Day 7: ¡Vamos! Excursion Day

Options include: a jungle hike, trip to the mountains, zip-lining or boat ride and beach time.

Day 8: Departure

Includes transportation from your accommodation to the airport.

Themes & Discussions

COLONIALITY: how to recognize and avoid perpetuating those systems

MIGRATION: the push and pull factors that inform decision-making

INDIGENOUS IDENTITIES: the diversity, statistics, and contemporary implications

FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: informal services, access to the formal sector and its fiscal ramifications

SOCIOCULTURAL FACTORS: how tools of development need to be adapted to work within a place

AGENCY: in these conversations, who is at the table, who isn’t, and what needs to change?