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Teaching English to the conservation community in Chiapas, México

Sumary

Theme: Teaching English for the specific purpose of improving marketing, communications and fundraising within the conservation community in Chiapas Placement Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. Requeriments: This is an ideal program for individuals wishing to put to use their knowledge of NGO management and to gain firsthand experience working with Mexican NGOs. The volunteers’ primary responsibility is Teaching English as a Second Language with the goal of helping NGOs in the local conservation community with marketing, fundraising and communications with Englishspeaking partners. Project language: English primarily, working knowledge of Spanish preferred Highlights: In the last ten years, Ecobiosfera - a small, local nonprofit organization formed by conservation practitioners and scientific researchers - has been collaborating with the management of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve as well with community groups to achieve conservation and local community development through tourism. Ecobiosfera’s birding trips to El Triunfo, with 400 species of birds, are well known among the international bird-watching community. Short description: The Ecobiosfera Project was designed to improve the skills of the Chiapas conservation community, specifically NGO leaders and staff. The training program uses immersion methods as well traditional classroom methods. Volunteers and students will invest at least nine weeks of intensive training on conversational English, fundraising and marketing for their nonprofit organizations.

Date of start June through August 2010, September through November 2010 Volunteers needed 4 Duration Minimum 11 weeks Prices (In US dollars) 11 weeks $ 3,400 Additional month $ 900 Book online    Other projects Biomonitoring at El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve Promoting fair trade of organic coffee at CESMACH

 

Detailed information

Proeject parthners:

The Mexican National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) (conanp.gob.mx) is the government agency responsible for the management of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Its goal is to protect the natural resources of El Triunfo, as well as to promote research and support local community development.

El Triunfo Conservation Fund (fondoeltriunfo.org) is a public association established in 2002 to collect money from donations and charitable foundations to finance conservation actions in El Triunfo.

Ecobiosfera El Triunfo (ecobiosfera.org.mx), a nongovernmental organization, was set up to collaborate with the conservation efforts in El Triunfo by providing technical assistance and managing a visitor’s program. Its experience in organizing transportation, food, accommodations and tour guide services are crucial for this volunteer program.