Merida Cancer Prevention Agency
Mexico Volunteer Placement

This is a community service based organization whose goal is to assist people who have cancer and their relatives. The organization further gears its services towards low-income families and people who do not have medical insurance. Work is done in the following areas: Community services orientation; Economical support for drug treatment; Hospital visitations; Prevention/early detection campaigns; and Fund-raising for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The offices serve as a resource center for cancer research. Their office houses specialized books, CD-roms, pamphlets, videos, posters, questionnaires and more. People who receive assistance range in age from 21 days to 77 years old. They come from all parts of Mexico, including the Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Belice. The organization relies heavily on donations of time, funds, medicine and clothing to continue their projects.

Your daily tasks will be assigned after meeting with the onsite staff. Volunteers assist in all of the areas mentioned previously. The tasks of a volunteer depend mostly on demonstrated skills, experience and interests. Much help is needed with visiting patients. Groups of volunteers go to cancer centers such as Centro Anticanceroso de la Cruz Roja Mexicana, Hospital O’Horan, and Albergue Temporal San Vincente. During special holidays volunteers deliver toys and clothing to people with cancer in different hospitals and cancer centers. Specific project information constantly changes based on the season and current funding.

Work Schedule: Varies. Full-time Monday through Friday, sometimes evenings or weekends.

Location of Placements: Merida

Lodging: Student Apartment

• Minimum age: 21 years.
• Minimum commitment: 4 weeks.
• Minimum Spanish level: High-Intermediate
• Related skills and experience depending on the area in which interested to work.
• Dynamic, independent personality.