Volunteer With Us
Share your skills.
Change a student's future.
Volunteers bring time, experience, conversation, encouragement, and new perspectives to students at the Oaxaca Learning Center. Whether you join us in person or online, your contribution can become part of a student's educational journey.
Volunteer Guide link will be activated once the final PDF is available.
Why Volunteer?
Meaningful support starts with human connection.
Volunteers help students practice English, strengthen academic skills, explore new subjects, develop confidence, and connect with people from different backgrounds.
But volunteering is not only about what you teach. Many volunteers discover that the relationships they build with students become one of the most meaningful parts of their experience in Oaxaca.
Volunteer Stories
Come to help. Leave with something too.
Volunteers often arrive hoping to share their knowledge and discover that the relationships they build become an equally important part of the experience.
Colleen Courtney
“What I'll remember most is how we connected, not just communicated.”
Colleen volunteered in spring 2025 and worked regularly with two students through conversation, games, and English practice.
Laura García
“This was a very enriching experience for me... it exceeded all my expectations.”
Laura volunteered from May through July 2025, supporting advanced English lessons and one-on-one tutoring.
Ways You Can Help
Find a role that matches your experience.
Volunteers contribute in different ways depending on their availability, experience, language skills, and interests.
Bilingual Academic Mentoring
Meet regularly with a student to practice English, discuss schoolwork, strengthen vocabulary, or provide encouragement and academic support.
Typically 60 minutes per week
English Conversation
Help students build confidence through conversation, pronunciation practice, vocabulary development, and real-world English interaction.
Native or fluent English speakers welcome
Classroom Support
Assist instructors during English classes or other educational activities and provide additional support to small groups of students.
Great for collaborative teaching
Workshops
Share a skill or area of expertise through a short workshop series on topics that benefit students.
Often 2–4 sessions
Professional Skills
Volunteers with professional experience can share expertise in areas such as technology, career preparation, communications, or other specialized fields.
Skills-based volunteering
Support FOLC
Contribute behind the scenes through fundraising, communications, outreach, photography, events, graphic design, or strategic projects.
Ideal for skills-based or remote supportWho Can Volunteer?
No single background defines a great volunteer.
The most important qualities are curiosity, reliability, respect for students, and a genuine interest in contributing.
- You enjoy working with young people.
- You are patient, encouraging, and dependable.
- You enjoy conversation and cultural exchange.
- You can commit consistently to your agreed schedule.
- You want to share knowledge or professional experience.
- You are open to learning from students as well.
- No teaching degree is required.
- No previous volunteer experience is required.
- Spanish fluency is not required for every role.
- You do not need a professional background in education.
- You do not need to live permanently in Oaxaca.
Volunteer placement depends on current student needs, availability, skills, schedule, and the type of support you would like to provide.
Getting Started
From application to your first session.
We want volunteers to understand the Center, the students, and their role before they begin.
Apply
Tell us about your interests, experience, availability, and preferred volunteer activities.
Conversation
We meet with you to learn more about your goals and discuss current opportunities.
Orientation
Learn how the Center works, what students need, and what is expected in your role.
Placement
We match you with a role, class, workshop, or student based on current needs.
Begin
Start volunteering with guidance and ongoing support from the Center's team.
Volunteer FAQ
Before you apply.
These are some of the most common questions prospective volunteers ask us.
It depends on the role. Bilingual Academic Mentoring is generally one 60-minute session per week. Classroom support and workshops have different schedules. Consistency is more important than volunteering many hours.
Not for every role. English conversation and some classroom-support opportunities can work well for volunteers with limited Spanish. Other roles, especially academic tutoring in subjects such as mathematics or STEM, may require stronger Spanish.
No. Teaching experience can be helpful, but many volunteer opportunities focus on conversation, mentoring, workshops, classroom assistance, or sharing professional skills.
Some mentoring and support opportunities may be available online depending on student needs and scheduling. Online availability is normally concentrated during weekday afternoon and early evening hours in Oaxaca.
FOLC does not provide housing. We can share information about local options and resources, but volunteers are responsible for arranging and paying for their accommodation.
Volunteer activities primarily support students from upper secondary school through high school and university. Placement depends on the specific program and current needs.
Yes, in some cases. Short-term volunteers may be better suited to workshops, classroom support, or specialized projects. Mentoring works best when the volunteer can provide consistent participation for the agreed period.
Volunteers are generally responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, meals, travel documents, and personal expenses while in Oaxaca.
Volunteer Life
Learning happens in conversation, classrooms, and community.
A look at volunteers and students learning together at the Oaxaca Learning Center.
Your Time Matters
One conversation can become part of a student's future.
Bring your experience, curiosity, and time. We'll help you find a meaningful way to contribute.