Table of Questions
I. About CASA
What is CASA?
How is CASA funded?
- What organizations does CASA work with?
II. Volunteering
- What are the requirements for being a member of the CASA collective?
- What do your volunteers usually do?
- How much does it cost to be a volunteer?
- How much will it cost for me to live in Chiapas or Oaxaca?
- Are there scholarships available?
- My Spanish is mediocre, can I still volunteer?
- Is it legal to do solidarity work in Mexico?
- I will be in Chiapas or Oaxaca with my family, kids, significant other, can I still volunteer?
- I am under 18, can I volunteer?
- Are Chiapas and Oaxaca safe for kids?
- What is it like for Queer/Trans people working in Chiapas and Oaxaca?
- Can my family and friends come visit me?
- Will I be able to receive phone calls or mail?
- Should I bring my laptop or digital camera?
- Once I arrive in San Cristobal or Oaxaca where do I go?
- Will I have time to take Spanish classes and do volunteer work?
III. Travel, Safety
- What kind of visa do I need?
- What’s the cheapest way to get to San Cristobal or Oaxaca?
- What kind of cities are San Cristobal and Oaxaca? Are there internet cafes/theaters/etc?
- Do I need vaccinations?
- When should I come and what should I bring to wear?
- Is it safe in San Cristobal? In Chiapas? In Oaxaca? In Mexico?
IV. Studying Spanish
- How much does language school cost?
- Can you recommend a Spanish school?
- Can you tell me more about the school in Oventic, SERAZLN?
V. General Questions
- I’m in San Cristobal, can I visit the Casa de la Paz? I'm in Oaxaca, can I visit Casa Chapulín?
- What can I do from the US to Support the Zapatistas? How are things going right now in Chiapas?
- I am writing a paper about Chiapas or Oaxaca, can you help me?
What is CASA?
The CASA (Colectivos de Apoyo, Solidaridad y Acción or Collectives for Support, Solidarity and Action) -- originally the Chiapas Peace House Project-- are centers for international solidarity and education located in Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico. We are committed to supporting indigenous movements for justice in Mexico in ways that are humble, respectful, and appropriate. Our volunteers learn from these movements and bring new skills, ideas, and connections back to their home communities and movements.
CASA links medium to long-term international volunteers with organizations and projects in Chiapas and Oaxaca that can use their skills and experience. We provide volunteers with affordable housing in a co-op environment, access to computer and library resources, and workshops on Mexican social movements, international solidarity, and systems of oppression.
We also run international delegations, sponsor speaking tours, and organize events internationally to promote understanding of and support for Mexican social justice movements.
How is CASA funded?
CASA is funded through grassroots donations and volunteer contributions. We have tax-exempt status through our fiscal sponsor, the Faithful Fools. We operate on a shoestring budget (about $1000 a month for altogether for the two collectives) and depend on small donations to keep our doors open.
What organizations does CASA work with?
See Our Partners.
What are the requirements for being a volunteer?
We ask that all volunteers speak proficient Spanish, have an understanding of the political situation in Chiapas and Oaxaca, and can commit to a minimum of four months. It is also important that volunteers be committed to organizing for social justice in their own communities and that they intend to maintain the connections they make through CASA in Chiapas and Oaxaca beyond the duration of their stay. The house accepts volunteers on a rolling basis as spaces open up. Decisions are made by current volunteers and the field coordinator.
What do your volunteers usually do?
Our volunteers work on a wide range of projects with a diverse group of organizations. The field coordinator works with candidates and partner organizations to find the best fit for their skills and interests and the organizations’ needs. Past volunteers have taught theater of the oppressed workshops with an indigenous women’s theater troupe, worked on community radio projects, led workshops on human rights law, worked with an indigenous midwife training program, and participated in various other types of volunteer work. In Chiapas, we also encourage volunteers to present their own project ideas directly to the Zapatista Juntas of Good Government, who can advise on whether the projects would be appropriate and welcome. Finally, all of our volunteers in Chiapas spend at least one week doing human rights observation in a threatened community, while volunteers in Oaxaca also spend a week doing hands-on work in a rural community.
How much does it cost to be a volunteer?
CASA is phasing in a new fundraising requirement for volunteers. Beginning in April 2008, volunteers from the U.S. and Western Europe will be expected to raise the equivalent of at least $500 US dollars—through fundraising, personal savings, or a mix of the two—before arriving in Mexico to support the work of the CASA. Volunteers coming from other countries should talk to the CASA coordinators to come up with a fundraising amount and plan appropriate to their economic situations.
This money will be divided between CASA and the volunteer’s specific project(s) in Chiapas or Oaxaca. Fundraising is a good opportunity to raise awareness in your community about the political situation in Mexico as well as to support your experience.
Rent in the house in Chiapas is $50 a month, plus an addition $12 for those who wish to eat communally. Rent in the Oaxaca space is $100 dollars a month, plus an additional $12 for those who wish to eat communally. The Field Coordinators can also help find nearby alternative housing for between $50 and $200 dollars a month, depending on the needs of volunteers.
How much will it cost for me to live in Chiapas or Oaxaca?
We estimate living costs- including rent, food, drinking water, general supplies, and some in-state travel- to be between $200 and $400 dollars a month, with living expenses in Oaxaca higher than those in Chiapas. Eating in restaurants, buying alcohol, and any extended travel would increase these estimates substantially.
Are scholarships and financial aid available?
We recognize that our fundraising expectations may not be realistic for all applicants. Volunteers who find that fundraising is not a feasible option may get in touch with CASA coordinators about waiving or reducing the fundraising expectation as well as about scholarship opportunities to help cover living costs in Chiapas or Oaxaca.
Limited scholarships and financial aid, including free or subsidized rent in the collective houses, are available on a need basis. We can also help volunteers with fundraising suggestions and strategies to help them finance their work.
My Spanish is mediocre, can I still volunteer?
Proficiency in Spanish or higher is a requirement for CASA volunteers. Mediocre Spanish will be extremely limiting to your options for volunteer placements and your ability to do effective work. We also strive to make Spanish the primary language spoken in the collective spaces in Oaxaca and Chiapas, both to reinforce our volunteers’ Spanish fluency, and to insure that our offices are welcoming places for non-English speaking activists. Intensive Spanish study either in your home country or in Latin America previous to applying is strongly recommended.
Is it legal to do solidarity work in Mexico?
Doing political work on a tourist visa in Mexico is considered illegal. This said, there are hundreds of NGOs that offer unpaid work for volunteers in Mexico. The Mexican government maintains the right to deport people who interfere with internal politics, but since deporting people carries a high political cost and attracts media attention, it tends to be very rare. However, this can change depending on the political situation.
I will be in Mexico with my family, kids, significant other, can I still volunteer?
Yes, we welcome families and partners as volunteers. However, housing outside the houses is recommended, as rooms are dorm style in the Chiapas house and equally small in Oaxaca.
I am under 18, can I volunteer?
No. Consider coming to Chiapas or Oaxaca on a learning delegation, but house volunteers must be over 18.
Are Chiapas and Oaxaca safe for kids?
Yes. The most dangerous thing is probably stomach sickness (parasites, salmonella, and other ailments are rampant). And of course caution should be exercised when traveling to communities or to the conflict zone.
What is it like for Queer/Trans people working in Chiapas or Oaxaca?
Difficult. San Cristobal is a small, relatively conservative town whose queer community maintains a low profile and is occasionally subject to attacks and harrassment. Oaxaca City is much bigger and has larger communities of queer/trans people, but discrimination is still common. CASA attempts to create a safe and supportive space, helps folks get connected to friends and allies, and offers mixed gender housing. Awareness is growing (GLBT movement and culture is increasingly open and vocal in large Mexican cities especially Mexico City and Guadalajara) but Chiapas and Oaxaca are somewhat outside of that urban/mainstream culture. Potential volunteers should be aware that being openly queer/trans in Chiapas and Oaxaca could be extremely challenging.
Can my family and friends come visit me?
Yes. They can only stay in the CASA houses with the consent of the other house members and will be asked to help with expenses. And be careful to plan visits so they don’t disrupt volunteer work.
Will I be able to receive phone calls or mail?
You will be able to receive mail through our P.O. boxes. However, bear in mind that mail is extremely slow (2-3 weeks from the States) and often lost or stolen. Neither house has a phone line, but public phones are available, and the internet program Skype makes phoning home much easier and less expensive.
Should I bring my laptop or digital camera?
CASA has several laptops for use in translation, etc. The Oaxaca house has unreliable internet access, and many cafes in Chiapas and Oaxaca now offer free wifi for customers. If you will be using a computer intensively for your volunteer placement (graphic design, translation, editing), it is probably advisable to bring your own. Digital cameras are fine, there are several places where pictures can be burned to CD. The houses are relatively secure places, but avoid bringing extraneous valuables.
Once I arrive in San Cristobal or Oaxaca where do I go?
Email the field coordinator in Chiapas or Oaxaca beforehand for directions and to arrange a meeting time.
Will I have time to take Spanish and do volunteer work?
This depends on your volunteer placement and whether or not you will primarily be in a rural or urban community. Many volunteers who need to brush up on their Spanish have taken two weeks of intensive classes before beginning their volunteer work.
What kind of visa do I need?
You will receive a tourist visa for varying lengths of time (up to 6 months) upon entering the country. CASA volunteers are “tourists” and as such cannot work or participate in political activities. But they can travel and participate in educational/cultural activities.
What’s the cheapest way to get to San Cristobal or Oaxaca?
For Chiapas, flying to Mexico City or Cancun (usually $200-500) then busing to San Cristobal ($70 and around 14 hours) is usually cheapest. Tuxtla Gutierrez is the closest airport (one hour away). If you're coming to Oaxaca, flying into Mexico City, then taking a 6-hour, $35 bus ride to Oaxaca is almost always the cheapest, but there is also an airport in Oaxaca City.
What kind of cities are San Cristobal and Oaxaca? Are there internet cafes/theaters/etc?
Along with all the NGOs and open air markets offering indigenous crafts and farm fresh food, the cities of both San Cristobal and Oaxaca have businesses catering to most every traveler's need. There are numerous inexpensive hostels, pricey hotels, internet cafes, a bookstore that offers English books, several small movie theaters that show Mexican and US releases and international films, and even newly constructed US-style superstores. There are a handful of restaurants offering international food, such as Chinese, Italian, and Indian, and great Mexican restaurants. Those doing peace camp or solidarity work should check out Junax.
Do I need vaccinations?
We recommend the US Center for Disease Control's page for vaccinations and precautions covering every part of the world: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationList.aspx and the page for Mexico and Central America specifically: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regionCentralAmerica.aspx.
In our experience, malaria is not a concern in the highlands of Chiapas (San Cristobal and surround areas). A typhoid vaccination is highly suggested (even though they aren’t 100% effective, it’s better than nothing), and be prepared for about every conceivable stomach ailment from parasites to salmonella. Local doctors, pharmacists, and herbalists are also excellent, but many volunteers bring their own personal cures as well (Grapefruit seed extract, antibiotics, acidophilous, vitamins, Rescue Remedy, etc.).
When should I come and what should I bring to wear?
The appropriate clothing depends on the season. In Chiapas, weather in spring and fall is temperate, but dressing in layers is the norm as temperatures change throughout the day. The rainy season begins in May, and street flooding is common in parts of the city. Winter can get very cold, perhaps down to 20 degrees fahrenheit. In Oaxaca, the weather is warm almost all year round, with the chilliest months being November through January and the hottest months April and May. June and July are the rainy season. A warm sweater is a good idea in the early morning and at night, and warmer clothes are advisable if you will be working in the rural mountains.
Is it safe in San Cristobal? In Chiapas? In Oaxaca? In Mexico?
Throngs of tourists regularly visit both Chiapas and Oaxaca. However, bus robberies do occur occasionally, and violence against women in particular is a growing national problem. Violence against Zapatista communities has been increasing in Chiapas over the last several years. In Oaxaca, the open state and paramilitary violence against grassroots organizers and their supporters that took place throughout 2006 has resided, but arrests and harassment against Mexican organizers continue. In both Chiapas and Oaxaca, our status as internationals has historically offered us a considerable measure of safety, but international observers and activists have been the victims of state and paramilitary violence in the past, and we encourage our volunteers to use their best judgment about acceptable levels of risk.
How much does language school cost?
Language schools can run about $10/hour for private instruction at a school. Costs are less for instruction with teachers outside of school, or for group classes.
Can you recommend a Spanish school?
There are numerous language schools within San Cristobal and Oaxaca that offer one on one instruction and homestays with local families. The following is information about a few interesting ones.
- SERAZLN , a school in the Zapatista Caracol of Oventic, is about 1 - 1.5 hours outside of San Cristobal. The school teaches Zapatismo and Spanish approximately 2 hours a day, taking occasional fieldtrips to nearby towns or Zapatista collectives within the Caracol, for example. The cost to attend each week is three day's minimum wage (in your home country).
A letter or email of solidarity from a recognized support organization is needed in order to attend ( see Mexico Solidarity Network to apply ) . Note that the Mexican government likely considers it illegal to attend this school or even visit the caracol, however tour busses of foreigners are known to show up every so often, so enforcement appears spotty (as of Feb 2005).
- La Hermadad Educativa , or Proyecto Linguistico Quetzalteco, a socially conscious school in Quetzaltenango ("Xela") Guatamala, is a day's busride from San Cristobal. The cost is about $150US/week for 5 hours of one-one-one instruction five days a week. They also have a Mountain School set in a small coffee village nearby to Xela. Both schools are very popular so advanced reservation is highly recommended.
Can you tell me more about the school in Oventic, SERAZLN?
It has been difficult for some to get information about SERAZLN , so we'll provide some details here. Students are provided three meals a day on weekdays, usually a simple fair heavy on rice, beans, and tortillas. However, there is a tienda that sells snacks and food up the hill. Students are housed in dorms in wooden bunks, and woolen blanks are often provided. A sleeping bag, and perhaps a pad, are recommended. Lastly, though Spanish is taught, it is not an intensive language school. The school is directed towards students looking to learn some Spanish while also studying Zapatismo, experiencing life in a caracol, and supporting the Zapatista struggle financially and through volunteer work.
I’m in San Cristobal, can I visit the Peace House?
I'm in Oaxaca, can I visit Casa Chapulín?
Email the Field Coordinators to arrange a visit and for more info about the CASAs and their projects.
Chiapas coordinator, Leila- casadelapaz@gmail.com
Oaxaca coordinator, Diana - casachapulin@gmail.com
What can I do from the US to Support Movements in Oaxaca and Chiapas?
See How to Help.
How are things going right now in Chiapas?
See out About Chiapas for a brief history of Chiapas and a timeline of the recent struggle of the Zapatistas.
Chiapas is still the most militarized state in Mexico, with over 90 Mexican military instillations. Although direct police and army attacks on Zapatista communities have been less of a problem since the election of President Vicente Fox in the year 2000, there have been continued paramilitary attacks and harassment. In 2007 and early 2008 there has been a disturbing increase in violence against Zapatista communities, as well as attempts to force Zapatista communities off of land that was reclaimed during the uprising of 1994, and that has been farmed and lived on since that time.
The Zapatistas remain committed to growing services for their communities through the promotion of autonomous clinics, education centers, fair trade economies, and direct democracy, as well as building a broader Mexican movement “from below and to the left” through initiatives like the Other Campaign. Please see our newsletter for recent news and analysis from Chiapas.
I am writing a paper about Chiapas or Oaxaca can you help me?
Many people organizing in movements in Chiapas and Oaxaca are tired of being studied, of assisting research projects only to see their words mangled or never seeing any results from their time and energy. Do your homework first (read archived newsletters, other links and resources from Peace House webpage) then consider contacting us or our partner organizations for more information.
