Education, Mayan Corn and Organic Agriculture Trip #112
Sunday, July 28 to Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013
Plant a seed of hope and learn about sustainable agriculture from the people who invented corn. There will be a special emphasis on the ancient Mayan agricultural system of the milpa and how today's Zapatista students are using the knowledge of their ancestors in conjuntion with modern scientific experimentations.
Delegation#112 summary objective:
Participants in delegation #112 may be able to meet with some students and promoters of ecological agriculture who specialize in fields such as: corn, bees, natural plague control, coffee, and others. However this is a moment of great mobilization within the Zapatista communities and many activists could be unavailable for extensive meetings. To take our knowledge beyond that of intellectual understanding, we will assist in projects relating to the preservation of the natural environment and the people who live closest to it.
Delegation #112 summary description:
No special linguistic skills, construction, or artistic experience are required. Basketball, rural cooking, and dancing skills ~ plus a sense of humor are very useful; patience and resilience are required! Respect for Mayan community authorities and processes are vital. An experienced, fulltime translator/guide will live and travel along with the delegation. Delegates will sleep and eat in rustic buildings or tents in isolated rural, Zapatista civilian centers and communities. Successful participants may be able to arrange extended volunteer work in Chiapas after participating in this delegation.
Cost for Delegation #112:
Two weeks of the minimum weekly wage of each participants home. For example U.S. residents pay $7.50 X 40 hours = $300 X 2 weeks = $600 USD. (Airfare not included.) Note: Cost varies by country of residence because the price is equal to two weeks of the minimum wage of the resident country. Price includes ground transportation after arriving in San Cristobal, two meals a day, sleeping in rustic buildings or tents, six days with full time guide/translator, coordination of delegation, and donation to an autonomous Mayan educational project.
Getting there and getting away
Delegation #112 will begin at 5pm, Sunday, August 12, 2012 in the tourist destination city of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico (exact meeting place to be announced). The closest airport to Palenque, is Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico and participants should allow two hours for travel between Villahermosa and Palenque. Long distance buses to and from Mexico City or Cancun to and from San Cristobal de las Casas are also available.
Click here to begin an application.
Schools for Chiapas Travel Refund Policy
Schools for Chiapas does not provide medical, travel, or any other type of insurance for individuals visiting Chiapas, their delegation participants might consider purchasing insurance from a third party if that is appropriate to their situation. Schools for Chiapas will provide 100% refund of all trip fees upon receiving written notification of cancellation at least two weeks before trip begins. Schools for Chiapas will refund 50% of fees upon receiving written notification of cancellation during the last two weeks (less 24 hours)before the trip is to begin. No refunds for any reason will be made to participants who cancel their trip less than 24 hours before the trip begins or leave at any time after trip begins.
Travel FAQ | Application for Travel
Trip Price Calculator:
We set the prices of most of our delegations according to the approximate weekly minimum wage in your country. This trip costs the equivalent of 2 weeks' minimum wage. To find out how much you should pay for this trip, select your country from the list below. If your country is not in this list or you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
