Internships Details

About the Organization

MESE is private Mexican non-profit social service organization currently working with nearly 300 destitute children and adolescents, most of whom have never attended school or have dropped out, and are forced to work and survive on the streets of Morelia. MESE provides various support and counseling services to help these children reintegrate into their families, communities and schools. MESE strives to serve children and family members in an integral way through small scholarships, individual and family counseling, home visits and assessments, individual support or referrals for medical, psychological and legal services, educational programs for children and families, and links to schools and training programs. MESE is staffed by 5 social workers, 2 psychologists, 3 program/administrative staff, 2 coordinators and 1 physician. The program also draws on educators and other professionals, interns and volunteers.

Job Description

Interns work as members of the social service team which identifies, evaluates and counsels at risk children and their families on opportunities, services and options. This includes home visits to evaluate living conditions and family circumstances (physical, educational, heath, diet, etc.) and participation in developing, implementing and monitoring an appropriate remedial plan. Interns may also participate in monthly counseling and educational sessions with children and family members, including topics such as importance of staying in school, health and diet, nutritional food budgeting, self-esteem and self-dependency. Interns will also be asked to help with various campaigns and annual events, such as food and clothing distribution, organization of a summer camp, sport camps and recreational activities. Interns are encouraged to suggest and contribute special skills or training they may have. Accordingly, the intern and their supervisor will develop a written work plan upon arrival which will be assessed monthly. Interns will work with a counterpart and be supervised and evaluated by a qualified university graduate social worker.

MESE is interested in having interns choose a project prior to their arrival. Areas of interest: basic hygiene, water treatment, teeth care, basic nutrition, prenatal health, vocational training, basic computer skills, combating additions (cigarettes, alcohol), and motivational training (working with mothers to keep their kids in school), etc.

Psychology interns can work directly with the psychologists. It is preferred that they intern for at least 6 months.

# of Positions per term

1-5

Start Dates

Any time

Duration of Internship

Minimum 10 weeks for social work/nutrition majors; 6 months for psychology majors

Qualifications

Academic Background

Seniors or Master degree students with majors in social work, psychology, nutrition, public health, sociology, education, ESL, pre-nursing or pre-med

Skills/Experience

Some previous work with underprivileged or at-risk children or youth highly preferred. Previous study abroad or living in Mexico or a Latin American cultural setting strongly recommended. Be an active learner as well as a contributing team member (not just an observer). Outgoing personality.

Language Ability

Spanish language communication skills equivalent to completion of fourth year university work strongly recommended. Spanish upgrade in Morelia possible for students with a little bit less Spanish background.

Other Requirements

Must be a good and active communicator and not afraid to use Spanish. All interns are required to take a minimum of 40 hours of Spanish language training at Centro Cultural de Lenguas (CCL) for a cost of $560. CCL will work out a schedule with you that will not conflict with your hours at MESE if you decide to do this during your internship rather than prior to your internship.

Submit a 1-page cover letter in Spanish along with your application materials. Please indicate what type of project you are interested in working on. Include information about your Spanish ability, your international experience and relevant education and employment.

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
Host Site Fees	$560 (for 40 hours language/cultural training)
International Travel	$600-$800*
Visa Fees
Recommended Immunizations

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$744
Food	included with homestay
Local Transportation	$50-$75
Recreation	$50
Personal Expenses	$50

Compensation

None

Additional Expense Information

Homestay with private room and 3 meals per day can be arranged with carefully selected families for US$24 per day, which equals about $744/month. Apartments in Morelia may cost about $100-$180 per week. Groceries run about $200 per month and personal supplies/transportation about $100 per month.

$560 for 40 hours of Spanish language training at Centro Cultural de Lenguas (CCL) is required. This includes continuing language counseling and cultural advice as needed throughout the internship period, and field trips to nearby cultural, archeological and handicraft sites. For students who have not completed 4 years of Spanish language, it is recommended to take additional hours of Spanish language classes at CCL prior to the start of the internship. The additional cost for any optional language classes is $280 per week for 20 hours of one-on-one lessons.

Additional Information

Morelia is a charming colonial city of some 1,000,000 located in the scenic state of Michoacan, known for its rich indigenous culture, pre-colonial and colonial history, and handicrafts. It lies in the central highlands, about mid-way between Mexico City and Guadalajara. For more detail see http://www.michoacan.gob.mx

Through Centro Cultural de Lenguas (language school), interns can arrange additional volunteer activities in Morelia in location s such as an orphanage, a nursing home, a homeless shelter, etc.

Student slideshow: Presentation_MESE.pdf

Read previous interns' final reports:

Tsegaba

Blanca

Mary

Nicole