Guanajuato, Mexico Debriefing Report

Things are wrapping up in Guanajuato, giving Volunteers and Project Staff a chance to reflect on accomplishments and look toward the future.  At this point, every community has begun its Community-Based Initiative (CBI), and the projects in many towns are complete. It is our hope that every single partnership will be able to complete their CBI before Volunteers leave their towns on August 7.

In addition to working hard to finish their projects, Volunteers are taking advantage of this last week to share quality time with their host families and friends. Several towns are planning events such as dances and parties to celebrate the accomplishments of the summer, and say goodbye.  The Municipal Presidents in two of our regions, Abasolo and Yuriria, have invited the Volunteers and community members to region-wide despedidas (closing ceremonies). These events will give Volunteers, Project Staff, and host agency officials the chance to thank those people who made this summer possible — namely, the host families who took in our Volunteers as their own children and the youth counterparts who participated in our programs.

The Municipal President in the third region, Valle de Santiago, has invited the entire project to his ranch on the first morning of debriefing. After spending the morning at the ranch, the entire project will head to our headquarter city in Guanajuato.  Volunteers will get the chance to play in Guanajuato, taking advantage of the vast cultural activities this wonderful city has to offer.

The entire Project Staff of the Guanajuato project is extremely proud of each Volunteer.  The progress each Volunteer has made in maturity, Spanish ability, and cultural sensitivity is nothing short of amazing. It is the sincerest hope of Project Staff that every Volunteer comes back to AMIGOS next year, hopefully working along side some of the very same youth counterparts they collaborated with this year.