We are accepting applications for CASA Chapulin in Oaxaca that go in line with the stratetigic changes we are seeing as a collective.  To read about the new and exciting initiatives that CASA  is taking on to strengthen cross-border movement building, check out the What's New at CASA Chapulin page. 

Collective members work with local communities and participate in weekly workshops socio-political and privilege workshops. Volunteers should speak proficient Spanish and spend a minimum of four months in Oaxaca.  Exceptions can be made depending on the solidarity project.  If you are interested in learning more about our strategic changes or would like to propose a collaboration with your group, please contact the collective co-coordinators Sylvia y Andrea.

For the reasons motivating us to set up a collective in Oaxaca in 2006, see Why Oaxaca. For more background, see Resistance in Oaxaca.

Solidarity Work in Oaxaca  

CASA members contribute to the life of the collective in numerous ways. These include participating in collective projects, researching, fundraising, writing articles for our monthly newsletter, participating in and giving workshops, taking care of the collective space, and hosting events and staying connected upon return to home communities.

The projects that CASA members take part in depend on their skills and interests. Members work with a community organization and participate in CASA-related projects. Others focus on making connections of a political nature with local organizations, collectives, or communities to support their organizing work in their home countries. 

Our two main working areas for this year are community-based media and food sovereignty.  Past examples of projects include community radio programming, media analysis for human rights organizations, collaboration with a midwifery training program, support for women's coffee cooperative, basic computer instruction in rural village, and design and production of book that engages the issue of domestic violence. 

The "CASA"

The "CASA" in and of itself is a two-story house where the coordinators live.  Occasionally, there are rooms available for volunteers to rent out in the house.  When there are no rooms available, volunteers can rent apartments close by.  The coordinators can gladly assist in searching for housing.  

The collective CASA space consists of a living room, a kitchen, and a backyard garden.  The space is shared by volunteers along with cooking and cleaning responsibilities.  Food is shared, with each volunteer chipping in about 200 pesos a week to buy food and cleaning supplies.  Volunteers decide the extent to which they want to eat in the house and may pay accordingly.  The backyard garden is also used as a common space where members are encouraged to propose ideas and work on.  It consists of a small green space, a compost bin, and a pool that is currently being modified to become an aquatic garden and filtration system for gray water. 

The CASA also has a small library of resources on various issues: zapatismo, women’s health, indigenous rights, human rights, current political events in Mexico and beyond, cook books, maps, etc.  The CASA has internet service available, of which the volunteers can use with a monthly contribution to the internet bill.  CASA recommends each member bring their own laptop if they wish to use a computer at the house.  Reliable internet access and computers are also available in several nearby internet cafés.