VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION
Volunteer With Esperanza
We provide both local and international service experiences for our volunteer groups like you in Tijuana, México. Volunteers come to Tijuana to help build homes and work on other projects in under-served communities. We typically host volunteers for 3 to 7 days in an immersion experience of Mexican culture, socio-economic development, and leadership building.
Plan a service experience for your group or for yourself! We offer opportunities for international groups and individuals, as well as for locals!
Contact Us or at Programs@EsperanzaINT.org to get involved, or for more information.
For Organized Groups
We work with organized groups from high schools, colleges, churches and more to provide a unique international service experience that builds trust between communities across borders.
Volunteers work for 3-14 days, hand-in-hand with Mexican families to build homes. In addition, groups have the opportunity to learn more about the local culture through after-work activities such as experiencing a local cultural event, visiting other non-profit human service organizations, and more.
Find more information for Group Leaders HERE.
For Individuals
Independent volunteer trips are 3-7 days, and are one of the best ways that interested individuals can volunteer with Esperanza. These mixed- groups incorporate volunteers from different locations, experience-levels and backgrounds. To find an open group, contact the group leaders (below in Upcoming Groups) directly, or contact us at Programs@EsperanzaINT.org for more information.
“I was caught completely off guard by the great disparity between media portrayal of Tijuana and actually experiencing it.” –Rodney, independent volunteer
For Local Baja Californians
"...We are excited to be part of these volunteering experiences as they allow us to strengthen our relationships with our coworkers and the community..." -Industrias La Mesa, Rosarito, Mexico. Read More.
Join an Upcoming Group
Interested in volunteering with Esperanza, but don't have anyone to go with? Join an open and welcoming volunteer group!
Additional Opportunities
Groups who volunteer with Esperanza have the opportunity to participate in additional chaperoned activities in Tijuana. Some recommended volunteer highlights are below (click photos to view). Go over ideas with your group leader, or find a full list of additional activities HERE.
Casa del Migrante
Provides food, shelter and humanitarian services to migrants. You can eat dinner with and learn from the stories of men who have been deported or are in transition.
Lunch with a FAV
Have the opportunity to visit with an Esperanza community savings group (FAV- Fondo de Ahorro para Vivienda). Learn about how families are preparing to build and pay off their homes during a visit and lunch.
Missionaries of Charity
A soup kitchen serving the homeless and migrant population, as well as short term housing, and long term housing for disabled men run by nuns in Mother Teresa's order. This soup kitchen is a wonderful and easy opportunity for groups to volunteer.
Tijuana Sports
Attend a well loved Xolos (soccer), Toros (baseball), or Zonkeys (basketball) game with your group during your trip! This is a fun way to experience another side of Tijuana.
Our Volunteer Groups
We love our Esperanza volunteers! Since 1985, we have welcomed thousands of volunteers from across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and Australia. We take pride in friendships we maintain with our volunteers that span decades. Find your group on the list!
All Saints Parish: Saint Peters, MO
All Saints Parish Youth Group: Wildewood, MO
Anaconda Catholic Community: Anaconda, MT
Arcadia University: Glenside, PA
Bethel Lutheran Church: Cupertino, CA
Builders Without Borders: West Jordan, UT
Burke Lutheran Church: Madison, WI
California College of the Arts: Oakland, CA
Camino Maestro: Bellevue, WA
Cardinal Newman High School: Santa Rosa, CA
Central Washington University: Ellensburg, WA
Cesar Delgado: San Diego, CA
Charity Anywhere Foundation: Bountiful, UT
Christ the King Parish: Seattle, WA
Compania Igasamex: Tijuana, BC, México
CompassionIT: San Diego, CA
Cornerstone: Everett, WA
Del Mar Rotary Club: CA
Dematha Catholic High School, Inc.: Hyattsville, MD
Dominican University: River Forest, IL
Dunn School: Los Olivos, CA
East West Group: WA
Eastside Catholic High School: Bellevue, WA
Eastside Trekkers: Bellevue, WA
Fetzer Institute: Kalamazoo, MI
First Congregational Church Bellingham: Bellingham, WA
First Congregational Church Berlin Heights: Berlin Heights, OH
Fontbonne University: St Louis, MO
Friends of Andrew Chau: Hermosa Beach, CA
Friends of Aquino: Dallas, TX
Friends of Bill Leas: Richfield, OH
Friends of Caitlin: Seattle, WA
Friends of Casey: CA
Friends of Claire: WA
Friends of Christa Johnson: Edmonds, WA
Friends of Danielle Hindieh: Roslyn Heights, NY
Friends of Deacon Joe: Williston Park, NY
Friends of Gail Evenari: Half Moon Bay, CA
Friends of Goodwin: Kirkland, WA
Friends of Jennie Ritchie: Newhall, CA
Friends of Jennifer Reubish: Kirkland, WA
Friends of Joel: New Haven, CT
Friends of John Nugent: Vancouver, WA
Friends of Joyce Schroer: USA
Friends of Kameo Simpson: Clyde Hill, WA
Friends of Kyla Terashima: Seattle, WA
Friends of Kyle Minkel: San Diego, CA
Friends of Lisa Baumeister: Davis, CA
Friends of Marcel Tam: Boston, MA
Friends of Mellet: USA
Friends of Monica Dykas: USA
Friends of Providence: West Hills, CA
Friends of Sahar Shirbacheh: La Cañada, CA
Friends of Sarah Jacobsen: Bellevue, WA
Friends of Stephen McCord: Davis, CA
Friends of Steve Hinderhofer: Grundy Center, IA
Friends of Stephen Lampkin: Bellevue, WA
Friends of Tara & Rebecca: Atlanta, GA
Friends of Taryn: USA
Friends of The First Goal: Encinitas, CA
Friends of Tj Kenmore: WA
Friends of Valverde: Renton, WA
Girl Scouts of America: La Cañada, CA
Gonzaga University: Spokane, WA
Grupo Flextronics: Tijuana, BC, México
Henderson Community Church: Henderson, NV
Henry Gunn High School: Palo Alto, CA
High Tech High School: San Diego, CA
Holy Cross Lake Stevens: Lake Stevens, WA
Holy Disciples Church: Puyallup, WA
Holy Redeemer: Camas, WA
Immaculate Conception/ OLPH: Everett, WA
Inglemoor High School: Kenmore, WA
Jesuit High School: Carmichael, CA
Journey to Influence: Clackamas, OR
Kansas/Oklahoma UCC Conference: Wichita, KS
Lake Washington United Methodist Church: Kirkland, WA
Long Island University: Brookville, NY
Los Amigos (Friends of Kelsey): WA
Medtronics: Tijuana, BC, México
Mellett’s Group: Washington D.C.
Mission College Preparatory H.S.: San Luis Obispo, CA
Mission Hills First Congregational Church: San Diego, WA
Missionaries of the Holy Spirit: Banks, OR
Muskingum University: Wooster, OH
Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church: Pasadena, CA
Newman Center Catholic Community at UCSD: San Diego, CA
O'Dea High School: Seattle, WA
Our Lady of Fatima: Seattle, WA
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish: San Diego, CA
Our Lady of the Lake Church: Seattle, WA
Our Lady of the Snows: Sun Valley, ID
Paradise United Church of Christ: Louisville, OH
Parkview Gift Fund: USA
Pinewood High School: Los Altos Hills, CA
Prepa Federal Lazaro Cardenas: Tijuana, BC, México
Providence College Feinstein Institute for Public Service: Providence, RI
Providence: Renton, WA
Providence- High School Group: Renton, WA
Providence High School: Burbank, CA
Ready Pac Foods: Irwindale, CA
Rockhurst High School: Kansas City, MO
Sacred Heart and Assumption Catholic Church- Youth: Bellingham, WA
Sacred Heart Church: Bellevue, WA
Sacred Heart Enumclaw: Enumclaw, WA
Salem Lutheran Glendale: Glendale, CA
San Diego Friends: San Diego, CA
San Domenico School: San Anselmo, CA
SDSU College of Health & Human Services: San Diego, CA
SDSU Graduate School of Social Work: San Diego, CA
Seattle Friends of Esperanza: Seattle, WA
Seattle University Campus Ministry: Seattle, WA
Seattle University Alumni: Seattle, WA
Seattle University College of Arts & Sciences: Seattle, WA
St. Andrew the Apostle Church: Mars Hill, NY
St. Anthony Parish: Renton, WA
St. Barbara Church: Black Diamond, WA
St. Benedict Parish: Seattle, WA
St. Catherine Parish: Seattle, WA
St. Charles Borromeo: St. Charles, MO
St. Francis Builds Silver: Spring, MD
St. James Lutheran: Portland, OR
St. John Vianney Church: Kirkland, WA
St. John's Christian Church: Archbold, OH
St. Louise Parish: Bellevue, WA
St. Michael Parish: Snohomish, WA
St. Paul's University Catholic Center: Madison WA
St. Philip Parish: Woodland, WA
St. Pius Catholic Church: Seattle, Washington
St. Rose de Viterbo Church: Longview, WA
St. Theodore Catholic Church: Wentzville, MO
St. Vincent de Paul High School: Petaluma, CA
St. Vincent de Paul Parish: Federal Way, WA
Team Hope: Pasadena, CA
The Bosh Bosh Project: San Diego, CA
The Cardoner Project: Chippendale NSW, Caritas, Australia
The First Goal: Santa Fe, Tijuana, BC, México
The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH
Thompson Rivers University: Kamloops, BC, Canada
Trinity Lutheran Church: Lynnwood, WA
Trinity Lutheran College: Everett, WA
Trinity United Church of Christ: Wooster, OH
UC Davis Alumni: Antioch CA
UC Davis Newman Center: Davis, CA
UCLA Urban and Regional Planning: Los Angeles, CA
UCSD Center for US-Mexican Studies: La Jolla, CA
UCSD International House: La, Jolla, CA
UCSD Newman Center Catholic Community: La Jolla, CA
UCSD Nursing School: La Jolla, CA
UCSD Society of Civil and Structural Engineers: La Jolla, CA
Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica: Santa Monica, CA
United Church of Christ Petaluma: Petaluma, CA
Universidad CETYS: Tijuana, BC, México
Universidad Pedagógica Nacional: Tijuana, BC, México
University of Calgary: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
University of Massachusetts Boston: Boston, MA
University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
USC Caruso Catholic Center and USC Our Savior: Los Angeles, CA
Waldorf School of the Peninsula: Los Altos, CA
Washington State University Newman Center: Pullman, WA
Woodbury University: San Diego, CA
WWU Catholic Newman Center: Bellingham, WA
Xavier High School: New York, NY
