This trip offers an international service experience in Tijuana, Mexico.
Below are some important details about this upcoming trip.
Deadline to apply for this trip is December 1, 2024.
PARTNER SUPPORT
This team will serve alongside The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as we learn about their ministry and the impact they have in their community. During our time together, team members will interact with the ministry staff, Search Tijuana youth group, and children and adults from the community that our partners serve. We will also provide financial and physical support to further aid in their year-round ministry.
For the duration of the trip our team will be staying at the Parroquia María Inmaculada. You can expect to engage in prayer, church services, and community events with this Catholic ministry.
While we partner with faith-based organizations, it is not a requirement to adhere to a specific religion or belief to join us. We strive to provide an equal opportunity to all individuals interested in our service trips, hoping that each life will be uniquely transformed. That being said, we ask each participant to be respectful of each other and of our partners, and to remain open to conversing about the things that make us different as well as the commonalities that bring us together.
SPECIAL INFO
This trip is unique in that it is only a weekend long, allowing greater flexibility for participants who are unable to commit to serving for a week.
Due to the proximity of our Tijuana partners, we ask that participants plan their own travel to the San Diego/Otay Mesa Border Crossing. Prior to crossing the border on Friday, the team will meet at a pre-disclosed parking location in San Diego. Everyone will cross together and be greeted by partner provided transportation on the Tijuana, Mexico side. Details will be discussed during pre-trip meetings led by the team captains.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Your Team Captains for this trip will be Marisol Valencia & Frank Valencia. Here is a message from them:
Hi! We are Marisol & Frank Valencia the team captains for the HFK trip to Mexico this December! We have led many trips with HFK, and this will be our sixth time serving in Tijuana. We love this community and can’t wait to share it with you all.
We have been leading HFK trips together for the past 8 years and are excited at HFK's partnership with Mexico as it ties to our own cultural roots. We live in Valley Center, CA (San Diego County) with our dog Willow. We love to travel, and have both served in the Dominican Republic & Costa Rica with HFK.
The Posada Weekend is an amazing three-day experience of service projects and cultural immersion. The team will get to participate in a traditional Mexican Christmas Posada alongside the young adults of the Tijuana Search Team. We feel honored that HFK has been a part of this annual celebration since 2021. Bring a lot of energy to work & play and an open heart to serve. We look forward to a great weekend with you all!
-Marisol & Frank
HEALTH & SAFETY
Here For Kids strives to be diligent in protecting both our team members and the sites that we serve. To learn more about health & safety protocols, check out our FAQ’s here.
TIME COMMITMENT
Team members of this trip are expected to:
Attend one or two virtual pre-trip meetings with the team prior to traveling.
Participate in a weekend-long international service trip.
Depart Friday, December 13, 2024 & Return Sunday, December 15, 2024.
Departure date is tentative and might change to the morning of Saturday, Dec 14 depending on team’s availability. This will be decided in the pre-trip meeting.
Attend at least one virtual post-trip meeting with the team after returning.
PHYSICAL DONATIONS
On each of our service trips, we provide physical, or in-kind, donations to our partners. We encourage each participant to gather requested donation items as part of their trip preparation. Each international partner has different donation requests which will be communicated to you during pre-trip communication and meetings. We ask all trip participants to limit the packing of personal travel items to their carry-on bag and backpack so that partner donations can travel in any checked baggage or bigger duffle bag.
You can learn more here.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
Below is the breakdown of the costs associated with this service trip. Once your application is accepted, you will be asked to pay a $50 deposit to secure your spot on the team. Then, you will be required to follow the funding milestones on your Go Method profile to stay up to date on your trip payments. The total trip payment is due no later than 14 days before the departure of your trip.
Breakdown of Cost:
$150- Partner Fee (Including accommodation, in-country transportation, meals)
$50 - HFK Operations & Care Package
$20 - Partner Donation/Project Fund
$220 Total Trip Cost
*You are responsible for covering your own transportation to the San Diego/Mexico border area on Friday morning/afternoon. More details will be share in your pre trip meeting or reach out to us at info@hereforkids.org if you have any specific questions.
FUNDRAISING
All trip participants are encouraged to fundraise to complete their total trip cost. To aid you in this process we recommend creating a Personal Support Page on Go Method. Once created, you can share this page as a personal fundraising link with your friends, family, and community for support. We also provide a Fundraising Info Sheet and a Fundraising Letter Template to assist you in the fundraising process. These and other Service Trip Resources can be found here.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Trip schedules may vary but typically include:
Working on service projects alongside our partners.
Engaging in nightly devotionals and bonding activities with your team.
Having fun with kids and partner staff through sports, games, and other activities.
Being present during moments of prayer and worship.
Spending time in self-reflection to promote spiritual growth.
Learning ways you can support partner sites beyond your time in country.
To see what we have been up to on past trips, click here.
HOW TO APPLY
Click “Apply Today” below and on the next page.
Login OR create an account with Go Method.
Answer the application questions.
Deadline to apply for this trip is December 1, 2024.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any additional questions, please email info@hereforkids.org. You can also review our Frequently Asked Questions or Trip Recaps below.