We are an active family of five – 2 in mid-fifties, 3 in mid-twenties – looking for a volunteer vacation in Mexico or Central America.

We would like to travel for two or three weeks in between December 17, 2005 and January 7, 2006.

Do you know of any willing hosts? Programs? Charities?

Contact some of the churches in your neighborhood. Many, many churches are doing very quiet but wonderful work in Central America and Mexico. What a great opportunity for your family to do something as a team. Most churches will welcome the help even if you don't share the commitment to the religion.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-...avel-headlines

We spent a week working for Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica. It was very worthwhile. We contacted them through their website.

Check out Cross Cultural Solutions at www.crossculturalsolutions.org. They rate highly among volunteer vacations, have options from one week and up, have options around the world. I am working with them right now and so far they are great to work with.

After you do this vacation in Mexico, you might be interested in looking up "Englishtown Spain" on the internet. My husband and I are waiting for the 2006 dates to join this group. My neighbor went with their teenage daughter and had the time of their life and made many new friends.