Eligibility

This program has been designed for individuals of Mexican heritage who are undergraduate students enrolled at U.S. universities, however, we are open to considering others who do not meet all requirements as long as they are 18+ years of age. If you do not meet all eligibility requirements, please contact our Student Programs Director at jeannie@humanconnections.org to inquire about your eligibility.

DACA Recipients & Dreamers

This program was designed for all students of Mexican heritage, including and especially, DACA recipients and Dreamers.

• Human Connections is able to provide external resources and general information regarding the I-131 Advanced Parole filing process but has no authority or influence over the USCIS adjudication process, timeline, or decision.
• USCIS currently estimates the I-131 Advance Parole processing timeline to be 3-5 months.
• DACA recipients must be aware that there are still risks involved when traveling with Advanced Parole.
• All DACA recipients are strongly encouraged to speak with a qualified immigration attorney before confirming their participation in the program.

Language Requirement

No Spanish language proficiency is required. All Human Connections programs include a formally trained interpreter to provide literal interpretation for all scheduled activities.

University Credit

This program does not include university credit but students may be able to work with their universities to complete an independent study or experiential learning course for home school academic credit. Receiving academic credit from your home university may offer additional opportunities for financial aid to be utilized for this program. Contact your university’s study abroad office to inquire about the possibility of receiving home school credit.

Program Fee Details

The program feefor the next Mexican Heritage program fee is to be determined.

Cancellations & Refunds

Confirmed students who cancel their participation are eligible for the following refunds:

• More than 45 days prior to the program start date: 75%, less the $500.00 USD non-refundable deposit.
• Between 30-44 days prior to the program start date: 50%, less the $500.00 USD non-refundable deposit.
• Between 15-29 days prior to the program start date: 25%, less the $500.00 USD non-refundable deposit.
• 14 days or less prior to the program start date: No refund provided.

Funding Opportunities

The Human Connections team has put together a short list of scholarship resources and fundraising ideas that may help offset the cost of participating in this Global Engagement Trip.

• Personal Fundraiser: You can start a personal fundraiser on GoFundMe or Facebook to cover the internship cost. It’s fast, easy, and if you can get friends and family to help you, you can reach your goal in no time.
• Gift Donations: If you have a birthday or gift-giving holiday coming up, consider asking for contributions toward this experience that you will remember for a lifetime.
• Peace First COVID-19 Rapid Response Mini-Grants: Peace First is offering mini-grants of up to $250 to support young people leading initiatives to address secondary effects of COVID-19 in their communities. If your participation in this program is part of a larger effort to give back to your community, learn more about the application process here.
• Apply for Scholarships: Research scholarship opportunities. Some sites to get you started: scholarships.com , dosomething.com , fastweb.com , and unigo.com
• Contact Your Educational Institution: While outside options are great, your own school is likely the best source of funding. Many universities have specific scholarships, grants or internship programs that provide support for international experiential learning opportunities.

Covid-19 Safety & Precautions

As an organization rooted in the values of responsible travel, our priority is the safety of our guests, partners, and staff. Human Connections is taking the following measures to promote safe travel during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Daily Symptom & Temperature Checks: Students will be asked to self-report their health daily and temperature checks will be taken at the beginning of each day (excludes free day).
• Masks Required: Everyone involved in this program - students, partners, and staff - are required to properly wear a mask at all times during the program.
• Vehicle Sanitation: Our vehicles are completely sanitized at the beginning of every day. They are equipped with sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer, which we ask all participants to use between stops. Most distances are shorter than 10 minutes and, whenever possible, the windows are left down to promote ventilation.
• COVID-19 Testing: Human Connections will require all participants to produce a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to arrival in Mexico. Students who arrive without this test will be required to self-quarantine and not be permitted to participate in any program activities until a negative test result is available. All costs associated with quarantine, including private transportation, are at the student’s expense.
• Vaccinations: When possible, participants are strongly recommended to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination prior to participation.
• Cancellations: Human Connections is not responsible for cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the event the entire program must be canceled, every effort will be made to recuperate and refund student fees and/or offer credits for future travel opportunities. Students are recommended to purchase “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) trip insurance to protect their investment in this program.