December 2023 Weeklong Programs
The information below applies only to the 2023 December Weeklong Programs.
If you are interested in applying, please review all the information below before submitting an application. (A quick note on our application – It looks daunting, but it’s not meant to be! No need to write long essays. We just want to get a gauge of who you are, why you are interested, and what you hope to bring with you.)
** The application deadline for December 2023 Weeklong Programs is September 17th, 2023 **
Overview
These December Weeklong Programs will be the first programming of their kind. They will be similar to the spring break programs we used to host which ended in 2020 due to the pandemic. December weeklongers will spend a week with our Desert Aid project providing direct humanitarian aid. If accepted to a program, you will be based out of Arivaca where we maintain a 24/7 humanitarian aid camp. As a week-long Desert Aid volunteer, you will work alongside trained long-term NMD volunteers, as well as a cohort of new local volunteers. During this week you’ll support our aid station and do water drops in the Arivaca corridor.
Our hope with this programming is to make volunteering with us accessible for people who can not commit to staying a month with us during our other monthly regularly scheduled programming.
We encourage volunteers with the ability to stay a month or longer to consider the month-long volunteer program.
Our goal for these programs is to build collaboration and long term connections with other individuals and groups engaged in regional anti-border resistance work, harm reduction/mutual aid work, and other anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist organizing and to quickly onboard new volunteers that might have interest and capacity to return to the region and support the work in the future.
We encourage and prioritize the applications of:
Latinx and immigrant communities and other communities of color
Individuals who are currently involved in humanitarian aid and direct action (with a border abolition perspective)
Individuals who live along the southern border
SCHEDULE
Please note the application deadline for your desired start date. These programs are limited to 8 new volunteers per week. Our capacity for training, hosting, and supporting volunteers is limited. Please note that program dates are firm.
All volunteers must attend a training before starting their volunteer work with us. Training is held on the first day of every program. New volunteers must arrive in Tucson the day before the training.
Please plan to stay for the entire duration of your session.
| Session | Start Date | End Date | Application |
| Session 1 | December 3rd | December 10th | Deadline: September 17th, 2023. Apply Here. |
| Session 2 | December 16th | December 23rd | Deadline: September 17th, 2023. Apply Here. |
EXPECTATIONS
All participants must be present for the start of training. Please plan your travel accordingly!
All volunteers will be camping and are expected to bring their own tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads if possible, but we also have the Gila Gear Lending Library if you don’t own something! A more detailed packing list will be provided upon acceptance to a program.
There are no volunteer fees. Please remember a lot of work goes into these programs. If your application is accepted and you commit to joining a program, we expect that you’ll be joining us for the program. If you need to cancel your trip please let us know as soon as possible so we can fill your slot.
If you’re traveling to Tucson for this program and the cost of travel to Tucson is a barrier, please mention this in your application. We offer a travel stipend to help offset costs of travel.
For important further details and requirements, see the FAQ that applies to all the volunteer programs, including the December 2023 Weeklong Programs.
STEPS FOR APPLYING
Please read all the information above.
Find someone from a grassroots organization you have worked with or been involved with (activist collective, nonprofit, advocacy group, volunteer/community-service organization, etc.) to write you a letter of reference. Ask them to fill out a reference form for you before the application deadline. The reference form is linked in the application.
Fill out and submit your application. All applications must be submitted by September 17 2023.
WHAT NEXT?
If you are invited to participate in one of the volunteer sessions, you will be notified by the volunteer coordinator by the first week of October. At this time you will receive more detailed information about how to prepare for your trip.