International Volunteer HQ's partner organization in Colombia requires volunteers NOW! IVHQ has a wide range of volunteering opportunities available in teaching, orphanage work, child care, elderly care, construction and renovation and feed the homeless programs throughout the capital of Colombia.

LOCATION OF COLOMBIA VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

IVHQ has volunteer placements in Bogota and surrounding suburbs of the capital city of Colombia. This town is extremely popular with volunteers and has a lot of work available. Projects are based in a variety of areas in and around Bogota ranging from projects in slums to work in nicer suburbs of the city. Specific placements are dependent upon placement choice and availability when you apply.

START AND DURATION OF COLOMBIA VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Placements begin on the 1st and 15th of each month. Volunteers can choose to volunteer for periods of one week to six months.

COLOMBIA VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the beginning of the program and have at least a high school education.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

We recommend that all volunteers regardless of their Spanish language ability (unless they are extremely fluent), take advantage of the very affordable Spanish lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our program staff in Colombia. Past volunteer feedback has shown us that volunteers feel they can contribute far more with some Spanish ability. Spanish is NOT a prerequisite for our Colombia program, however on certain placements the level of work a volunteer can do will be restricted with limited Spanish. Our local staff in Colombia offer hugely discounted Spanish lessons to our volunteers and a wide variety of options.

SAFETY IN COLOMBIA

Throughout the 1980's and the early 1990's, Colombia did not create a good reputation for itself as a safe and secure country. Thankfully, that is now in the past and since the mid 90's has really developed itself with the help of a large amount of US investment. In 2002 Álvaro Uribe Vélez  became the president of Colombia and since his election the country has become safer by the day with a massive turnaround in security. Colombia has millions of visitors every year and it's big cities are some of the safest in the world. Just like every city in the world, Bogota of course has it's troublesome areas but you are highly unlikely to go wondering through them accidentally. As soon as you arrive in Bogota the local team will conduct orientation and training with you about everything from the city to the projects. You will also receive a welcome pack that will show you where and where not to go. There are plenty of places and areas throughout Bogota to visit with impressive nightlife. Many volunteers that have travelled extensively throughout South America, have commented that Colombia is the safest South American country they have been to. Prior to departure, IVHQ staff in New Zealand and local staff in Bogota will be there to answer any queries or worries you have via phone call and email. Once you arrive in Colombia the local team will be there to look after you.
 

COLOMBIA VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT DESCRIPTIONS

TEACHING

In Colombia there are many schools that do not have enough staff, money or equipment and in many cases the teachers are under-qualified. This problem is not just primarily with the teaching of English. The children here might never have a chance to learn a wide range of other subjects, therefore volunteers will assist with the teaching of as many subjects as possible. In Colombian schools the teaching of mathematics, sciences, humanities, music, sports, dance and art are just as important. The volunteers are not only here to assist and teach these subjects but to encourage the children to find their dreams. The children need to have a goal and even though they might come from the poorest backgrounds we want to make the children believe they can be the doctors, teachers, sport stars, artists and mathematicians of the future. This work is highly rewarding. As soon as you walk into that classroom you will realize just how much this means to the children. We want our volunteers to share their knowledge and experience and show them that with a bit of hard work anything is possible. NB - Volunteers DO NOT need to be a qualified or experienced teacher.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Colegio Ricaurte De Soacha
This school is located in Soacha in the south of Bogota. It is in a poor neighborhood outside of the city centre, approximately a one hour bus ride from the apartment. The school is split into two buildings, one for kindergarten and crèche and the other for children in first grade to ninth grade. The schools are very close so the volunteer has the choice of which building to work at (this is also dependent on volunteer numbers at the time and availability of placements within the school). There are about 30 to 40 children in kindergarten. The volunteers will help assist the two teachers with lessons, play times and feeding. The lessons will consists of drawing, building and teaching things like the numbers and the alphabet in Spanish. There is a lot of fun to be had with the children during the playtimes and the feeding is generally a small snack. There are also children with learning difficulties here so they need a bit of extra care, attention and affection. In the other building the volunteers will teach and help assist with the children from grades 1,2,3 and 4. These children are always very excited to be taught anything from our volunteers. You can teach them are wide range of subjects, anything from English to math to sports. There are also children with learning difficulties in these classes so the volunteer can choose to stay with these students if they wish and give them one to one teaching. The school starts at 6.30am and finishes at 1.00pm. We do try and get there as early as possible and generally stay for at least 3 hours. On Saturdays the school holds a dance and acting class for the children with learning difficulties. We give the volunteers a choice if they wish to attend. It's a lot of laughs and smiles and is a great opportunity to interact with these children a little bit more. NB This is only an example placement which is one of many offered by IVHQ in Colombia and not necessarily the one you will be working at.
 

ORPHANAGE WORK

All South American countries are suffering from huge numbers of orphaned children whose lives have been disrupted from war, murder, neglect, abuse, poverty and disease resulting in a larger number of orphanages in countries such as Colombia. Contributing to this disproportionate number of orphanages is the fact that in some cases the parents are simply unable to provide for the children or they have been abandoned. Therefore, there is a huge need for volunteers within our orphanages. Not much money and support go into these houses from the government so there are very few people who work there all day and everyday. The majority of the children are not able to go to school so it's vital the volunteers can teach and educate them as much as possible. They could teach anything from English, Math, Sciences, Arts, Music and Physical Education. Some of the children do go to school and they will need help with their homework. Along with teaching, volunteers who work in an orphanage will help with general work and daily chores and will generally work from 8:00 am till 12.00pm or 1.00pm till 4.00pm. Your participation in an orphanage project is not only appreciated by the children but also by the local support who work there. This work ranges from cooking and cleaning, assisting with feeding programs, caring for the children and the babies.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Asociacion Hogar Ninos Por Un Nuevo Planeta
Located in an underprivileged district in Bogota, this particular project is home to about 150+ children and the majority of them live in the orphanage. The children are of all ages, from new born babies to 18 year olds so the work is varied. You can spend the first hour of your time feeding and tending to the newborns, then move on to entertaining and playing sport with 11 year olds, and finally to teaching English to 15 year olds. These children receive very little education and so there is great need for volunteers here who are willing to teach. They do not need any experience or teaching qualifications just a good sense of humour and a will to educate. In addition to teaching, the volunteer will also spend their time playing games, dancing, drawing, painting and reading with all the children. We will sometimes work in the afternoons and will arrive at the orphanage after 1.00pm so we tend to miss lunch but the volunteer will still need to assist with the feeding of the babies and to help with the snacks for the rest of the children. There is plenty of maintenance work to do also. The volunteer may find themselves painting, washing clothes, sweeping and organizing huge closets for the children. The children here are very cheerful and cheeky so it's constant laughs and giggles as soon as you walk through the door. Amazingly, the orphanage is ran by one lady who speaks fluent English but do not expect an easy ride language wise, she will teach and test you for fun in Spanish only. Importantly, she is always there to point out the work that needs to be done. NB This is only an example placement which is one of many offered by IVHQ in Colombia and not necessarily the one you will be working at.
 

CHILDCARE

The centers for children in Colombia are not organized the way most people are used to seeing in the USA, UK or any other Western countries. Colombia has a huge family-oriented culture and orphans tend to be taken in by extended families or are even sometimes taken in by neighbors. Children from all over Colombia find themselves here in Bogota due to displacement from the more rural areas. Wars and fighting in the 1980s and early 1990s have forced thousands of families to flee their homes and head to the large cities. Without anywhere to live they have to share with whoever they can. These added men, women and children put a huge strain on the families who take them in and so the children are sent to ‘centers’ for certain hours of the day to receive education, interaction and food. Volunteers must understand that the children usually do not live at the Centre and are only there for a few hours in the day. We need as many volunteers as possible to ease the workload for the local workers who care for these children. These children are in desperate need for some love and attention and volunteers are the perfect people to get the job done.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Hogar Madre Teresa
This is a centre for the children of central Bogota. Most of the children here have a family but they cannot afford to look after them. The care workers and sisters take in the children everyday just to give them shelter and feed them. There is a great need for volunteers here. There can be up to 40 children on one day and not nearly enough helpers to look after them properly. The volunteers' main job will be to keep the children entertained and care for them. They will be able to dance, play games and organize group activities with the children as well as teaching English and reading books with them. The work can also involve some cleaning, cooking and generally helping out with the feeding program. It is so entertaining to be in the company of these children, many volunteers feel they never want to leave. This project is 100 meters down the road from Hogar de Cristo (another IVHQ placement) easy and safe for volunteers just to go back and forward from each one if needs be. The sisters here also speak English very well so it is easy for all volunteers regardless of Spanish ability to communicate with the local staff. NB This is only an example placement which is one of many offered by IVHQ in Colombia and not necessarily the one you will be working at.
 

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY

In the large majority of Western countries, our elderly have homes, centers and care workers readily available for them. However, in Colombia there is very little or no financial help from the government to help their own elderly people. Once again due to war, neglect, poverty and disease, families may find themselves living in homes with up 8, 9, 10 other people. They cannot afford to feed every mouth and with about 70% of elderly folks suffering with one or more form of long term illness, the families simply cannot afford the medication either. This unfortunately leads to more and more elderly people being abandoned and left to fend for themselves on the streets of Bogota and when suffering from certain illnesses such as dementia and pneumonia, this is extremely difficult. This is where volunteers can assist. Our volunteers support centers for the elderly who literally rescue women from off the streets and put them into care. Here the ladies can receive love, food, shelter, and medication. With the help of our volunteers the local staff can increase the number of women they can look after. The volunteers can help with everything from medication to feeding.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Hogar de Cristo
This is a home for elderly ladies. These ladies are found on the streets throughout Bogota and have normally just been left by their families who cannot afford to look after them anymore. The ladies suffer from a wide range of problems such as blindness, deafness, some are unable to talk, arthritis, dementia and general day to day illnesses such as the flu and colds. There is never a dull moment whilst volunteering here. The volunteers main job will be to keep the elderly company and to keep them entertained. There is not really a lot arranged for the elderly to do here and that is why the volunteers are required. They can play a wide range of games (such as bingo) and board games with the elderly, whilst also arranging drawing and painting activities and even reading to the ladies. The ladies also love to dance which is a great form of exercise for them. The volunteers can bring their own music if they wish but the ladies prefer the traditional Colombian music of course. They need to exercise at least once a day so dancing is by far the most effective method of doing this as they enjoy it. Some of the elderly are in wheelchairs and thus are unable to dance but they need exercise too, the volunteers can take the ladies for walks but there are also physiotherapy facilities available. The ladies also have monthly trips to the doctors, the staff need as much assistance as possible from the volunteers here. At around 11.00am it is time for lunch. The volunteers help take all the ladies upstairs to the dining area where they will serve the food and drink. Once finished the volunteers can help wash and tidy away the dishes. When lunch is finished it is usually about 1.00pm. Finally, there is also maintenance such as painting, cleaning and sweeping to do. Anything just to ease the workload for the staff here. The sisters work there too and they are almost fluent in several languages which makes it easier for the volunteers. NB This is only an example placement which is one of many offered by IVHQ in Colombia and not necessarily the one you will be working at.

FEEDING THE HOMELESS

This project is one of the most eye opening that IVHQ has to offer. Similar to many third world countries Colombia has its fair share people living on the streets. What makes this project so incredible is it gives the volunteer a chance to help everyone from young to old to women to the disabled. Homelessness can effect anyone whether the cause being substance abuse, mental health problems, unemployment, domestic abuse, natural disasters or forced eviction. This project gives the volunteers the opportunity to help, reach out and interact with all types of people. In one day you could help feed around 200 men, women and children. It is important to note that because of the small amount of time this project takes (in regards to the total week), volunteers will also have to involve themselves on another placement to ensure they are busy throughout the week.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Hogar Madre Teresa
This feed the homeless project is every Wednesday night at 7.00pm the volunteers will spend 2 hours helping, looking after and feeding the homeless of Bogota with the staff of Hogar de Cristo. The volunteers can have a go at cooking the food if they wish, they then hand the food out and clean up afterwards. It is an amazing experience to help those really in need, as well as being a great way to learn some Spanish. Our soup kitchen project is very similar and takes place Monday to Friday with the staff of Hogar Madre Teresa at 12.00pm. 

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

This project is a chance for volunteers to break into a sweat and get their hands a little dirty! Some families, schools and even some hospitals in Bogota cannot afford professional people, tools and supplies to build or renovate. With homes, classrooms and hospital wards bursting at the seams due to the number of children, and patients increasing they drastically need assistance. Volunteers do not need any building or renovation experience to help here but you will need to have a reasonable level of energy and fitness and of course dedication and determination. There is a foreman on sight who is always there to point you in the right direction (he will always find something for you to do). You may find yourself knocking down walls, installing kitchens, fixing chairs, painting walls or renovating roofs. IVHQ construction projects concentrate mainly on schools in poor areas at the moment where there are not enough classrooms, chairs or desks to cater for all the children. This is your chance to leave an amazing, long lasting and permanent mark of your own.

IVHQ PLACEMENT: Colegio Ricaurte De Soacha
Our construction and renovation projects take place in the same area as our schools and kindergarten in which we work, in the district of Soacha. We are concentrating our efforts on helping the Colegio Ricaurte De Soacha to build new classrooms and be able to accommodate the full number of children in the school. The majority of the existing classrooms in the school need to be renovated with a good paint job also. The school has dreams for the future to open a crèche for the babies of Soacha, and this will require a tremendous amount of work. At the moment they only have a couple of men who do everything. The roofs need fixing, walls need clearing, walls need building, kitchens and store rooms need to be installed, desks and chairs need to be made, windows need fitting and finally everything needs to be decorated. This project is also a call for the budding artists out there - he school always needs educational and motivational posters and murals. If you fancy designing and painting a huge mural on a wall then this project is something for you. NB This is only an example placement which is one of many offered by IVHQ in Colombia and not necessarily the one you will be working at.

COLOMBIA PROGRAM COSTS

One of the strengths of IVHQ is our extremely affordable fees. CLICK HERE to see the program cost to volunteer in Colombia and what you receive in exchange for your fees.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS

In Colombia the volunteers will stay in a home stay with other volunteers and a local Colombian family or a volunteer apartment where you stay with other volunteers and Colombian and international staff. For the home stays, we give that family money from your fee for support, food and board. It is exciting to stay with a family; that way you will learn the Colombian way of life, meet local people, eat local food and engage in local customs and traditions. In the apartment the living is relatively basic but the volunteers will have wireless internet throughout the apartment, a TV which has cable and hot running water (we do advise our volunteers to buy their own bottled water for drinking). Volunteers can expect to share a room with one, two or three other volunteers. Bedding, duvets and pillows are provided while the volunteers stay in the apartment but we recommend bringing a sleeping bag for trips away - For example, trips to the emerald mines. We have two home stays in Bogota both within 5 minutes walk of each other. Both volunteer apartments are of medium size, with two big bedrooms each (all shared accommodations with bunk beds). They have good sized bathrooms with hot water for showers. The apartment is very safe and secure, with security guards and a large gate. It is very important for volunteers to realize that spaces in the house are limited and cannot be guaranteed at all. All home stays have been inspected thoroughly by local staff and chosen because of their safety and security. Do not worry about staying in a home stay, we would not place you somewhere that is unsafe. Most volunteers here love their home stays and feel that they get a more authentic Colombian experience by staying there. The home stays are about ten minutes drive from the city centre but there are malls and streets full of Colombian shops just 5 to 10 minute walk away. In the main volunteer apartment, there is a cook who cooks the meals for the volunteers. The meals will be authentically Colombian and South American. Colombia contains an extensive variety of fruits that are delicious and the fruit juices are a highlight of Colombian food; juices include Lulo, Maracuya and Guanabana. However there are a range of other fruits such as Freijoa and Granadilla that are worth trying. For breakfast the meal generally consists of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, cereal, South American fruit, Colombian potato, eggs and veg/chicken soup. A typical Bogota lunch is called Ajiaco which is a soup consisting of chicken, 3 kinds of potatoes, alcaparras, guascas and avocado. with meat and vegetables served with rice, sweet corn, plantain and potatoes. One of the most famous dishes in Colombia is Bandeja Paisa, the dish typically consists of grilled steak, chicharrón (fried pork rind), red beans, plantain, avocado, rice, arepa, chorizo, and a fried egg. Another popular dish in Colombia is Tamal which is a banana leaf wrapped dish consists of corn a mixture spices and other various ingredients that vary by region. Tamales from Tolima are the most famous and considered to be the best. Breakfast is taken in the morning, then, lunch which is served at about 1.00pm ( or you can take a packed lunch if you wish to eat at the project ) and then dinner/supper is served at 6.00 or 7.00pm. If you have special eating needs, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you. However, we need to stress the point that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible.

ORIENTATION

Orientation will be held on the 1st or 15th or the following Monday should the 1st or 15th fall on a saturday or Sunday. For instance, if the 15th falls on a Thursday, orientation will be held on that day. However, if the 1st falls on a Saturday, orientation will be held on Monday, the 3rd for example. Orientation will be conducted by staff in the main Bogota volunteer apartment and cover everything you need to know for your volunteering placement in Colombia — Introduction to Colombia, Colombian Customs, Basic Language Training (Spanish), Rules and Expectations, Safety, Travel Opportunities throughout Colombia and Introduction to your projects and placements. You will receive a welcome pack that can fit into your pockets so you can carry it with you always for times of need. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

LANGUAGE COURSE

Spanish language courses are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ strongly recommends these for all volunteers unless they are extremely fluent. If a volunteer's Spanish is none to basic and they are staying for a period of longer than two weeks then volunteers should strongly consider these courses as they will allow them to work and communicate with all parties a lot more efficiently during their stay. These language courses are organised on your arrival in Colombia at the program orientation. The language course is tailored to each volunteer's current level of Spanish. The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers at US$10 per hour.

Basic Language Course - 10 hours per week.
2 hours per day, 5 days a week.
Advanced Language Course - 15-20 hours per week.
3-4 hours per day, 5 days a week.

VOLUNTEER WEEK

First Day: On the first day of the volunteering placement, the volunteers will be escorted to the project and introduced to the staff at the project you will be working with.

Weekdays: While our programs are flexible and can be fitted to your requirements, an example of a typical day is as follows.

• 8.00AM Breakfast with the host family or other volunteers in the main volunteer apartment.
•  8.30AM Volunteer leaves home and takes a taxi, catches a bus or walks to the project. The volunteer joins with the local staff. You will be given a duty roster and a plan for your work. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. Work and hours are dependent on the project and the location that the volunteers are participating in.
• 12.00PM - 4.00PM Work at the project usually ends. The volunteer at this point is free to visit and see places or do shopping. You may also want to hang out with the kids up to around 6.00PM.
• 6.30PM Dinner with the host family or other volunteers.

 Weekends: During the weekend, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of their local district and Bogota. Long weekends can be taken to go and explore Colombia or to travel further afield to places such as Peru, Brazil or Venezuela. If volunteers wish to volunteer over the weekends they can join the local staff and visit the projects to spend time helping the local staff.

COLOMBIA INFORMATION

Capital: Bogota
Population: 45,013,672
Official languages: Spanish
Currency: Colombian Peso (KES)
Time zone: EAT (UTC -5)
Climate: Colombia's proximity to the equator means its temperature varies little throughout the year. The temperature does change with altitude, creating various climatic zones from hot lowlands to freezing Andean peaks, so you can experience completely different climates within a couple of hours of travel.

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