FAQ
FAQ
Here you will find the answers for many of your questions. However, please do not hesitate to contact us directly if not all your questions are answered.
How safe is the local area?
It is safe and our volunteers have only had positive experiences. Public transport is frequent and easy to use.
How safe is it in Colombia?
Of course, some places can be dangerous, as well as anywhere else in the world. Therefore, it is important to be knowledgeable about your surroundings in advance. Here are some of our recommendations:
When you are in the big cities, we advise that you should not be out in the dark or on the streets alone. Always keep an eye on your things, pickpockets exist all over the world. If there is any social instability or political unrest in Colombia we will advise you in advance to re-schedule your trip but as always you should visit your country’s Foreign affairs advice office on Colombia.
Do I need travel insurance?
It is strongly recommended to take out travel cancellation insurance and insurance to cover the costs of repatriation in case of accident or illness. We advise you to check – also concerning risk exclusions of already existing insurance – and to take advantage of all the available insurance options, medical, travel and accident insurance.
What happened if I get unwell while volunteering?
If you are sick whilst volunteering the staff at the Volunteer in Colombia will know where to take you. You will receive information on this on your induction day. And of course, you need to bring an insurance policy where if necessary they can fly you back home. Volunteer in Colombia will be able to liaise with the medical professionals, insurance company and family in the meantime. Most of the time volunteers get sick due to eating food sold in the streets and some restaurants that do not comply with the same health and safety standards, bear in mind that in most undeveloped countries Health and food hygiene is not the same as your home country.
Can I travel while volunteering?
Weekends are free for sightseeing, you will have a variety of options. One, You can go on a day trip with the organization. Second, most of the times volunteers make and plan a group trip to the local places of interest by themselves, you can go to the Things to do to read more. Also after your volunteer program ended you can go anywhere in Colombia. This is why is highly recommended to bring full accident and medical and travel insurance. As an organization, we can not be responsible and can not be liable for any incident or accident while you are a volunteer or in Colombia.
What do I have to take?
Once you have completed your booking, you will receive a pre-information pack from us. There you will be advised about what you should take with you. But bare in mind we can only give you an idea.
Which languages do I need to speak?
In order to participate, we require a basic knowledge of Spanish, is a prerequisite for volunteering and is essential so that you will be able to communicate with the locals and members of the staff. Knowledge of English is not a requirement but makes communication much easier as the coordinator Speaks English and can help with translations.
Can I contact previous volunteers?
You can read our testimonies on the website but if that is not enough we can help you to get in touch with some. Bare in mind that we do not post every single volunteer testimony we will post some regularly.
What do I need to consider when booking a flight?
The flights are not included in the price of the offered service. If possible please book the flight to arrive on a Saturday, so that we can do the introduction on Sunday and you can start working on Monday. It is not compulsory just a suggestion but it will help us with the organization. Keep in mind the peak and plate day in Colombia to transit which means we can only drive cars according with the number plate and date in case we pick you up at the Airport.
Do I need to apply for a visa?
For some countries, you get a tourist visa issued for 90 days upon arrival. Then you can extend the visa, for example, in Bogotá for another 90 days. We do not provide any documentation to get your visa prior to apply for your volunteering program. Please visit the Colombian Consulate website in your country for more information.
Which vaccinations do I need?
Your routine vaccines should all be up to date, including Covid-19 vaccines. However, we recommend that you visit your doctor or a consultant before planning your trip. Please, also visit the Colombian Consulate website for more information, your Health Office for recommendations or The Colombian Health Minister for more information.
What happened next?
If you have already decided then please fill the application form and send it with the required documents for our perusal and review, and choose a date for a skype meeting.
What if my question is not here?
If you have more questions we will answer them all in our one-to-one interview by skype, or send us an email, we will be happy to answer any query. You will have a pre-information pack after your application with some more information.
Please read our terms and conditions, privacy policy and projects overview before applying.