SOCIAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW
YOU WILL FIND ALL THE BASIC INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING OUR SOCIAL PROJECTS IN COLOMBIA BELOW
VOLUNTEER PROJECT LOCATION & DURATION
SOCIAL PROJECTS LOCATION
We are based in the Village of Paraíso, Quinta Ana Lucia House, in the municipality of La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia where most of the programs are based and within walking distance of the accommodation. Some of our programs are located in the town of La Mesa, and so volunteers will need to travel 20 minutes by minibus from their accommodation.
SOCIAL PROJECT PROGRAM START DATES AND DURATION
Start dates and duration are flexible depending on the social project and the volunteers availability. The school is closed for 6 weeks starting from the end of November to mid-January, 2 weeks at Easter, 4 weeks in June to July and 1 week in October. We suggest that volunteers arrive on Saturdays so that they can start on Mondays. However, we are flexible and volunteers can choose dates that suit their schedule ranging from 1 week to 24 weeks. Pick up from the airport is available but only if you have booked 4 weeks or more.
VOLUNTEER PROJECTS REQUIREMENTS & SCHEDULE
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
1. You must be over 18 years of age.
2. Send a copy of your passport.
3. If your nationality requires a visa for entry into Colombia, it must be for a minimum of 6 months.
3. Send a recent criminal background check (If working with vulnerable people: Children, Elderly or Special needs).
4. You must send us a copy of your travel and health insurance as well as the appropriate Covid vaccinations card for working with vulnerable people.
5. Send your application form to ‘Volunteer in Colombia’ through the contact us icon. The requested documents can be sent to info@volunteerincolombia.org
6. Spanish is not required by the volunteer programs, however, on certain projects basic Spanish is helpful.
Make sure you are aware of the required vaccinations for travel in Colombia. For more information please visit: https://www.minsalud.gov.co
Support: Local Director support 24/7 during placement
SOCIAL PROJECT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
1. Pick up at El Dorado Bogotá City Airport.
2. The program starts and ends in the village of Paraíso, La Mesa.
3. Volunteers will work from Monday to Friday on average for 30 to 40 hours per week.
4. Weekends are free to do some sightseeing, please see Things to do for more information.
5. Departure: Transfer to La Mesa Coach Station is free. However a transfer to Bogotá City airport can be arranged privately for a fee.
Typical working day can be:
School: 7:00 am – 1:00 pm with lunch break (Depending on what grades you are helping with)
Farms: 7:00 am – 1:00 pm but that can depend on the season.
Child and Youth Center: After school program 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (It can be combined with other projects)
Learning Disabilities Center: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – Lunch Break- 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Elderly Care Center: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Lunch Break – 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
VOLUNTEER PROJECT ACCOMMODATION
SOCIAL PROJECTS ACCOMMODATION
Living accommodation is in a small farm which includes a main house where the coordinator lives and a shared bungalow for up to 7 volunteers all located in the village of Paraíso.
Bed linen is provided.
Laundry: You are free to use the washing machine but only one day a week and with cold water. We recommend that you bring only dark colored clothes.
Volunteers will need to buy their own toiletries.
There is a cat and a dog.
Common areas are the kitchen, sitting and dinning areas and gardens. Volunteers can make use of all the facilities in the farm.
The Bungalow rooms are well decorated with a desk, lamp, and electricity.
The bungalow has a hot and cold shower in two shared toilets.
There is free WIFI/ Internet and TV is available only in the main house.
Volunteers will experience the tranquility of the area, surrounded by nature. The scenery is spectacular and includes the mountains, the Apulo River near by where you can have a mud bath, every morning you will be woken by the singing of different birds. It is easy to relax here and do some bird watching. You are very welcome to eat fresh fruits from the trees in the garden and do some ecological walks in the area, also you may want to visit nearby towns, and more while helping this community.
Volunteers must be aware that this is the country side and so there are also mosquitos. We recommend you bring some long light sleeves and mosquito repellent although we provide mosquito nets for the beds.
VOLUNTEER IN COLOMBIA FEES
VOLUNTEERING REGULATIONS
According to volunteer regulations in Colombia, the objective of volunteering recognizes the volunteer as an integral part of social work. The Colombian government promotes and facilitates volunteering as an expression of citizen participation and solidarity.
Pursuant to the Volunteer Act of 2001, Article 4, section 720, every person who is a volunteer in Colombia, must freely and responsibly do so without receiving remuneration or compensation for their labor in private or public organizations and/or of their own volition. Voluntary work, where skills, talent and personal time are given is for the common good of the community.
International volunteers will be responsible for their own expenses. https://snvcolombia.org/normativity/
WHAT DO THE FEES PAY FOR?
Registration Fee – 24/7 support from ‘Volunteer in Colombia’ staff and administration costs.
Donations – A percentage of the volunteers’ fees will go directly to support the community projects including the purchasing of equipment like school books and supplies for the children, farming tools and fertilizer and much more.
Airport pick-up and orientation
Accommodation and meals – Local host family/Volunteers House. Breakfast and lunch is provided from Monday to Friday. Breakfast is provided on Saturday and Sunday but no meals thereafter. However, volunteers are very welcome to make use of the kitchen facilities and do their own cooking on the weekends.
Laundry
WIFI/Internet
The use of all house facilities – this includes the garden and its fruits and patio areas.
WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS WILL I HAVE?
Visa, flights, travel, medical and accident insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, transportation to placements, souvenirs, in-country trips or tours and some spending money (volunteers in Colombia generally find US$50 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses).
Please refer to the FAQ for more information and answers to your questions or click contact us.
* Terms and Conditions Apply
1 week = 310 USD
2 weeks = 480 USD
3 weeks = 650 USD
4 weeks = 820 USD
5 weeks = 990 USD
6 weeks = 1160 USD
7 weeks = 1330 USD
8 weeks = 1500 USD
9 weeks = 1670 USD
10 weeks = 1840 USD
11 weeks = 2010 USD
12 weeks = 2180 USD
16 weeks = 2860 USD
20 weeks = 3540 USD
24 weeks = 4220 USD
WHY CHOOSE US?
‘Volunteer in Colombia’ is a small non-profit organization created to help communities in rural Colombia. People in the coordinator’s community needed help as life can be difficult here. Farmers, local Schools, the local Youth Center, the Learning Disability Center and the Geriatric Center have all benefitted greatly from the support and help of the volunteers. It continues to be a very rewarding partnership for both the volunteers and the community alike.
It is for this reason that we hope you find these projects attractive and come to volunteer with us.
Volunteers can choose one or more projects to help with and while volunteering they can go out and about on one of our suggested outdoor trips. Have a look at Things to do.
WHY PAY TO VOLUNTEER?
Many people ask why they have to pay for Volunteering. First of all, volunteering is not the same as travelling and working. There are many situations where you work for your room and board but not when you are volunteering. To volunteer means to give your time and skills to help a community, a social project, the environment or a cause without expecting to be paid.
Being a volunteer gives you the satisfaction of serving, encouraging, and seeing your actions help a cause or a social project to grow or improve. Volunteers can even create new projects for the community.
You immerse yourself in the problems of a community and you learn to understand why things are the way they are.
You grow as a person and mature while doing your volunteering. You can learn a new language, culture and improve your resume which could be important for university or future work you may undertake..
Paying for volunteering with a registered organization will give you piece of mind and security not only for you but for your family while you are abroad.