Volunteer in Colombia - United Planet - 6-12 months

Program Description

The only South American Republic with coast lines on both the Atlantic and the Pacific, Colombia is home to the Andes Mountains, tropical rainforests, and even volcanoes. Volunteers in Colombia spend time with locals, dance merengue, play fútbol (soccer), dodge a few bulls, hike in the mountains and practice their Spanish. Most Colombians live in the mountainous regions of the country. Colombia is considered a “mega-diverse” country, with descendants from native peoples, Africans, colonists, and immigrants from Europe and the Middle East all at home in this gorgeous land.

United Planet is the US and Canadian member of the International Cultural Youth Exchange, or ICYE. As a volunteer in Colombia, you will be hosted by ICYE Colombia, ICYE’s Colombian partner organization. Based in the capital city of Bogotá, their team of 18 local community members work to create lifelong meaning through volunteer projects here.

Highlights include to the top of Colombia's tallest building in Bogota, castles in Cartagena, the Matecana City Zoo, and the scenery of San Gil.

Highlights

Education: work with organizations that help children and teenagers stay in school, including creating or running workshops for language, computer, sports or music instruction.

Social Work: work with children from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds, including assisting with fundraising, supervising children’s play time, developing activities and workshops, or supporting families from some of the poorest areas through counseling

Qualifications

- 18-30 years old
- Citizen or resident of the United States or Canada

Volunteer Types

What`s Included

- Extensive pre-departure preparation, including a training weekend in New Hampshire with United Planet staff
- Food and lodging in your host country
- Airport transfers
- Emergency medical insurance
- In-country orientation upon arrival and ongoing support and supervision throughout your Quest
- Language training
- Mid-year camp (for 1 year volunteers) and final camp
- Monthly stipend for incidental expenses