This post was written in collaboration with AllTheRooms, the world’s first vacation rental search engine, and updated in January 2021.
Volunteering is a remarkable act that helps humanity and instils hope at the same time. People all over the world look for opportunities to volunteer for a cause they consider important and worthy of investing the most valuable thing: time.
These causes can include anything from helping out during a natural disaster to assisting in improving the quality of life for people who need it the most, people with physical or mental illnesses, victims of wars and prosecution, and many more.
Some of the most popular places to volunteer include Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A country offering plenty of opportunities to volunteer, as well as amazing experiences and a thriving society, is Colombia.
Before travelling to Colombia
A few things to note:
– You will need to prove a return flight out of the country before you get your visa. Try OneWayFly for legitimate return flights in a hurry.
– Before you land in the country, you will need to fill out this form.
Money & Insurance Travelling offers a gateway to incredible experiences, but unexpected situations can arise. Our travel insurance and money management partners offer the protection you need while embracing local tourism:
– SafetyWing, for long-term travel insurance that starts at $42 per month.
– Revolut, for managing international payments with ease.
– Wise, for the most affordable currency conversion fees and a virtual card that you can top-up in seconds.
When considering flights, you can utilise platforms like Skyscanner or Kiwi to compare flight costs and identify flights that minimise your carbon emissions. Additionally, if you are able, you can offset your flight’s environmental impact through Offset.
Need to learn Spanish fast? Try Preply – it’s like Fiverr for language exchange.
Do you feel like taking a tour around Colombia? Try GAdventures for immersive and sustainable tours.
Where to volunteer in Medellín
Medellín is a city located in the central mountainous region of Colombia, in the Aburrá Valley of about 3 million inhabitants. The city has grown into a modern and bustling metropolis that seeks to progress and provide for the needs of all its citizens. However, this growth and other factors have also created people in need of help from volunteers. Many foreigners visit this city to find work, while others come for the sole purpose of volunteering and learning to live in a new country.
Below are some volunteer opportunities in Medellin:
- Language exchange programs with GLOT
- English and Spanish learning programs with Primed Community
- Help with building homes for The Emiliani Project
- Support ocean conservation with Blue Souls Colombia
- Support women’s economic development with Proyecto Florecer
- Teach English with Ciudad Refugio
- Join the Volunteer Medellin Facebook Group
- Find volunteer opportunities with Nomads Giving Back!
- Find volunteer opportunities on Workaway
There are many other volunteering opportunities in Medellin, however, some remarkable ones include Techo, which is active in a number of countries around the world, providing housing solutions for people in need. Another outstanding chance to help is provided by the Society of Saint Vincent os Paul of Medellin. This organisation focuses on helping people by providing services to improve their quality of life. The people included in the programs vary from the elderly to low-income children, women, and families.
Looking for a way to support the locals? Try GetYourGuide:
Where to volunteer in Bogotá
Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, is a thriving South American city that leads the country in many aspects such as innovation, safety, growth, and progress. Nevertheless, it is also plagued by problems that are ever more common in cities around the world, including poverty, addiction, abuse, discrimination, violence, and disease.
The volunteers who work in Bogotá have the chance to live in a great city while doing something to make a difference. Companies to volunteer with include Medicancer, a place where volunteers assist patients and their families in coping with the disease and its treatments. The charity also gives courses and information to help people understand the effects of cancer. Another great option in Bogotá is Hands On Bogota. This NPO (Non-Profit Organization) helps children, women, and the elderly through teaching programs.
Other volunteer opportunities are:
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen with Fundación 3DC
- Volunteer at the local YMCA
- Offer cultural exchange with JustACause
- Volunteer at the Mandala Hostel Bogota
- Volunteer and help communities with the Moraci Project
While you’re volunteering why not support these community-based tourism projects:
Looking for a way to support the locals? Try GetYourGuide:
Travelling to Colombia?
Travel Insurances
Ready to travel to Medellín or Bogota? Don’t forget your travel insurance. I recommend SafetyWing, as they fully cover COVID-19 related illnesses as of August 1, 2020. They even cover PCR tests if deemed medically necessary by a doctor. Read more here.
Flights
Compare flights using Kiwi.com.
Ethical Volunteering Note
An important thing to note before volunteering – do your research beforehand and find an opportunity that will be beneficial for the people involved and you, the volunteer, as well.
Want to know more about volunteering ethically? Click here to read my ethical volunteering guide.
Does voluntourism cause more harm than good? Find out here.
This blog post is brought to you by Diego Garzon – Diego is a writer by day and a reader by night. He is also the author of the first Screenwriting Manual in Spanish. He has been a creative consultant for television series and films. He lives with “the wife”, ”the dog”, and “the other dog”.
