Colombia es pasion! Many of those who have never been to Colombia associate it with drugs, violence, guerilla fighters, and paramilitaries. Fortunately, it only takes a few glances upon the warm, smiling faces of Colombia’s 44,000,000 citizens to understand the pride felt for how different life is in Colombia today. Following nearly forty years of insecurity, Colombia has emerged in the last decade into a leading Latin America country, equipped with a rapidly developing economy, modern cosmopolitan cities, gorgeous Caribbean beaches, the luscious Amazon rainforest, quaint and charming colonial villages, buzzing night-life, and much more! The only risk is wanting to stay
Programs Available in Colombia
VIew current volunteer and internship opportunities in Colombia... |
How You Can Help
In Colombia, we work in Medellin, a city of 2.5 million. Medellin, the City of Eternal Spring as it is affectionately known, rests in a narrow valley. With the railroad, the boom of the coffee industry, and profits made by mining investors, Medellin grew into a major metropolis over the twentieth century. Medellin has a had a colourful history. Despite a past disrupted by violence, today it is one of the safest cities in all of South America. In Colombia our partners focus on public health, childcare, youth empowerment, environment, micro-enterprise development, community development and education. In Medellin, you can also learn Spanish or complete a placement with a Tailored focus.
The Need
Despite Colombia's newfound levels of peace and prosperity, Colombia still bears many scars from the past. Nearly 10% of Colombia’s population has been displaced due to the many years of armed conflict, making it the country with the second highest level of internal displacement in the world. In addition to displacement, one in every three Colombians has in some way been negatively affected by the armed conflict. Colombia also suffers from great wealth disparity, leaving much of the country in poverty. In fact, one fifth of the population lives on less than two dollars per day, and nearly half of the Colombian work force derives income from the small scale informal economy, working as street vendors and garbage recyclers.
History
In 1500, the first Europeans set foot on what is present day Colombia. Settlements grew, and in the later half of the sixteenth century, the inhabitants began to diversify; Indigenous communities and Spanish settlers were joined by African slaves in Cartagena. Today, telltale landmarks in Cartagena give testimony to this diverse cultural landscape. Colombia declared independence in 1819. Instability, lost territory, and civil wars riddled Colombia for much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Present day Colombia is considerably safer than it was during its shaky past. Its cities are exceptionally vibrant, and Colombians are happy to be welcoming more foreigners than ever before.
Things to See and Do
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Bogota - A vibrant and bustling capital city, the urban center of Colombia, home to over 8 million
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Medellin- “The City of Eternal Spring” that has a consistent spring-like climate year-round. It is Colombia’s second largest city and capital of the state of Antioquia, home to over 2 million Paisas. Situated in a picturesque valley hugged on all sides by beautiful green mountains, it has a booming nightlife and cultural scenes.
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Colonial Villages – The villages are home to warm friendly people, and are where you can experience traditional Colombian lifestyles
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Cartagena- Described as South America's most beautiful colonial city
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Taganga and Santa Marta-Snorkel, tour islands, visit beaches, fish, and hike in the national park
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La Ciudad Perdida- A breathtaking five day jungle trek to the mystic ruins of a lost civilization
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The Coffee Zone - Trek through this amazing region and see where Colombia produces its world-renowned coffee
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The Amazon – Go on a rainforest excursions, do some river rafting, and visit indigenous communities
