Intern Colombia

My time in Medellin was incredible from beginning to end. Before starting, I had signed up for the program hoping for a challenging experience that would allow me to achieve both personal and academic development. Looking back at my time in the country, I was able to achieve both. My internship (that focused on assessing the social impacts of green hydrogen projects) helped me narrow down a career path to pursue after I complete my studies, and the people I met and the experiences I have had while in the country will be among my most cherished memories. Intern Colombia also provided continuous support from beginning to end. In my first few months, they made sure I was properly situated in the city and familiarised with the internship. They also continuously offered events, so I'd have opportunities to go out and explore not just Medellin, but other small towns throughout Antioquia as well. These trips and events were some of the most fun I had during my time here.

I really enjoyed studying abroad in Colombia. I am a non-native Spanish speaker and of an Indian background so the culture was very different than what I am used too. I wanted to study abroad in order to develop my Spanish skills as it will be very useful in the US and for my future career. Additionally, South America is much less traveled too than other destinations like Europe which I believe I will get the opportunity to visit at other points in my life. I learned a lot through putting myself in a completely new environment. I am an education major so I learned how education is tackled abroad for early childhood and I feel as though I have grown academically, professionally, socially, and personally. I also got to experience navigating challenges on my own and being more independent. I love how different cities in Colombia are very unique and culturally different. I did some domestic traveling which was amazing. I visited Medellin, San Andres, Cartagena, and Santa Marta which I highly recommend. I also loved all the excursions Intern Colombia took us on as it allowed me to really learn about Colombian history, music, food, biodiversity, and much more.

I did a 6 month internship in Medellin and it was an incredible experience. Not only did I have plenty of flexibility in terms of the internships (when I wanted to change it was more than easy to do so) but the support provided by Matt and Naty was such a comfort, and any issue I had at any point in my time in Medellin was always resolved by them such as visa problems accomodation and so on; they were an excellent support system which was necessary especially in the beginning when I was just finding my feet in a country thousands of miles away from home ! I’d recommend doing an internship through Intern Colombia to anyone considering working on the country, they really made my experience what it was !

Intern Colombia gave me the opportunity to explore my professional interests, Colombian culture, and meet people from around the world. I'm extremely grateful for my experience to be a part of this program and for the support Matthew, Paula, and everyone else provided behind the scenes to make all the programming possible. I developed my Spanish proficiency through immersion and courses offered by the program, learned salsa through the classes, and visited many monumental towns nearby. I highly recommend this program; you won't regret it!

My time in Colombia exposed me to a new culture that will stick with me forever. From the incredible food to the stunning scenic views, everything made Colombia feel like a home away from home. The flexibility I had as an intern was greatly appreciated, as it allowed me to work while also having the opportunity to explore. I will surely miss Colombia.

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I originally planned to do one of their in-person internships, but due to some unexpected circumstances, I switched to the virtual option, and it turned out to be the best decision I could’ve made. From the beginning, Matthew was incredibly thoughtful and attentive. Every opportunity he shared with me aligned closely with my goals, and the one I ultimately accepted ended up being exactly the kind of role, company, and work environment I had envisioned. The Spanish classes included in the program were also a game changer. They introduced me to an amazing teacher who has helped me make more progress than I ever expected. I genuinely can’t recommend this program enough. Don’t think twice, it’s 100% worth it. Trusting them took so much pressure off my shoulders, and it’s honestly made life feel lighter. More than anything, see it as an investment in yourself. They don’t just place you anywhere, they carefully match you with respected companies and NGOs that fit your goals and values!

My internship with Inter Colombia in Bogotá was transformative. I worked on peacebuilding and reconciliation, engaged with communities, and gained insights into human rights and conflict resolution. The staff was amazing, and Matthew ensured we felt supported while encouraging us to explore Colombia’s culture. This experience strengthened my research and cross-cultural skills, reaffirming my passion for international law and human rights.

I recently completed a six-week internship in Medellín, Colombia, and it was an incredibly enriching experience. The city's vibrant culture, combined with the warm and welcoming people I met through Intern Colombia, made every moment enjoyable and memorable. From exploring the colorful neighborhoods to participating in local festivals, the experience was both professionally and personally rewarding. The connections I made and the skills I gained have left a lasting impact, and I would do it again without hesitation!

Intern Colombia with Matthew as our program coordinator in Bogotá was a great experience! Staying in Colombia for 2.5 months was a transformative experience as I immersed myself in a new culture, made lasting friendships, and even learned Spanish! While the housing situation differs for each student, my group from UCLA lived in CityU. I believe its central location and student life played a large part in feeling safe during my stay (so try to be placed there ;). My advice when matching with internships is to really know what you want and convey your wants clearly to Matthew. Learn as much as you can about the different companies and what your role will be to make an informed decision. Matthew is very generous, culturally knowledgeable, and gave us the best well-rounded experience. However, managing multiple students is a hefty responsibility. I will add that they could use some help or improvement in understanding student needs and treating student problems as their own. I definitely recommend the program!!

I had only studied international development issues in class at university, but I luckily I got my first opportunity to really work with those issues in-field during my time working with Sistema B, an ESG-focused nonprofit that Intern Colombia matched me with. From this experience, I was able to really determine what I liked and didn't like, and it honestly pushed me forward to the path that I'm embarking on now— participating in the project management of financial inclusion initiatives to support smallholder farmers, women, and other underrepresented groups in Latin America! Intern Colombia, I'd say, was my trigger to really start a career in international development.

I've really enjoyed my entire experience here, both during my work and outside it as well. I've had so many cultural experiences that I couldn't get if I hadn't come here and they've definitely broadened my horizons. I feel like my perspective on things such as poverty has become more worldly after getting to experience it firsthand. I've also had a lot of fun at work, getting to learn some new skills (such as learning about how their blockchain works and learning to write code/communicate with other people about it in a professional environment) and also getting to meet a lot of super nice people. I've really enjoyed the culture especially here in Medellín where the people are often more laid back and super friendly! That warmness is something I'll be taking with me wherever I go because it really goes a long way to helping me feel welcome here. The one thing I would complain about is how unresponsive and disorganized the administration of Intern Colombia can be - getting a response out of Matthew could take several repeated emails and weeks. He didn't even send us the information packet with a lot of important info until the day before we arrived here. He has also provided the interns with inaccurate or incomplete information several times. Luckily, Natalia in Medellín is an excellent on-field program coordinator, so she became our main point of contact for anything Intern Colombia-related.

I really loved the program and thought that it was smoothly run. I don't think I could've gotten this experience elsewhere. It was a very unique internship that I ever thought that I would complete. Also, I really liked the engagement from the Intern Colombia team, because they constantly checked in on me and helped me throughout the selection process. Very much enjoyed my experience-- it was with BritCham Colombia, which is a very cool organization to work for. Also got to improve my Spanish a bit. Thank you Intern Colombia!

My time with Intern Colombia was one I will never forget as I have acquired skills and knowledge that will guide my career and personal life to success. This opportunity added value to my career as it helped me find the job that I wish to pursue in my field, and I felt like I made a positive impact as well. Everyone at Intern Colombia is so friendly and willing to help, I am grateful for my time with them! I recommend to anyone who is seeking to expand their knowledge of Colombia and engage with the culture. I only wish I would have gone in person instead of doing it virtually!

Not only did I become a stronger researcher, but I also learned how to look at migrant issues through a variety of different perspectives. My research emphasizes the importance of treating migrants as not only victims or criminals, but instead as active figures that can positively shape their own future and that of their host nations. I gained intercultural communication skills and how to adapt to a culturally different work environment, all while strengthening and refining my spanish language skills. My qualitative and quantitative research skills vastly improved and I had the opportunity to learn directly from experts. They pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me believe in my skills as a researcher. My experience with FIP was unforgettable and enriching, and I hope to one day visit Colombia to meet their wonderful team in person.

Despite being able to go abroad this summer, Intern Colombia helped me have a great summer! They listened to what I am interested in and matched me perfectly to a non-profit organization in Medellín. I was able to learn so much about fundraising and the operations of an internationally-based non-profit. I can't wait to continue to use the skills I gained this summer throughout my career.

I was at the end of completing my studies and wanted to really get an internship to improve my resume but was a bit conflicted due to the pandemic. I inquired Intern Colombia after I saw their website and how they had helped people like me get an internship. From the beginning to end of this process they have exceeded my expectations and allowed me to have an unforgettable and valuable experience with this internship. They don't just focus on you getting an internship, but make sure you are enjoying it and feeling comfortable with it, which I found to be very valuable. I wasn't expecting much from a virtual internship, but after this experience I see I was wrong since I have gained so much knowledge and til this day I am grateful for reaching out to Intern Colombia. I recommend to anyone looking to gain a valuable experience and gain connections!

My name is Mike from Texas and I had the honor to do a virtual internship through Intern Colombia. My initial plans were to travel to Colombia for the summer of 2020, however, due to the pandemic, I was not able to. However, I am so glad they offered virtual internships. I was assigned to Biz Latin Hub for a social media marketing internship. I really enjoyed it! It wasn't the same as being in person at the office, but I learned a lot about business in Latin America and I was able to get a better idea of what I want to do when I graduate from my International Business Program. The people at Intern Colombia would check in on me occasionally and I love how even if I was at home I was still offered cultural immersion opportunities such as virtual salsa dancing classes and language exchange opportunities. I did the language exchange one and I really enjoyed meeting people from all over the world online. I hope to be able to go for an in person internship for the upcoming summer all depending on the situation of the pandemic. I would definitely recommend this program for those who want or need an internship experience abroad for college credit or even a personal growth experience during these rough times.

I had an amazing experience with Intern Colombia. From the beginning, they put a lot of thought and effort into finding an internship that really suited me. They were always super helpful with any questions or doubts I had. My marketing internship really helped develop my skills and it gave me very valuable experience. During my time in Bogotá, Intern Colombia were always in contact with me and the other interns, organizing social events that would get us out and about exploring the city. I couldn't have asked for a better experience; I highly recommend Intern Colombia if you are thinking about doing an internship in Colombia. I would also highly recommend Colombia if you are thinking about doing an internship abroad. It's a beautiful country, rich in culture and with delicious food.

I had planned on going to Colombia over the summer, but due to the guidelines around Covid-19 I wasn't able to travel. Intern Colombia helped me adapt my plans and start a remote internship. During the ever-changing Covid-19 situation, they did a great job of communicating consistently and keeping me updated with their plans. They matched me with an awesome organization that's helping me get the exact type of work experience I was looking for and have been checking in to make sure everything is going well. Even though it's remote, they have been organizing virtual cultural events to build community and ensure the experience is as great as it can be. Definitely recommend!

I spent 12 weeks in Bogotá from January to April 2018 completing an internship, and it is an experience I have recommended to everybody I know looking for this type of opportunity. Intern Colombia did an amazing job of making sure my stay was as memorable as possible, on top of providing a great internship. I was met at the airport and provided with some useful materials to make my transition into Colombian life much easier: a SIM card, maps of the city and other useful information. The team were always available whenever I needed help with anything, no matter how small, and regularly checked in to make sure that I wasn't having any problems. Further, Intern Colombia provided so many great cultural immersion opportunities to allow me to really get to know the city and the culture of the country, and to open my eyes to so many different things which I hadn't experienced before. I was given a tour of some of the main parts of Bogotá, including some of the main museums; I was taken to watch a football match live in a stadium, something I really wanted to do but don't think I would have been brave enough to do alone; and early on in my stay I was taken on a fruit tour in Paloquemao market, where I was introduced to so many of the most common fruits & foods in Colombia, the majority of which I had never seen before, let alone tasted. On top of all of this, Intern Colombia provided an amazing internship for me which allowed me to learn a lot and improve my workplace skills while also drastically improving my Spanish. I worked at Mi Águila, and was warmly welcomed to the team and made to feel at home from the start. It was a role which challenged me to really push myself and deliver results. A key part of my role was phoning taxi drivers and speaking to them about a new technology that the company had designed to see how their experience with it was. This was extremely difficult as the connection often wasn't great and Bogotá taxi drivers aren't the clearest of speakers, but it was so fulfilling to see myself improving in these situations and my Spanish came on leaps and bounds because of this. I really recommend the Intern Colombia experience to anybody who wants to gain some great work experience while also experiencing life in Colombia!