Volunteer Programs in Medellin, Colombia

Volunteering with Global Impact Homes each year has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me and my husband. Whether we’re building a home for a family, contributing to a community center, or working on a school project, each trip offers meaningful opportunities to make a real difference. What stands out the most is the authentic connection we build with the local community. GIH ensures that locals—from the project foreperson and skilled workers to those providing meals—are sourced directly from within the community. Often, family members or individuals involved with the community centers are on-site as well. I deeply appreciate the time we spend getting to know the people we’re supporting, and we’ve stayed in touch with several people afterward, which makes the experience even more meaningful for me. This is an eye-opening experience that goes far beyond what you might see on a typical tourist trip. In short, I feel like I gain so much more from these trips than I could ever give. The impact on both the volunteers and the local communities is profound, and I can’t recommend Global Impact Homes highly enough.

Couldn't think of a better way to spend vacation days. Love these people. Love these trips and love to help. Excited for my 6th trip! Knowing we can make a Global Impact is important to me. This trip and these people are the greatest.

Fantastic experience if you want to challenge yourself, seek out new cultures and information whilst having a paternal support behind you. The Organisation provides you a great foundation from which to intiate a living abroad experience, with your liasing support person there to assist for all your queires. More so the organisations are forthcoming with educational experiences and allow you to immerse yourself into the work culture. Colombia itself is an amazing country to be explored and by doing an internship you are given plenty of time to do so. Cannot recommend enough!

The Intern Group responded to this reviewDecember 11, 2023

Thank you Jorja for sharing your experience! We are glad that you have had an enriching experience and we look forward to seeing where your career takes you.

I did my internship with The Intern Group in Colombia and I don’t have enough words to describe how amazing it was. The internship experience was beyond my expectations and the activities that were set up by the company were amazing. I cannot express how much this helped me in a professional matter. Also, our coordinator Maria was amazing and was always there for us. Please don’t think twice about doing your internship in Colombia! You will never regret being in such a beautiful country and with such beautiful people.

The Intern Group responded to this reviewDecember 11, 2023

Thank you Helena for sharing your experience! We are glad that you have had an enriching experience and we look forward to seeing where your career takes you.

I did the Colombia Internship Programme as part of my Year Abroad at university. I saw this as a chance to both improve my Spanish and develop skills which would improve my employability further down the line. TIG delivered this and more! Living in Colombia for three months without knowing anyone there is a daunting prospect, but TIG set my mind at ease on so many levels: they found me a great internship; lovely accommodation in a great part of Medellín (El Poblado); and organised all the logistics of the taxi from the airport etc. During my internship I was afforded a great level of responsibility and independence, which really helped me develop my independence and organisation. I was supported by my team and enjoyed getting to know my colleagues. I also loved the social aspect of the programme. I met some great people and really enjoyed the excursions planned for us including trips to Guatapé and Comuna 13, and a tour of Medellín with a coffee tasting. All in all, I came out of Colombia with much more confidence in my Spanish, in myself and in my career. I won't forget my time there, and I'm really grateful to everyone at TIG for making it run so smoothly. I can't wait to go back to South America soon!

TIG gave me exactly what I was looking for. An opportunity to immerse myself in another culture and grow as a person while gaining valuable professional experience I can use in my career. I was mostly impressed by the organization provided for me by the TIG coordinators. This allowed me to leave my home country and arrive in a foreign land without having to worry about the logistics involved or my safety. The apartment I was provided allowed me to live in a safe neighborhood with all of the amenities I like to have. I was walking distance to work, a bus drive for groceries, and my building had a gym/sauna/steam room which I used almost everyday! As much as I was challenged in my working environment, I was so relaxed and happy normally while exploring my new city, speaking with the locals, and hanging out with the friends I made through TIG. This trip truly changed the way I think about my life and I've continued to apply the way of thinking to my life now. Being from Canada, I know what it's like to enjoy a high quality of life with live in a safe and secure community. However, with that being said I can't wait to get back to Latin America. I would love to end up in Medellin for part of my life! Such a beautiful city. I was really happy with the people assigned from TIG to work with me in organizing trips, deal with issues I experienced in my time there, and just plain hang out. I think the people involved with TIG were the best part of my experience in Medellin and they truly provided me a solid foundation that I could use to excel at work and while living in the city. I would recommend TIG for anyone looking to shake things up in their lives and challenge themselves to grow.

Studying in El Salvador, I had not found many opportunities in the sustainability/renewable energy sector, given that the sector is new and companies are rarely open to interns. The time I had at Hybrytec, a solar energy company in Colombia, was truly unforgettable and I got to learn about the way panels work and are installed, I got to see the roofs before and after installations, and many more operational aspects within the company. Being a native Spanish speaker, I did not have problems with the language barrier, which also made it easier for me to ask questions and talk to people around Colombia. I got to spend my birthday, Christmas, and new year in Colombia, although this made me nervous at first, it was lovely to spend it with the intern family. I met awesome people, interns, and coworkers, that I'm sure will be friends for life. The knowledge I acquired at Hybrytec is priceless and I am sure it will open many doors for me when I graduate later this year and search for a full-time job. Without hesitation, this program was one of the best decisions I have made for my personal and professional growth. It's an experience that truly changes you, from getting used to foreign public transport, being thousands of miles away from friends and family, meeting someone new every day, and so much more. The staff made sure we had everything we needed from the moment we arrive. The apartment was located in the safest neighborhood in Medellin, we had an orientation that was really helpful to know the details provided in advance. The people in Medellin are amazing and some of the friendliest I have ever met. I would do it again and recommend everyone seeking international opportunities/experience to do it!!

Hay muchas cosas que puedo decir acerca de mi experiencia en Bogotá, pero lo primero que se me viene a la mente cuando me comenzaron a preguntar acerca de la experiencia que pasé, es la gente. Desde el primer momento me sentí en mi hogar (lejos de mi hogar) las Coordinadoras, los demás voluntarios, la gente/niños con los que trabajabamos en los proyectos. Cada uno de ellos te abre su corazón, y siempre están ahí, con una sonrisa, esperando a ayudar, a conversar, a estar presente. Emerging Voices - Colombia es una organización INCREIBLE, con un equipo humano que sobrepasa todo lo bueno de esta vida. Sin lugar a dudas, no sólo Bogotá, con mil lugares, sitios, cultura, y actividades que ofrecer, pero así mismo la gente con la que compartí mis dos semanas, hicieron que deje una parte muy grande mi corazón - al cual volveré lo más pronto que pueda para seguir en este proyecto personal que es servir a los demás! A todos aquellos que estén pensando ir: vayan. De verdad, desde el segundo en que ponen pie en suelo Bogotano, van a sentir la magia de la gente, la voluntad de servicio en los proyectos, y la sensación de cómo crece su corazón! Y como ellos mismos dicen: el riesgo es que te quieras quedar.

I spend 2 weeks in Cartagena and I was able to participate in different programs. Most of them, teaching English to children's. But they also have programs with elder care, cancer victims that need a moment of joy and kindergarten assistance. It was a immersive experience and we could connect with the communities and get to know the people who live there. For me, this was the top 1 reason why I loved this experience. The children's were kind and respectful, eager to learn. So the teaching was natural and easy. I felt home in our volunteer house. We had dinner together every day and spend weekends travelling together as well. I felt welcome by the city and by all the Colombians I met.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewFebruary 04, 2019

Hi Isabela - thank you for giving your time to a great program with IVHQ. We really appreciate your valuable contribution to the important work of the local team in Colombia. Acacia - IVHQ Program Manager.

I have been through IVHQ to Bogota on the Childcare Project - once over December 2017/2018 for one month, then enrolled for the 24 week program, that's how much I loved it!! I think that really speaks for itself!! I was involved in the Childcare Project, working with troubled youths, which was one of the most rewarding experiences. It has now made me go down a new career path, that I am back home. Now to Bogota... the culture, the food, the dancing, the people... I felt so safe and really at home. The coordinators really helped with this, they are so, so supportive. The house is in an awesome location - with supermarket, ATM, coffee, park - everything really at your doorstep. I love Colombia. It is seriously one of the most amazing countries I have EVER seen. I was lucky enough to get to see some amazing parts of the country with other volunteers, as we had time off over the weekends - which we took advantage of. I can't wait to go back and experience it all over again!! Thank you to IVHQ for making this all possible. Jac - Australia.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewOctober 07, 2018

Hey Jac, Thanks for the lovely, descriptive review and for being an incredibly dedicated volunteer. We are so glad that you returned to the Bogota Program for an additional 6 months! Charlotte - IVHQ Program Manager.

I went into this internship/ volunteer work not really knowing what to expect in terms of how much exposure I would get to working with children and was unsure how much fundraising/ events planning I would be doing. In the end I spent the majority of my time going to different children’s/ elderly people homes and was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. This internship was a perfect way to interact with Colombian people on a daily basis and be exposed to Spanish which really helped me to improve. Everyone in the office was lovely and I ended up leaving people I truly consider as great friends behind, as well as missing a lot of the kids who taught me so much.

The volunteer trip I took to Bogota, Colombia was unforgettable. The coordinators there were always making sure you felt at home and provided you with anything you may have needed. The programs they had were under Emerging Voices. They have been making a difference with the people they helped everyday. The boys at Mama Yolanda love having company from the volunteers. All the experiences I had were eye opening. I would recommend this program to others.

I spent two weeks working on the project in Medellin through Globalteer, and had an amazing time. The children at the project are so friendly, welcoming and such good fun, despite coming from tough backgrounds. While my Spanish is fairly basic, I was able to communicate, make friends, and help the children with arts and crafts and English lessons. I also took them to the cinema and to the park, walked them to school and helped with meals and with tidying up. The staff at the project are also really friendly and doing an amazing job with the children. Elena, the Globalteer in-country co-ordinator, was really helpful (despite being unwell), and helped arrange everything, including my stay at a really nice hostel in El Poblado, Spanish lessons, transport to the project and even assistance with finding a dentist! Overall I had a fantastic time and would really love to return soon.

I had an absolutely amazing experience volunteering in Colombia through IVHQ! The staff was professional, helpful and available to help with anything you needed. The local staff in Colombia was also amazing and made the volunteer and travel experience even better! I would highly recommend a volunteer vacation and would absolutely recommend using IVHQ!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewNovember 16, 2016

Hi Joel, Thanks so much for your recommendation - we really appreciate it. It is awesome to hear that you had such an amazing experience in Colombia and found the support professional and helpful. We would love to have you join another IVHQ program in the future.

I spent two weeks in Medellin, a week of which I volunteered with Globalteer. I had not previously volunteered or travelled to Colombia so was unsure what to expect. Leading up to my trip I frequently exchanged emails with Elena, the project coordinator. Elena arranged my accommodation, Spanish lessons, pick up from the airport and sent me lots of useful information about the project and Medellin in general. Once I arrived in Colombia I was met at the airport and driven to the hostel in El Poblado. The hostel was ideally located, very clean and the staff were fantastic! I met with Elena the next day and she showed me around El Poblado and how to get to the project. Once at the project I was introduced to the staff and children and given a tour of the facilities. As a volunteer you are given the freedom to plan your own activities and chose which areas you want to help with. During my with the children I helped clean up after meals, organised and took part in arts and craft activities, walked the children to school and took them to play in the park. I also gave one of the older children one to one help with his English work from school.The staff at the project were very welcoming they are also genuinely invested in the children they care for. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the project and in Colombia and hope to return!