Do you fancy the Work with Children and young people? Would you like the Culture from Colombia up close and make friends with the locals? Do you want to help Life of the people in Cartagena sustainable improvement? Then this project is just right for you! Our partner organization supports the children, young people and adults on site with the help of various programmes, which the Education, Culture and Health of people. Depending on your skills and knowledge, you can lend a hand in all areas and get involved in the program. Whether you prefer to help with the educational projects at the school, campaigning or marketing is up to you. There are suitable tasks for everyone!
More than 14 years ago, the founder of the organization, who is also from Cartagena, came to the Rafael Núñez district, one of the poorest areas of Cartagena. Families and children live there who lack basic foodstuffs, some of whom have no real roof over their heads and hardly any prospects of a better future. The founder was convinced that she could change the lives of the children, young people and families and founded the organization with the help of donations. The aid project was founded in 2007 and began with a learning center for 120 small children. Today, the aid project supports around 820 children in Rafael Núñez.
In order to sustainably improve the lives of the people there, the founder has set up a comprehensive range of different programs to help children, families and older people in all areas of life: There is an education program, sports and cultural program, health program and much more. Food is donated to the families and they help them to grow their own food in their gardens. But that's not all: the organization has also built many small houses in the district to provide the families with a suitable home. Many of them live in old wooden houses that are on the verge of collapse or where water comes through the ceilings when it rains. A situation that nobody wants to live in. That is why the organization is looking after the people in Rafael Núñez and making a major contribution to a better life.
The organization's major commitment to radically changing people's living conditions consists primarily of educating children of early childhood and primary school age. In the learning center, children aged 6 months to 5 years are prioritized. They receive care, attention, exercise and education. They learn to read, paint, do handicrafts, play, sing and let off steam in the playground.
The academic strengthening program is aimed at 7- to 13-year-old children and young people. The main task of the volunteers here is to support the school program. They are also offered a cultural and sports program and taught how to get enough exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. The staff and volunteers teach them sports such as basketball, taekwondo, soccer and athletics and motivate them. Donations are also used to buy sportswear, shoes and equipment for the children. There are also music and art lessons for the children.
The organization helps the teenagers and young adults to get an education or study so that they can later learn good jobs to provide for themselves and their families. The families are also taught how to grow their own fruit and vegetables so that they can provide for themselves and generate additional income by selling them.
There is also a health program for the older population. The staff run sports courses and encourage older people to exercise in order to stay fit and mobile.
Many helping hands and donations are needed to maintain all the services for the people in the neighborhood. As a volunteer in this project, you can be absolutely sure that your help will get to where it is urgently needed and that you are working for a good cause. You can work directly with the locals and gain lots of valuable experience. Working in Rafael Núñez will certainly change and shape your view of the world - an exciting time that you will never forget!
The organization is open from Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. As a volunteer, you can get involved in various areas of work and provide support according to your skills and interests. You can choose between the areas mentioned above and, for example, support the children of kindergarten age or help with the older children in the after-school program. Depending on your area of responsibility, your working hours may vary and you will have weekends off.
You can use the After-school program for the older children and young people. You will help the teachers to plan, prepare and deliver lessons. For the younger pupils, the aim is to teach them reading, writing and basic arithmetic. For teenagers, you will provide support in math and English, for example. You can design worksheets, games, exercises and homework and help the weaker children with their individual tasks during lessons.
You can also join the kids in the Kindergarten age help out. You can also plan and implement small teaching units, games and exercise. The little ones are really looking forward to seeing you!
You can also lend a hand with various workshops, art and sports programs. Basketball, dancing, art, athletics, soccer, taekwondo and computer science are on offer.
There are also five different areas of responsibility, but you don't have to choose one, you can also take on different tasks.
Campaigns: Various campaigns are regularly organized in the region. Here you can develop new ideas and help with the preparation, planning and implementation of the campaigns. The focus is on good teamwork to achieve a specific goal. There are campaigns on the topic of health, for example, which deal with aspects such as healthy eating, hygiene and illnesses, or second-hand clothing collections, as well as fundraising and environmental protection campaigns.
Administration: Of course, an NGO also needs an office in which all areas of work have to be managed.
Food promotion: Collaboration in training in the handling of food, kitchen machines and appliances or support in the management of food aid, such as the distribution of food donations.
Marketing: You can develop new ideas for the website or Instagram channel. Give free rein to your creativity when writing blog articles and put your photography skills to the test by creating new photos and videos for the channels. You will also be involved in research activities and campaign planning for future fundraising campaigns.
Strategy: Without donations and support, the project would not be possible, so the organization must constantly look for new funding opportunities. Help develop new, creative strategies to raise funds and register volunteer sponsors. Here you can also contribute to the growth and further development of the organization.
Welcome to the pearl of the Caribbean! Cartagena absolutely deserves this name, as the city is one of the most beautiful in the whole of South America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. You can spend days strolling through the narrow streets, admiring the colorful houses with their ornate wooden balconies or watching dance groups without getting bored. The city also offers first-class street food, as well as numerous restaurants, bars, stores, hostels and much more. Cartagena consists not only of the enchanting old town, but also of a modern center from which skyscrapers shoot upwards.
Of course, the Caribbean city also has its own city beach. However, it is much nicer to go to one of the nearby islands and enjoy the endless white beaches.
After work or at the weekend, Cartagena is the perfect starting point for relaxing on Caribbean beaches with crystal-clear water and many excursion destinations nearby. Perfect for your adventure.
During the project, you will live in Cartagena's hippest neighborhood: Getsemaní. The district is located in the beautiful old town, where all tourists in Cartagena stay in the numerous hostels, hostels and apartments.
The aid organization's facility is located in the poor Rafael Núñez district. The area is considered unsafe, which is why you should take a cab from your accommodation to the school every day. The organization's project site is safe and you don't need to worry about anything in the buildings. However, you should not spend your free time there, but rather go to the safer area of the old town.
You can find more information here.
You don't need any special qualifications to work with the children. Of course, you should enjoy working with children and young people, enjoy spending time with them and be keen to make new contacts and friends. A certain social competence in working with people is an advantage. You will be working a lot with locals. You should be open-minded and have the motivation to get to know a new culture and everything that goes with it. Working at the school will playfully improve your Spanish skills and also have a positive impact on your life. A wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time to come.
The national language in Colombia is Spanish. You will need an advanced basic knowledge of Spanish to take part in the project, as it will help you when interacting with the children and communicating with the team. Many team members do not speak English, so your level of Spanish should be good enough to understand the briefing on your tasks in Spanish. Most of the children in the projects also speak little or no English, which is why Spanish is the main language.
If you do not have sufficient knowledge before the start of the program, we recommend that you attend a language course at the beginning of the trip, which we will be happy to organize for you, or take part in another project where you can deepen your knowledge. We work together with an excellent language school where you can attend a language course before the start of the program or alongside it. Your language skills will also improve on site in a fun way.
You live together with other volunteers or guests in a guesthouse in Cartagena, where the owner lives alongside the volunteers. He takes excellent care of the volunteers, supports them with everything they need and enjoys doing things with them in their free time.
There are several double and single rooms in the accommodation, which you either occupy alone or share with another volunteer. You share the bathroom, communal kitchen and living room with your fellow residents. Accommodation in the guesthouse can be booked with or without meals. The board package includes breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday in the guesthouse and costs €70.00 per week. The owner of the house will be happy to cook Colombian delicacies for you. Otherwise you can use the communal kitchen.
The house is located in the beautiful old town of Cartagena. From there you can reach the project in about 25 minutes by car. You should always take a cab to get organized. There are practical and safe cab apps such as Uber and InDriver. The travel costs amount to approx. 5 euros per day, which must be paid by the volunteers.
Depending on availability, you will stay in a guesthouse or comparable accommodation.
Jan is German and has been living in Colombia for six years now. After a long journey through Latin America, he stayed in Cartagena. He has traveled all over the country, but Cartagena and the entire Caribbean coast are his jewel. He can't wait to welcome you there and show you the Colombian culture. His girlfriend is Colombian and originally from Bogotá. Jan has German roots, so he understands both cultures very well and speaks both languages fluently. Jan has been running the Café de la Mañana in Cartagena's old town for 2 years. Take a look, it's worth it! Jan also works in tourism and is therefore our local expert to show you the city, its history and all the highlights. He will be happy to answer your questions about the country and traveling in Colombia.
Jan will look after you during the introductory event in Cartagena. If you have any questions during your stay in Latin America, a German-speaking contact person will be available to you via WhatsApp in the same time zone.
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