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Translation: There are many things I can say about my experience in Bogotá, but the first thing that comes to my mind when they started asking me about the experience I went through, is the people. From the first moment I felt at my home (far from my home) the Coordinators, the other volunteers, the people / children with whom we worked on the projects. Each of them opens your heart, and they are always there, with a smile, waiting to help, to converse, to be present.
Emerging Voices - Colombia is an INCREDIBLE organization, with a human team that surpasses all the good things of this life. Without a doubt, not only Bogotá, with a thousand places, places, culture, and activities to offer, but also the people with whom I shared my two weeks, made my heart leave a very big part - to which I will return as much as possible. Soon I can to continue in this personal project that is to serve others!
To all those who are thinking of going: go. Truly, from the second they set foot on Bogotano soil, they will feel the magic of the people, the willingness to serve in the projects, and the feeling of how their heart grows!
And as they say: the risk is that you want to stay.

Original:
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 there 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.

If I had the time, I would stay there at least 4 weeks. Two weeks was enough for me to leave with tears.

My interest on Colombia made me think of a way of visiting the country. I applied for this project looking for a more productive and fun way of spending my last month of vacations. Teaching English in Bogotá ended up being the solution, and it was such a great decision. I had no idea about what was coming and what to expect. Not only it was my first time doing volunteering, but it was also my first time in South America and my first time giving English Classes (notice that I am not a native speaker).
I feel that this experience was great in several ways. I improved my Spanish and also my English, I met people from all around the world and made such good friends in Colombia, inside and outside the volunteers’ house. The volunteering itself was a very eye-opener experience once I got in contact with such a different reality compared to what I am used to in Europe. Besides teaching English, I also had to opportunity to try other projects available in the foundation, they were pretty flexible on trying new stuff.
Colombia is beautiful safe! I had no problems with security on my 4 weeks stay in Bogota, neither did I in other cities. I chose to travel around Colombia with friends on most of my weekends. You can get pretty nice flight deals inside Colombia to visit cities like Medellin or Cartagena. Food is very tasty as I was expecting and most of products and services I bought were half/a third of the price in Europe.
I am definitely repeating a volunteering experience with IVHQ in a near future and Colombia will surely be a place to live a few years. NO JOKE, I’M FOR REAL. The only cons this experience has is actually leaving Colombia and coming back to the regular mainstream life. Good luck dealing with that.

hello, I would like to leave a quick recommendation. I was enrolled first for the 1 month project in childcare, then loved it so much, I came home and enrolled in the 24 week project. I think that really speaks for itself how amazing the experience was!!! Colombia is one of the most incredible countries I have EVER been to. I wouldn't have known this, had I not had this experience. I was on the childcare project, mainly working with troubled youths and it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, it has made me explore a new career path now I am home. The local team are so, so, so supportive and the accommodation is in a really great area - close to supermarket, coffee, park and it is very safe. I met some amazing people volunteering and I am certain they are forever friends, as we speak nearly daily!!! I had so much fun on this project. It really was a 10/10 experience and I can't wait to go back next year. Thanks IVHQ for making it all happen!!!

Booked in 8 weeks volunteering in Bogota after completing 6 months travelling around South America. It was by far the best part of my trip, met some fantastic like minded people from various places around the world, the organisers were great and made sure everyone knew what they had to do and where to go so there were no surprises at all on that part of thing. The activities were very rewarding and you'll also have a lot of fun here as Colombians are the most welcoming people I've come across in my travels.

Colombia is by far my favourite country in South America and outside the volunteering there is plenty to do and see and it is just as safe as any other place you can travel to in the area so don't get put off by other peoples preconceived opinions of the country where they may have never visited.

Side note - also met my wife in Bogota during my volunteering so I have a permanent reminder of how much I loved the experience :)

The Cartagena program was fantastic. Good food, comfy accommodations, the nicest staff. The programs were very meaningful. I was only there for 2 weeks but felt like I was part of the family by the time I left. Monica the director of the program is the nicest, most caring woman. Our weekly meetings added value and a bond that is hard to describe. Colombia is a place of nice, warm people and the staff is a direct reflection of that. On the weekends, volunteers were allowed to travel to other parts of Colombia, and the staff helped us book flights and hostels, as well as give us safety tips on how to travel through Colombia. On my last night, Monica took us out for dinner and thanked me for my time down there. She made every volunteer feel special, as well as valued. For that, I am grateful.

I volunteered in Colombia for 4 weeks with IVHQ. The coordinators in Colombia were very helpful and always wanted to make sure you felt at home. The cost of living in Colombia is very cheap so you only need roughly $30 a week but if you are traveling on the weekends you need around $80. The programs were well organized and fun! The coordinators and volunteers were devoted on making a difference for the people of Colombia. I would recommend others to this program.

I stayed a week in Bogotá, Colombia and did the childcare program where I spent time at an orphanage with children between 2-5. There are younger as well as older children as well, but the babies were on quarantine so our volunteers were unable to work with them. We also worked with an organization feeding Venezuelan immigrants and refugees. There were about 12-15 volunteers in the house, and I paid an extra fee to be in a private room. The women in charge of the projects are kind and compassionate and the House was run very efficiently. Over the course of the week/weekend the volunteers also went to various local sights and participated in tourist experiences