Intern Colombia

I had the incredible opportunity to intern in Medellín, Colombia through Intern Colombia, and it was an experience I’ll always cherish! The city itself is lively and full of energy, with breathtaking views, warm people, and a culture that’s both exciting and welcoming. Intern Colombia made the entire process seamless, always checking in to ensure my internship was going well and providing support whenever needed. Whether it was answering questions, offering guidance, or simply making sure I was comfortable in my new environment, their team was an amazing resource and could be easily accessible through WhatsApp.

Beyond the professional aspect, the day trips organized by Intern Colombia allowed me to explore even more of the country, making every weekend an adventure. One of my favorite parts of the program was the bi-weekly salsa classes and watching the Copa America games while eating dinner—not only were they fun, but they also helped me immerse myself in the local culture in an interactive and engaging way!

I traveled to Bogota Colombia to participate in the Intern Colombia program in 2024 and I had the absolute best time! The city was beautiful with rich culture, art, and food.

The team at Intern Colombia is extremely reliable, anything I needed, and I mean anything was provided for. Mathew (the director) was always available to help me adjust to life in Bogota, whether it be recommending exciting activities for me, offering life advice, or helping me communicate with the locals. Sometimes it can be scary to venture out to an unfamiliar place but Mathew and his team do everything in their power to make sure the experience is as smooth as possible so that the memories you make are nothing but enriching and fulfilling!

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.