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Help to teach English with an NGO in Honda, Tolima Department, Colombia

  • Favourited 1165 times
  • Last activity: 18 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Our foundation, established in 2012, is a charitable venture dedicated to improving the future prospects of disadvantaged children throughout rural Colombia. We're looking for enthusiastic native English speakers to help us teach English to as many underprivileged children as possible. In time, and with the help of volunteers, we hope to expand throughout the country in order to give the gift of a second language to as many kids as we can. It's an ambitious project that we're very proud of, however we can't achieve all that we want to without the help of volunteers. People are the most precious resource to our project - without teachers we just can't make a difference. If you're looking for a chance to take part in a cultural exchange which truly allows you to share your culture and to share in ours, then this could be right on the money.

    **2024 update!**

    We're back! After having to stop operations due to the pandemic, 2024 is looking great and we'll be jumping back into it! This year, we're looking at a fresh new start but building on our previously successful English program, which is set to be our most successful, impactful, and rewarding year yet. We have already benefitted from the generous help of dozens of volunteers over the last few years (prior to the pandemic), and their hard work has paved the way for even more incredible experiences to be enjoyed and powerful positive differences to be made. There has honestly never been a better time to get involved with the project, and we're ready to welcome you in 2024!

    We are currently starting back up in our HONDA (Tolima) location. It's a riverside town with lots of history. Some say it's a smaller version of Cartagena. Honda is midway between Bogota and Medellin.

    **Important Information**

    We cannot accept Volunteers under any circumstances if they do not have all of the following:

    1. International travel insurance with medical coverage.

    2. Valid passport at the time of travel.

    3. CVs/resumes from all of our volunteers prior to their stay so we comply with municipal requirements for charities.

    *We cannot make any exceptions to these criteria so please do be aware before you apply.*

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Working with us, you'll be able to practice your Spanish language proficiency as much as you like (though don't worry, we speak English too!), experience the vibrant beauty of Colombia, feel the satisfaction of helping to give children a better chance at a successful life, free of poverty, and make some new lifelong friends while you're at it!

    Some of our volunteers have used their experience with us to advance in their professional roles and we've even had a couple of them end up living and working in Colombia!

  • Help

    Help

    Our foundation is the first initiative of its kind in Colombia and we are committed to providing potential to the next generation of Colombians by educating them in the global language of business. At present, the things that we really need from volunteers are a native grasp of the English language and a good manner with children. In return for providing accommodation, we're asking for up to 20-25 hours per week (in line with Workaway's guidelines).

    The children are generally aged between three and fifteen years old, though this varies depending on location. We try to split the kids up into age-appropriate groups in order to optimise the limited time we have with them each week. It can be difficult to adjust our lessons in such a way as to be engaging for such diverse age-ranges and more volunteers will enable us to offer the children a more fruitful and attentive learning experience. We welcome anyone that wants to help into the programme, although we should say that in order to develop a positive teaching relationship with the kids, we would like our volunteers to be able to commit to a stay of a 5 months or more.

    While we request a minimum of a 5 month commitment, it's worth mentioning that many of our volunteers have come away after that period of time wishing that they could have stayed longer. On that basis we strongly recommend that you try to come and enjoy the experience for a couple of months or longer! It's worth bearing in mind that PRIORITY WILL NORMALLY BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE LOOKING TO STAY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

    We would love to hear from you if you think that you can help. That being said, if you have a different set of skills that you think might be useful then please do get in touch and let us know. They need you. We need you. Together we can create social balance.

    *️️️*️️️HONDA*️️️*️️️

    Honda is our newest partnership, one of Colombia's seventeen "heritage towns" and a hidden marvel along the much-travelled path between Bogota and Medellin. Honda is home to around 30,000 people and if you're a fan of colonial architecture, rich history, and the South American sunshine, then the city of bridges along the Magdalena river is one is for you! The students we cater for in Honda all go to the same school, so travel is easy as pie. They range from ages 6 to 16, but we allocate the children in terms of ability across five groups. The town is perfectly situated for anyone wanting to split their time between Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, and it's not all that far from Colombia's Carribean coast either! We're looking for volunteers with a decent level of Spanish to experience this new opportunity as soon as possible - school starts will start at the beginning of Feb 2020 so come along and be part of our newest adventure from its very beginning!

    *️️️*️️️RESTREPO*️️️*️️️
    This location is on hold at the moment for 2024. Once we have more concrete then we'll update this section.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The specific accommodation that we can offer varies depending on our resources. Whatever happens, you'll be staying in a secure house or apartment with a kitchen, comfortable beds, WiFi and showers (though do note that there is no hot water in Honda as it is very hot year-round and most such cities in Colombia don't have hot water). We will try our best to find space to accommodate any special requests you might have.

    For those who can stay for the school term, we will be able to provide a small reasonable food allowance per week.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Our volunteers so far have all relished the chance to experience the real Colombia. Currently our in Honda, is situated in the Tolima department, which is a couple of hours away from Bogota and Medellin in the other direction. Honda, being part of the Tolima region has many beautiful locations such as Ibague which is the capital of the Tolima department. There is the stunning Nevado del Ruiz, just to name a few.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 25 hours a week (with food allowance)

Host ref number: 463282821537

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Accuracy of profile: (5.0)

Cultural exchange: (4.7)

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