Volunteer with our environmental NGO in a wide variety of options (governance, education, office, field work, documenting, tourism, and more)

Details

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  Description

  Our organisation is a family-based and small environmental NGO, we contribute to protect Andean mounts and wetlands, mainly (but not only) at Lake Tota - largest lake of our country, located at 3015m high. And we do this with an approach based on governance and tourism. We are based on the Eastern side of the Colombian Andes.
  
  Options to volunteer with us are wide and flexible, please refer to details on that section below.
  
  We expect a 5 hrs time of daily commitment for 5 days per week, and we also expect a minimum stay of 1 month (it may vary in some cases, but we do prefer that minimum). In exchange, appart from accomodation in a dorm bed and breakfast (plus kitchen facilities to prepare your lunch/dinner), we offer a warm and friendly environment to work closely with our objectives, numerous opportunities to have a diverse experience in the region, and some minimum facilities to do it (e.g. free wifi, office desk, a basic laptop, or a bicycle for urban mobility). Some things are not provided and we expect volunteers to cope or bring depending on the work agreed, such as specialized equipment (e.g. photo or filming cameras and related equipment, a modern laptop, special software) or a budget for weekly transportation to certain areas. Every case and volunteer option will be discussed accordingly.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Volunteers will benefit from us by experiencing a genuine, friendly and open-minded interchange, both cultural and working as a team. And being close to what we do will also bring a glimpse of experience on what an integrated work is about, what an integrated environmental challenge is about, all that by dealing with a variety of situations and people week after week. And they could learn something on the level of creativity to-do-a-lot-with-little and the struggles that a NGO faces to cope with their purposes.
  
  And we of course expect workawayers to fully integrate into the movement, thus to bring their own ideas, expertise and creativity to help us on improving our actions, and always do more and better to manage and/or overcome the limitations we have.
  
  Do you feel like being part of this environment of collaboration?, then just contact us and let us know your comments, expectations, and what could you bring to the table too.
  
  A plus benefit:
  In 2017 we signed an agreement with a local university for language interchange pusposes with our volunteers in their free time. Those interested in improving Spanish learning by conversation with local students in a university environment and, at the same time helping them with their own foreign language learning, then it's just a matter to say it and we'll arrange an interview and check for availability.
  
  This is free of any charge, appart from a local transportation bus fare to the venue. With that agreement signed the only purpose is to provide a win-win opportunity for those interested, and our NGO is happy to help on that both for local young students and our volunteers, to get the chance for this special cultural exchange.

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  Help

  Options to volunteer with us are numerous, they may include working on the ground (e.g. monitoring, education, technical stuff, building or maintenance), relating with local communities (e.g. conducting interviews, doing some research), office work (e.g. website design, editing, social media tasks), photography and filming, documenting activities (e.g. short documentaries, newsletters, posters), marketing, or even activities related with tourism (guiding, attending guests, ground work in a hostel). And it is open to more options, our work is multi-tasked and flexible.
  
  For an option related to education in a remote place we manage -which is not far from us though-, facilities are different and there is a small contribution (fee) expected, to help in covering the needs from a rural family who help us in providing you with accomodation and food in their home, during your stay.
  
  Do not hesitate to contact us for any question or aditional details you may wish to know, we will be happy to help and answer them all.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Usually it is a dorm bed in a hostel. In some cases we might provide a room in our home.
  For the option we have in the remote area located not far from us, accomodation is in a room with a rural family.

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  What else ...

  Spanish language:
  For some options it is not compulsory for candidates to have a basic spanish, unless the discussed activity requires it (to communicate with locals) - e.g. education, interviews, the remote place option, or some activities in tourism. In regards to language, please review our plus benefit we can offer to our volunteers.
  
  Expectation:
  We offer and also expect a genuine interchange of knowledge, energy, culture, commitment and wish to accomplish the objectives discussed. We also understand expectations and interests from workawayers to experience, travel and meet other cultures, and we are ready and happy to contribute on that. We are very enthusiastic to welcome those genuine proposals, to make our best effort for a positive and memorable workaway experience for all.
  
  3-day trial:
  In any case, we ask and offer workawayers first for a 3-day trial, before the full commitment is continued. If it happens that expectations are too different to reality either from us hosts or from the workawayer (despite of profile info or communication there's always a chance for this), then the opportunity can end up without a prior notice. Afterwards, if it happens that any unforseen circumstances provoque a change on our mutual availability, then we offer and expect a prior 1-week notice to end up the agreement. Appart from it, what we expect and are ready to commit with is a full, positive and memorable experience for all.
  
  Our NGO:
  We were founded in 2010, are based in Boyacá, near to Lake Tota, our activities are very much related to this wetland and type of high-Andean ecosystem, although we carry on activities in other regions not far from our base. Our friends, colleagues and collaborators are a rainbow-type of network that include a good range that goes from local to international. With our previous volunteers we have enriched and expanded that network, in fact we have continuing relations and even activities with some of them, and look very much forward to increasing that friendship network with new candidates.
  
  Organization size:
  Our organization is small. We normally are 2-3 people, a small office in the city plus a rural spot by Lake Tota, and have been a team of up to 5-6 at some point. And what we do it's been mostly with volunteering help. Small except for the challenges we face which are enormous, and the regions in which we collaborate which are large enough.
  
  Thank you:
  We thank you all in advance for seeing our profile and considering to get involved in our purposes. What we do is nonprofit, and we struggle to be self-sustainable and be able to never stop in our commitment. Volunteering have played a fundamental role in it. Then we look forward to having your contact!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  5 hrs per day (max 25 hours/week)

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  This host charges a fee

  read more

  Why does workaway.info allow listings of hosts who charge money?

  In developing countries (Where most hosts are involved in charity work or community development) some of our hosts may ask for a small donation to help the host family or charity (often less then 5 dollars per day) Workaway will allow this listing when the donation goes directly to the family or charity and is just to cover the cost of the volunteer‘s stay.  (This will be clearly marked on the host listing).
  We will strictly not allow listings posted by agents, “middle men” or projects who we feel are looking to profit from a volunteers stay.
   

   

   

  10 dollars per day, this helps us to cover some administration costs to keep our Foundation running, and to fund periodical investsments we do in the spot to make it better for visitors and volunteers.

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