Aiding Displaced Families
Destination: Medellín, Colombia
Despite it's charms, Medellín is the most dangerous city in Colombia, especially for the families left homeless by the violence.
Medellín has become synonymous with many people for drug trafficking and narco-terrorisism. The most dangerous city in
Colombia, its reputation for lawlessness and illegality is in direct contrast to daily life. Most people who visit will tell you about how alive the streets are, how good the food is, and how charming its people are.
Drug cartels and guerillas have forced Colombians from their rural homes in droves to seek refuge in major cities. Of the more than three million displaced Colombians still in the country, more than half are under 15 years of age. Without their homes, land, and occupations, they are left to fend for themselves on unfamiliar city streets. This local organization works with displaced community members to provide education, shelter, and food, since returning to their homes is not viable at this time. Volunteers help in countless ways to make the transition to city life less traumatic. There are free day centers, outreach programs for those living on the streets, English classes, arts and enrichment programs, and burgeoning health programs.
English is a valuable tool for any Colombian struggling to get a job, so language teachers for youth and adults are always needed. Several day centers provide a safe haven for kids who may not be enrolled in school or whose parents need to be away for many hours (or days) seeking employment. You can help here with childcare and arts and music programs as well as playtime and sports.
You can work with the street outreach program to help those living without shelter, likely resorting to begging for sustenance, and let them know there are resources available to them. (Spanish is not required for every aspect of this project, but the street outreach will require fluency.) Excursions for kids who have had limited experiences in the world need chaperones, as a trip to the beach or a waterpark is a whole new experience.
You'll stay in a private room in a Medellín guesthouse close to the project site. Supermarkets, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping are all near the guesthouse. Meals aren't included, but there are countless inexpensive restaurants to try. Your evenings and weekends are free, and this lush, tropical region has amazing sights to see in the neighboring areas, as well as easy day trips a bit farther afield if you'd like to go to thriving
Bogota, Amazonian Leticia, or the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Cartagena.
Your Next Step: Globalteer (tel.
+44/0777 150 2816;
www.globalteer.org). A 2-week project, £640, includes guesthouse lodging in private room, local training, airport pickup, local support, and community orientation. Meals are your responsibility.
Don't Miss: Ciudad Perdida translates as "lost city" and is an archaeological site believed to predate Machu Picchu by centuries. It is an enchanted place, only reached by the most intrepid travelers. The steep paths to some of the more accessible ruins were designed so Tayrona Indians could hear visitors approaching (the journey takes a day and is quite difficult -- you must crawl through hand-carved tunnels and scramble over large boulders). To visit the actual city, you'll be trekking with a guide for 3 to 5 days, or arrive via helicopter.
Official Tourism Website: www.ecotet.com/visitcolombia
