Globalteer Colombia Kids Project part 1 of 2

Volunteer with the kids of Colombia

To watch part 2, go to Youtube.

Bogota Orphanage Colombia Volunteer Placement

This non-profit orphanage provides a home to children up to 18 years old, many of whom have been forced out of their home due to malnutrition, abuse, drugs, and teen pregnancy. The ultimate aim of this organization is to eventually reunite the children with their families, through group therapy sessions. If not possible, the children are put into foster families instead.

As a volunteer, your tasks will be dependent upon your profession, academic background, and general experience dealing with children. You may be asked to teach English, play with the children, or assist with the psychology and nursing departments.

Work Schedule: 3 times per week, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Location of Placements: Chia (a suburb of Bogota, located near the University)

Lodging: Homestay

Requirements:

• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Minimum commitment: 4 weeks.
• Minimum Spanish level: Mid-Intermediate
• Love of children.

Important Things to Consider:

• The orphanage is a 15 minute bus ride from Bogota.

For more info, visit Amerispan.

Books about Colombia

Below is a list of recommended books about Colombia’s armed conflict, the war on drugs and US intervention.

The Failure of Global Capitalism: From Cape Breton to Colombia and Beyond by Terry Gibbs and Garry Leech (2009)

Beyond Bogotá: Diary of a Drug War Journalist in Colombia by Garry Leech (2009)

Blood and Capital: The Paramilitarization of Colombia by Jasmin Hristov (2009)

Linked Labor Histories: New England, Colombia and the Making of a Global Working Class by Aviva Chomsky (2008)

Colombia: Between the Lines by Jason P. Howe (2008)

Driven By Drugs: U.S. Policy Toward Colombia by Russell Crandall (2008)

Counting the Dead: The Culture and Politics of Human Rights Activism in Colombia by Winifred Tate (2007)

Check out more book about Colombia and other topics on Colombia Journal.

COLOMBIA: Would you take the risk? video

WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO, it's worth it!!!
Would you take the risk to travel to Colombia? Have you been informed certainly? Watch this video till the end and know what Colombia means...

COLOMBIA IS PASSION!!!! BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, BRIGHT CULTURE AND AMAZING LANDSCAPES.






And search for more videos of Colombia in Youtube.

Info for Volunteers in Cartagena

Visas for Volunteers

Unfortunately we cannot offer any solid advice in terms of visas. One government department says that to be an unpaid volunteer you in Colombia you need to have what is called a 'temporal visa' which lasts from 6 months to two years and cost between $US120-$US205. This should be organised with the Foreign Affairs Department in your country before arriving in Colombia. Another says that as long as you aren't being paid you do not need any special visa. It is easy to slip under the radar of the DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad - The Colombian Security Service) by not drawing too much attention to yourself, only having a normal tourist visa and then claim ignorance should you have any problems.

For detailed information about Colombian Temporal Visa's, visit the Consulate General Colombia, Texas.

Visa Extensions in Cartagena

All visitors to Colombia receive an entry stamp upon arrival at the airport or land border. These visa's are issued for 30, 60 and 90 days, although you may have to explain the purpose of your stay if you require a 90 day visa. To extend your tourist visa you will need to go to the DAS office which is located in the suburb called 'Pie de la Popa' (open Monday to Friday 8-12am and 2-4pm). The easiest way is to go by mototaxi from Calle de la Media Luna. This shouldn't cost more then 1,500 pesos (US$0.55, June '06).

You are entitled to a 30 day visa extension and the whole time of your stay in Colombia with a tourist visa is limited to six months per year. To extend your visa at the DAS office in Cartagena you must be prepared to present a valid passport including visa/stamp of entry, four photographs, your onward ticket and a copy (if you don't have one, say you have an e-ticket) and two copies of both the ID page and your entry stamp of your passport. Furthermore you need a folder for files and the receipt and a copy of your money transfer at BANCAFE (no other bank). The price for a 30 day extension is 60,600 pesos (US$23, June '06).

The DAS office (Tel: 6562524 Extension 15) will give you the up-to-date price of the visa extension as well as all details for the money transfer to the DAS account, alternatively you can look at the BANCAFE near to the Plaza de Reloj which has example 'Visa Extension Form' on display. You can find this bank in a small side street between Av. Daniel Lemaitre and Av. Venezuela. You will see the Bank if you walk down the Av. Daniel Lemaitre.

Anyway, you should ask at the DAS office for the documentary requirements before your visa runs out because they change frequently. They will give you a note with all things you'll need (and they can show you a folder in case you don't know what to buy).

Ask for an extension beginning with the date of expiration of your old visa otherwise it could be they give you 30 days beginning with the date of issue. Count on spending a lot of time waiting and be polite, there is no point in getting upset.

Read more at Volunteer Colombia.

Check out these pics. Can't leave if you haven't seen this!

To see more pics, go to Flickr.

Livin the dream back in Bogotá!

I just returned to Bogota from my backpacking trip through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru! I just spent the last two days loading all the pictures from the trip to Facebook and spent awhile adding explanations in lieu of a blog entry. For all of you who have kept asking for pictures, now you can finally see them all! Don't worry, you don't have to be a registered member of Facebook to see the pictures, just click the following links to see the albums with my commentary. Please feel free to make comments or send me your thoughts. I always love hearing from you all!

And for a quick update, I did ultimately decide to wait a year to go to law school. I will be staying in Colombia for approximately two more months to continue my volunteering and livin the dream. From there, the possibilities are endless, but I'm currently exploring the option of going to Guatemala for a few weeks after leaving Bogota. Ultimately, I'll definitely be home by August because my little brother just announced he's getting married! At first, he was having the marriage in May, but because I and some other family member's couldn't make it on short notice, he pushed back the date. I'm so happy and so glad I get to go!

After that, I'm still moving forward with my plans to travel the world for a year before starting law school next Fall. It's still in the preliminary stages, but I couldn't be more excited about seeing more of this wonderful world we live in!

Read complete article on kevinrghanson.blogspot.com