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Support Women and Girl's Rights and Empowerment
Coordinator | Christina
Coordinator | Christina
Highlights
Engage in complex social issues such as gender equality and sex trafficking with a grassroots perspective by working alongside impactful, local organizations.
Gain Spanish fluency by living with a host family and working alongside Spanish-speaking professionals.
Experience Cartagena's vibrant Caribbean culture, full of music, dance, and delicious fried treats.
Participate in the many activities available in Cartagena, from yoga, kite surfing and salsa, to international film festivals and concerts.
Enjoy 24/7 local support from Domino Volunteers staff, available to ensure you have the most fulfilling and enjoyable volunteer experience possible.
Work with grassroots organizations dedicated to womens and girl's empowerment via after-school extracurriculars, job preparation, health classes and community engagement.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 20+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Machismo culture is thriving in much of Cartagena, and in certain areas women and girls are especially prone to sexual tourism, informal work and lack of education in general. In many poor areas, young girls grow up lacking a safe learning environment with positive female role models, seeing or experiencing gender-based violence, and believing that a woman's body is more valuable than her brains.
Based on the your skills and interests, along with the project's current needs, Domino Volunteers will connect you to a local project fighting to empower women and girls through workshops about their rights, health, caring for their families, finding formal work, and in general gaining a safe community where they can gain self confidence and real life skills. The projects we work with are each locally run, focused on values-based education, and will include a diverse team of social workers, psychologists, teachers and/or health care professionals dedicated to supporting the women or girls. Additionally, our local partners typically organize events for families, women as well as men in the neighborhood in which they work, along with the broader Cartagena community. Through this holistic, community-based model, our girl's rights project partners are proving to be true catalysts for positive change in Cartagena.
Typical day
What's a typical day of volunteering like in Cartagena?
Volunteers will be placed at a project based on their profile and local foundation's most pressing needs. Volunteers will work with the foundation either in the morning (8 am - noon) or afternoon (1 pm - 5 pm).
After enjoying a traditional meal with your host family (volunteers have the option of 2 meals with their host families), take public transportation to the foundation (about a 20 minute trip). At the foundation, volunteers will work alongside teachers, social workers, and psychologist to support activities and educational workshops for the girls. Typical responsibilities may include (depending on the exact project we match you with, based on your profile):
- Participating in abuse prevention and human rights workshops
- Tutoring girls and helping with homework
- Participating in arts & crafts projects, dancing, singing, music and other extracurricular activities
- Help to organize community events such as presentations, workshops, marches, etc.
- Go on door-to-door family visits to either discuss the program or it’s current campaigns.
- Assisting in workshops about healthy eating (for women and their families) and nutrition
- Helping pregnant or new moms to learn about caring for their babies
- Helping adult women learn new skills like sewing, arts and crafts or cooking so that they will be more likely to find formal employment.
When not at the foundation, volunteers may want to use their free time to take Spanish classes with our expert local teachers, take part in some of the many exercise groups and classes available, join a local salsa class, or explore this diverse in exciting city. Or, if you prefer to stay busy 24/7 during your time in Cartagena, we can help connect you to a morning volunteer project as well. The choice is yours!
Free-time activities
There's a wide range of activities available for volunteers in Cartagena. A few of the most popular free time activities include:
- Affordable Spanish classes with an expert local teacher
- Dance classes (Salsa, Champeta, Zumba, Cumbia, etc.)
- Visit local museums, art galleries, etc.
- Bike around the picturesque historic city
- Snorkeling or Scuba Diving (get certified with our local partners!)
- Boxing classes
- Gym memberships
- Attend many local events or exhibitions going on
- Relax at the many boutique cafes in Cartagena
- Spend the day at one of the many beaches throughout Cartagena
- Explore the nearby Rosario Islands
- Travel to nearby sites, such as Tayrona National Park, Mompox or Minca
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 20 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak Spanish (basic level)
required
Passport Copy, health insurance and plane ticket
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from
12:00
- 18:00
What's Included
We offer volunteers a package of services, which includes areas where we have found that volunteers in Cartagena need the most support. We normally place volunteers to live (and eat) with a host-family, as it can be very difficult to find a safe, affordable, comfortable, and well-located place to live. Below is more detailed information about what we normally offer:
Prior to your arrival, we will complete a full evaluation of your profile and connect you with a projects in Cartagena that best matches with your timeframe, Spanish level, interests, and abilities.
Homestay placement with a local family. Includes a private room with AC at night, wifi, laundry, and 2 delicious meals per day / 7 days per week (optional). Our home-stays are located in the safest areas and near the historic center. We send full details and photos of the homestay 4 weeks prior to your arrival.
2 meals per day (generally breakfast and lunch) with your host-family. Volunteers eat very well, and fresh food is common. Host families are usually able to accommodate dietary preferences (vegetarian, lactose intolerance, etc), but please let us know about any food requirements you have.
Airport pick-up and transportation to your home-stay
Information pack with maps, supplies, contacts, and Volunteer Manual. We will also sit with you and give you a full orientation upon arrival.
Cell phone with local number and credit
We will take you to the project on your first day to make sure you know how transportation works and details about the project, its site(s) and staff. We will also help you make a schedule based on your goals and time-frame.
Connections to cultural and recreational activities (Spanish classes, other volunteer projects, English Conversation Club, cultural events, sports, etc.)
24-hour in-country support
A Domino Volunteers staff member will wait for volunteer at the local airport, and provide transportation to your host family.
Our volunteers stay in safe neighborhoods conveniently located near the touristic center. Volunteers stay in homes with local families dedicated to our mission of immersive, meaningful cultural exchange. Volunteers will stay in a private room, with AC at night, strong wifi and laundry machines available.
Volunteers will be served 2 delicious meals per day / 7 days per week with host family. Meals are home cooked, and feature traditional dishes. Adaptations are possible for vegetarians or those with any other eating restrictions.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) in Cartagena. We assist you to find cheap flights to Colombia.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Colombia provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Colombia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Colombia.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Upon arrival, a Domino Volunteers will greet you at the airport and bring you to your host family (which we strategically make sure is both located near the historic center and easy transportation to your volunteer site). We provide each volunteer with an updated Volunteer Manuel, full of useful information on living in Cartagena, such as volunteer tips, transportation information, expected cultural differences, etc. A Domino Volunteers team member will then help orient you to your new neighborhood: Where is the closest grocery store? What are the best transportation options? We will also provide you with several maps with our top recommended sites in the city, a cell phone with minutes, a Spanish-English dictionary, and a complimentary notebook.
One of our team members will also accompany you on your first day at the foundation. We will meet you at or near your host family's location, take public transportation together to the foundation, and help introduce you to the staff and foundation activities. We accompany volunteers to their assigned project on the first day, so that they feel comfortable, have a proper orientation to the project, have a translator on hand if necessary, and can feel assured that we are there to support them in their volunteer work. While a Domino Volunteers team member won't be working with volunteers each day at the project, we are available 24/7 for any questions or concerns, and maintain constant communication with the foundation as well.
4 - 24 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$ 1,450
5 weeks
$ 1,550
6 weeks
$ 1,850
7 weeks
$ 2,150
9 weeks
$ 2,750
11 weeks
$ 3,350
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$ 7,450
Average fees
$ 336
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
Domino Volunteers
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Domino Volunteers during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
Volunteer World is the world's leading comparison platform for international volunteer opportunities. We guide you through a safe and easy
application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if Domino Volunteers cancels your trip
Support & Mediation
We cover your back no matter what happens
Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Domino Volunteers.
What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Support Women and Girl's Rights and Empowerment
Work with grassroots organizations dedicated to womens and girl's empowerment via after-school extracurriculars, job preparation, health classes and community engagement.
$336/week
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