Surf & Help Community Development
Coordinator | Alex
Coordinator | Alex
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Support children and young people to become agents of change and break the poverty cycle
Create change in a community through surf, education and environmental conservation.
Learn to surf with locals and volunteers and live right by the beach!
Improve your Spanish skills with a FREE 20-hour intensive Spanish course!
Our volunteers can expect 24/7 in-country support.
Create change and support community programs and environmental conservation through youth and children programs, surf, and environmental conservation activities.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
Although the island of Tierra Bomba is located next to the mainland of Cartagena, the village is struggling with water deficiency, poor electricity supply and missing garbage disposal. Many families live in poverty, fighting every day to earn enough for their daily lives. Many of the kids and youth grow up in adverse conditions, they don't go to school regularly and instead have to work to support their families. This project strengthens their capacities, pushes them to get a solid education, and provides them with discipline and values through water sports and educational activities among others. This way, they increase their future opportunities and open up to new perspectives in life.
The project also has the vision that if children and young people develop values, increase their capacities and learn about sustainable development and environmental protection, they will be the agents of change that will protect their environment and lead their communities into a more sustainable lifestyle in harmony with their surroundings and nature.
We include a 1-week full immersion FREE Spanish course because we believe that it will allow you to have a greater impact on the project, as you will be able to interact with local people and communities and share knowledge and skills. The Spanish course is catered to your project and will teach you specific vocabulary that you will need during the placement.
The project creates a long-lasting impact for the whole community through 3 focus areas:
Education:
- Reintegrating and keeping young people in school until graduation and supporting them in their first moves in university and in the working environment.
- Providing extracurricular activities such as language, technology and IT, sustainable arts and crafts, environmental workshops, and women empowerment workshops.
Sports:
- To motivate and encourage self-discipline, the project engages children and youth in watersports such as surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and paddleboard.
- Through sports, they learn different values, such as team spirit, companionship, resilience, sharing and solidarity.
- Water sports are also a tool to raise awareness among young people about environmental conservation and a litter-free environment.
Environmental Conservation:
- Protecting the environment forms part of everything the project does, creating awareness of sustainable thinking and conservation through workshops and activities.
- The project works with the community as a whole organizing recycling festivals and clean-up days, where hundreds of local people participate, collecting and recycling more than 50 tons of garbage in the past years.
Typical day
On a typical day, you will work from 8.30 to 1.30 in the morning. There is a structured timetable every week, and as a volunteer, your main responsibility will be to support the extracurricular activities and workshops, such as the languages, IT, surf and sports, environmental, and women's empowerment workshops. You will also support the other project's activities such as the environmental awareness and community activities with the locals.
The project is open to ideas on different workshops according to your expertise and interests, which you can discuss and plan with your coordinator.
In the afternoons you can surf the waves with the local children and young people, explore the beach with the other volunteers, relax in the hammock area or support some of the other project's activities, interacting with the local community and getting to know the local culture and customs.
Free-time activities
Your project is very close to Cartagena, a beautiful colonial city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It is famous for its life, its culture, and its vibrant colors. It is a touristy city so there are lots of things to do and try!
- Visit historical monuments and castles
- Walk through its colonial streets
- Try local gastronomy
- Learn how to dance
- Biking
- Hiking
- Snorkeling in the famous coral reefs of Isla del Rosario
- Exploring nature parks nearby
- Island-hopping
- White sanded beaches full of palm trees in Isla de Baru
And much more! Your local project coordinator will be happy to recommend things to do in your free time.
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 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 English (basic level)
required
Covid Vaccine
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
You don’t need to have any special technical expertise, only sincere personal commitment. It goes without saying that whatever kinds of project-related expertise you may bring to the table will be gladly received and put to good use.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
from
08:30
- 13:30
What's Included
- Lodging: Volunteers have their own bedroom and bathroom unless you apply with a friend, partner or family, where you will be sharing a room.
- Usage of all facilities
- Meals: You will have a cooked meal twice a week. The rest of the week the organisation will buy the food you want (you will make a shopping list with the other volunteers) and you will have access to a kitchen to cook.
- Airport pickup
- Pre-arrival pack.
- FREE 20 hour Spanish course
- Comprehensive NGO Taxi Support Packet (see section Additional Information).
- On-site support through your volunteer coordinator.
- 24 hour support.
You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your accommodation for your Spanish course. You will receive more information on how to get to your project after your Spanish Course week in our Pre-Arrival Pack.
During your week at the Spanish course, you will be staying with a host family in Cartagena, close to your Spanish School, with your own private bedroom and a shared bathroom.
During your time at the project, you will be living at the project site, with your own bedroom and bathroom. Bed linen is available but you should bring your own towel.
There is Wifi, phone coverage, sea views, and a hammock area where you can chill with the rest of the volunteers.
During your week at the Spanish course, breakfast is included.
During your time at the project, you will have access to a kitchen where you can prepare your meals. All the food is included, you will make a shopping list with the other volunteers and the food will be bought for you. There will be 2 days a week where a local lady will make the meals and teach you how to cook local food, if you are interested!
Limited 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
Official start dates:
1st and 3rd Sunday of the month
Individual start dates:
+ € 150,00 – Start your placement any Sunday of the month
The project is closed between the 24th of December and the 8th of January and through the whole month of June.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 16 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,656
8 weeks
$3,241
12 weeks
$4,801
16 weeks
(max. stay)
$6,402
Average fees
$407
/week
The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
NGO Taxi
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 NGO Taxi during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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Change your reservation at no extra costs
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What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Surf & Help Community Development
Create change and support community programs and environmental conservation through youth and children programs, surf, and environmental conservation activities.
$364/week
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