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Teach Alongside Public School English Educators
Coordinator | Christina
Coordinator | Christina
Highlights
Gain hands-on teaching experience by working with some of the city's top public school educators and the opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact on Colombian students.
Gain Spanish proficiency with the city's best Spanish teachers and a range of class options that best suit your needs and schedule.
Settle into life in Cartagena easily, thanks to our assistance with all aspects of your trip preparation to Colombia and continued, 24/7 local support throughout your volunteer experience.
Enjoy Cartagena's diverse range of fun activities with the local community, from movie clubs and zumba classes, to kitesurfing and scuba diving.
Bask in the vibrant culture and tropical surroundings of Cartagena, a beautiful historic city on the Caribbean coast.
Assist local educators to teach English and support inter-cultural education at a public school in a low-income community in Cartagena, Colombia.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 20+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
This is an ideal volunteer opportunity for those looking for hands-on teaching experience, cultural immersion and the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on Colombian youth.
Domino Volunteers works with English teachers at public schools across the city of Cartagena, teachers that are doing an amazing job despite the countless factors often working against them: severely limited school resources, over-crowded classrooms, national strikes, etc. We connect volunteers to teachers based on interests, location, and where we believe you will be able to grow as an educational professional as well. Volunteers may be assigned a range of different age groups, depending both on their interests and the school's most pressing needs. Volunteers will serve as teaching assistants, responsible for tasks such as: co-teaching, developing lesson plans, reviewing homework, creating activities if you feel confident, etc.
You would likely be the only volunteer at the school, although it is very easy to meet other volunteers in your free time and with other activities that our team at Domino Volunteers regularly organize.
Typical day
Volunteers begin their day with a traditional breakfast at the host family, who's homes are always located in a safe neighborhood with reliable and convenient transportation, and nearby the historic and touristic center of Cartagena.
English teaching volunteers will either assist classes during the morning schedule of school (6 am to 12 pm) or the afternoon schedule (1 pm to 6 pm). Depending on this schedule, volunteers will either start or end their day at the school. Volunteers will take public transportation to their assigned school (which a Domino Volunteers staff member will help them navigate during their first day of volunteering). At the school, volunteers will work alongside a professional, excellent English teacher to provide engaging language classes. During breaks, volunteers and their assigned teachers will plan lessons and activities together as well.
Typical volunteer responsibilities include:
- Developing lesson plans
- Reviewing student work
- Creating new activities
- Co-teaching the class (which could be of a range of age groups).
- Grading exams and homework
- Sharing their culture via activities or presentations
When not at the school, 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 an additional 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 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 cultural events, concerts 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, gorgeous Rosario Islands
- Take a day trip or weekend trip to nearby sites, such as Tayrona National Park, Mompox or Minca
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Program 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
English
(fluently)
required
at University level
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
from
06:00
- 12:00
Included Services
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:
- Full evaluation and connection to a project prior to your arrival
- Airport pick-up and transportation to your home-stay
- Information pack with maps, supplies, contacts, and volunteer manual to help you to be more aware and prepared for your time in Cartagena
- Cell phone with local number and credit
- Home-stay placement with a local family. Includes private room, with AC at night, wifi, laundry, and located in the safest areas that are closest to the city center and also have easy access to transportation to the volunteer project.
- (2 delicious meals per day / 7 days per week with host family -- usually breakfast and lunch)
- Orientation to a project, sites, staff, plus help making a schedule based on the project’s needs and your goals, time-frame, Spanish level, and skills
- Connections to cultural and recreational activities (Spanish classes, other volunteer projects, dance classes, cultural events, tours...)
- 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, where we will provide a general orientation to living and volunteering in Cartagena.
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 team member 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 volunteering at your assigned school. We will meet you at or near your host family's location, take public transportation together to the school, and help introduce you to your assigned teacher, students, and other school colleagues. We accompany volunteers to school on the first day, so that they feel comfortable, have a proper orientation to the classroom, 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 school, we are available 24/7 for any questions or concerns, and maintain constant communication with your assigned teacher as well.
4 - 24 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$ 1,250
5 weeks
$ 1,550
6 weeks
$ 1,850
7 weeks
$ 2,150
9 weeks
$ 2,750
11 weeks
$ 3,350
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$ 7,150
Average fees
$ 305
/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.
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