The social humanitarian mission in Cartagena that we offer is centered around the neighborhood of La Boquilla. It is a fishing village with Afro-Caribbean roots located in the far north of Cartagena. For tourists, it is a beach and a place to relax, but behind the scenes, its underprivileged residents work hard every day to try to provide for their families.
Although exclusive hotels and luxury apartments can be found in La Boquilla, there is a sharp contrast between the area of real estate investors and the part inhabited by people forgotten by the government, who rely mainly on fishing.
To cope with the extreme poverty of these communities, associations and projects have emerged to support the most vulnerable population. These foundations aim to provide supplies, equipment, and care to children, youth, and adults. These local associations manage different programs in which volunteers can participate.
Different projects are open to international volunteers. Two weeks before your arrival, an online meeting with the project coordinator will be organized. This meeting is an opportunity for the coordinator to meet you and manage volunteers’ expectations.
Depending on your needs, passions, talents, skills, interests, experience, and level of Spanish, the coordinator will suggest the projects that best suit you, and then a weekly plan will be set up.
You may take part in music workshops (drum making, parades…), coconut-based workshops and community work (social media to sell coconut-based products, product creation), stray dog and cat shelter (washing the animals, feeding them, improving the adoption process and raising awareness), reintegration of at-risk youth (drug prevention, parental awareness, discussions, games…), activities at the local church (helping prepare and distribute lunch for children), or tutoring with children in La Boquilla aged 3 to 12 (teaching English, music, art, theater, games, sports…).
Arrival in Cartagena every Sunday
Duration during the week | Budget total mission |
|---|---|
3 weeks | 1140 € |
4 weeks | 1395 € |
5 weeks | 1620 € |
6 weeks | 1905 € |
7 weeks | 2210 € |
8 weeks | 2535 € |
The project coordinator hosts the international volunteers.
Depending on availability, you will have a private room with a bathroom and air conditioning. The other option is a private room with a shared bathroom and a fan.
You can buy food and store it in the refrigerator, and you will have access to the kitchen to cook your own meals if you do not wish to include the meals provided by the organization on site.
The project coordinator can host 2 people at the same time. If her house is not available, you will stay in a family-run hotel owned by a member of the NGO. You will have your own room with a private bathroom and air conditioning. This family hotel is located a 10-minute walk from the project coordinator’s house and 10–20 minutes by motor-taxi from the projects.
WiFi is available both at the host house and at the family hotel.
We recommend a weekly budget of 90 USD for meals, excursions, and motor-taxis to reach the projects. All projects are located between 10 and 20 minutes from the accommodation.
Arrival airport: Cartagena (CTG)
This city is full of history… from the first discovery of gold mines by the Spanish to the five terrible sieges of the city by pirates in the 16th century, the most famous (or infamous) of which was led by Sir Francis Drake!
La Boquilla is an Afro-descendant community mainly dedicated to tourism and fishing, located at what could be called the “entrance” to the Ciénaga de la Virgen.
Extra info
– Work starts on Monday, you must be in La Boquilla the Sunday before.
– Longer stays are possible upon request, but keep in mind that the tourist visa is valid for 3 months.
– Available all year round, except for educational projects which close during school holidays in June and December.
– Maximum of 4 volunteers at the same time.
– An intermediate level of Spanish is required for some tasks and to interact with the local population who do not speak English.
– Travel/health insurance is mandatory.
– The work can sometimes be physically and/or psychologically demanding. Volunteers must be disciplined, responsible, motivated, hardworking, flexible, patient, and proactive.
To work with children, previous experience with children is required as well as an intermediate level of Spanish.
You must also have accident and liability insurance.
