Itinerary for Bogotá

Though each participant gets to choose their own host organization according to their interests, the volunteer program in Bogota is organized for groups of participants.

Volunteers can choose 3 host organizations in their Application Form, and after the volunteer Application Process AFP will assign them to the best match. There are more than 20 host organizations available in categories like education, health, nutrition, construction, sports, , indigenous communities, conflict resolution, arts and culture, and forced displacement, among others.

Note: The following is a 12 week example itinerary.

Week #1 (First Week)

Day 1 – Tuesday

Arrival to Bogotá, welcome by a staff member of AFP who will great them at the airport, and take them to their local accommodation. The volunteers will stay in appropriate housing specifically planned for international volunteers. Once in the housing, the volunteers will have dinner and rest.

Day 2 – Wednesday

We will pick up the volunteers at their housing to be taken to the training, which will be conducted for the next 3 days. Upon arrival to the training we will serve breakfast and discuss the following topics: logistics, security, recommendations and tips, procedures, codes of conduct, and others. After lunch we will engage in interactive activities, listen to various speakers and at the end of the day a local transport will be arranged to take the volunteers back to their housing.

Day 3 – Thursday

Pick up and breakfast at a local food market with a traditional delicatessen. Here the volunteers will observe the different cultural dynamics and go on the “Plazarte” (Plaza + Arte) tour while the second day of training takes place. At the end of the day a local transport will be arranged to take the volunteers back to their housing.

Day 4 – Friday

The volunteers will attend their last day of training accompanied by an AFP staff member who will explain the different events that will take place during the following weeks. We will discuss different aspects including social work, needs, schedule, expectations, and the strategic plan. Delegates from Host Organizations will attend the sessions. During the late afternoon we will have a parranda vallenata (live music) as a welcome party for the volunteers to kick off their adventure in Colombia.

Day 5 – Saturday

On Saturday after the welcome party and the 3 days of training, the volunteers will enjoy a tour through the historic center of Bogotá including the most important highlights of the city in the Prehispanic and Colonial Bogotá Tour.

Day 6 – Sunday

Free day

Week #2 Volunteers will work on their strategic plans along with the host organizations and with close mentorship by Heart for Change. The idea is for volunteers to experience the normal working schedule of the host organization. During the late afternoon, after working hours, the volunteers will have time to explore the city and interact with other volunteers.

AFP will assign each volunteer a Social Local Sponsor (SLS) who will have the responsibility of introducing them to the city dynamics and Colombian people, as well as organizing cultural activities and sports. Weekend tour: Bogota’s Recycle World Tour.
Week #3 From this week on, the volunteers will travel to the nonprofit by their own means of transportation and develop their work plan, gathering photos, videos and testimonies of their experience. Weekend tour: Architectural Tour.
Week #4 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend tour: Corabastos, Market Pleasures.
Week #5 >Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend tour: Bogota’s Red Light District.
Week #6 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend Tour: Savannah immersion for the Laguna de Siecha Tour.
Week #7 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend Tour: Resisting the City, Agroparque los Soches.
Week #8 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend tour: Salsa, merengue and cumbia lesson.

Week #9 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend Tour: The social tourism community based project in the immediate rural area of Bogotá called: A Green Ode Inside the City, Quebrada la Vieja.

Week #10 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend Tour: A full gastronomic experience workshop style Colombian Flavor Workshop.

Week #11 Volunteer work at host organization. Weekend tour: Hot Chocolate & Other Spiritual Drinks.
Week #12 Volunteer work at host organization. On Thursday we will hold a closing meeting along with members of the host organization. Here we will analyze the results of the volunteer’s work and conduct an overall program evaluation. On Friday a general meeting will take place with all volunteers in order to gather testimonies as a memory of the work done. Moreover, we will train volunteers for further fundraising in their home countries and will be invited to participate in the program Volunteer Challenge Colombia®. Each volunteer will receive an end of service certificate.

By the end of the day AFP will arrange a Final Blow out @Andrés Carne de Res, a restaurant found in Chia, a village about 20 miles from Bogotá. Started as a tiny eatery 20 years ago, Andrés Carne de Rés is now the definition of sprawling, with acres of dining under cover and in the open air. Some former volunteers have said that is the perfect combination between Moulin Rouge and Alice in Wonderland!