Volunteer Experience

Niamh Leonard -FANA 2012

I have always wanted to volunteer and when I came across ViveLA on the internet I knew that they may be able to offer me the exact opportunity for which I was looking. My experience at FANA in Bogotá, Colombia was one of a kind. FANA (Fundación para la Asistencia de la Niñez Abandonada) is a private home for abandoned children in Bogotá and it is where I carried out my 3 month volunteer work placement.

 

I volunteered at FANA 5 days a week, from 8am until 1pm. This time slot worked perfectly as it allowed me to do various other activities in the evenings and to generally do some exploring of Bogotá. My daily routine at FANA varied, depending on which group of children with whom I was working. I started by working with the young toddlers (10 months – 2 years) and it was such a superb start. I helped the nurses wash and cloth them every morning, feed them their breakfast, entertain them in the playroom, give them lunch among much more. After 4 weeks I moved to the new born zone. Here my work duties were quite similar but the new born babies required constant attention. I also spent time with the eldest group of children at FANA, ages 6-13. This was very different spending time with them as I was able to interact with them on a much more personal level.

Spanish Language:

Colombian Spanish is definitely easy to understand and your level of Spanish will drastically improve while you are there. There are of course some colloquial words that you will not understand but apart from that you shouldn’t encounter too many problems. If you are somewhat anxious about your level of Spanish before leaving then you can always enquire from the Vive La team about furthering your Spanish skills by undertaking classes while in Bogotá.

My level of Spanish was already quite high before leaving for Bogotá. However it was my very first time working in a fully Latin American Spanish speaking environment. I have more fluency now and am able to speak and think in Spanish without hesitating. One thing that definitely has changed is my accent;) I now speak with a Bogotá accent as opposed to my previous European one.

Transportation:

Bogotá’s transport system is well established and designed. For my work I used the Transmilenio (an over ground bus type metro system so to speak) every day for my work and it was very efficient, only costing me 1,750 COP per trip. I bought a Transmilenio card and I topped it up with money whenever necessary. This was very helpful as I didn’t have to bring much money in my wallet.

There are also small public buses known as “busetas” which cover all the local routes in and around the city and again are well priced. The best part about this system is that you can flag it down along its route! There are no specific designated stops.

Taxis are widely available throughout the city and are relatively inexpensive. If you need to flag a taxi down on the street make sure you do so during the day and while in a busy part of the city.

Food & Drinks:

I was lucky enough to already have contacts in Bogotá, all of whom are native to Bogotá and they showed me the true style of Colombian food. Rice forms a major part of any Colombian’s diet and is eaten mostly at lunch times and dinner times. Needless to say the selection of fruit and vegetables is endless and you will never be stuck for choice! My favourite dish was a dish known as ‘Ajiaco’, it is specific to Bogotá and it really warms you up on a cold day! Ajiaco is a Colombian potato soup served with chicken, avocado and corn.

With regards drinks Colombians like to blend their fruits into various healthy fruit drinks.

One thing is a must though if you are in Bogotá and that is to try their hot chocolate!! It is like no other in the world. The rich caliber of chocolate is so delicious you will never want to try any other hot chocolate again! For breakfast many Colombians add pieces of cheese to their mug of hot chocolate; this was something I could never adjust to however. I tried it but it just wasn’t for me.

Out and About Bogotá:

Within Bogotá there are so many tourist attractions including the Gold Museum, the Museo del Botero and the capital’s main square which is Plaza Bolivar.

I was lucky enough to do some travelling over my 3 months outside of Bogotá. I went to Villa de Leyva, Chinavita and Paipa. It was so nice to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the relaxing time in the Colombian countryside. Paipa is very famous throughout Colombia for its hot thermal waters and if you get the chance to go then definitely do! It also has a wide range of water sports available for tourists so if you are anyway aquatic it is well worth a visit!

ViveLA assisted me throughout the placement process and always answered any queries or concerns I had regarding the move to Bogotá. They are friendly, helpful and very easy to work with. If you are successful with being placed with ViveLA I would advise you to go for it, it will be an opportunity of a life time!! Hope you enjoy!! J