Internship in Environment Management (Caribbean Coast Colombia)
Complete an Internship in Environment Management at the Caribbean Coast in Colombia!
Are you interested in the work of international NGOs, environmental protection and recycling strategies in the Caribbean in Colombia? Recycling is relatively unknown in Colombia, especially in rural areas. The reality shows that garbage is often recklessly dumped in the countryside or on the coast without thought for the consequences. In order to successfully bring down environmental pollution levels in developing countries one needs to closely work with local leaders who have a strong will to bring change to their community.
Do you want to be part of this work and take the challenge?
DETAILS
Project Description
As an intern in this community project, you will get to know South American culture and learn about the challenges developing countries face. You will acquire new skills in project management, recycling, education and environmental protection. An internship of this kind can be an invaluable stepping stone for a future career in international development aid work, but the skills you will acquire will also help you grow in any other job. Your project manager is very knowledgable about the cause of the project as well as the work with local community members.
You are in the best hands and you will be provided with everything you need to work on the next strategic moves for this program. Together with your teammates you will visit local companies, restaurants and schools to assist in educational workshops and create campaigns that will raise awareness about environmental causes. It is extremely important to continuously conduct these workshops and campaigns in order to remind the community how fragile their environment is and make progress with the project’s goals.
This recycling project is new. It has been in its operative phase since 2015, but it is managed professionally at international level and with a high level of diligence. In the evenings, you will have team meetings to prepare for the next day. Sometimes you will join the meetings together with volunteers from other countries. During your stay you will also easily get into contact with the locals. You will be amazed how interested and open-minded they are. Expect some intense cultural exchange!
Volunteer Responsibilities
Your volunteer tasks are as follows:
- Gather information about recycling institutions in nearby cities.
- Develop and implement recycling strategies for local enterprises.
- Collect and monitor data.
- Design community and school workshops concerning recycling possibilities, incl. painting, creating games etc.
- Run after-school supervision and help with the children’s homework.
- Do errands and help maintain the project site.
- Promote and organize community clean-up days.
- Work and assist in the project’s own shop.
- Project monitoring and reporting.
The exact tasks you will be asked to carry out will depend on the current needs and priorities of the project as determined by the camp manager and NGO Taxi management. The tasks stated here are therefore examples of some of the possible types of activities you will be asked to do.
Working hours:
As an intern for this cause you are expected to work on your project 30 hours per week (Mo-Fr). Your daily working schedule comprises 5 to 7 hours per day. If you so desire, you are welcome to work more.
Location
This project is located in a breathtaking village with lush green nature and full-grown bamboo trees in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, which is also known as the ecological heart of the region of Magdalena. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an UNESCO conservation area and encompasses one of the most beautiful regions in Colombia, e.g. the national park “Parque Tayrona” or the famous Cabo San Juan (a dreamlike beach with palm trees and crystal-clear water). The cape has often been described as the country’s most beautiful spot. In some parts in northern Colombia you can even see snow-capped mountains of 20.000 feet when you stand on a white sandy beach. During your free time, you will have the opportunity to undertake unique excursions to waterfalls, natural turquoise pools and trek deep into the Colombian tropics. Have you ever heard of the Ciudad Perdida (Spanish for ‘Lost City’)? It’s believed to have been founded 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu and is only accessible by an intensive hike through the Colombian jungle.
Transportation
You will arrive at the national airport of Santa Marta where you will be picked up by our project coordinator. Pick- up and return are included in the project costs, so you don´t have to worry about finding your way back and forth from the airport. There will be no additional cost for transportation during your working hours, as you can easily walk from your accommodation to the project site (5 minutes). If you require transport during your free time, you have to organize it and pay for it yourself.
Accommodation and Food
You will stay with at the volunteer apartment (standard). Kitchen for self-catering is included. Since there are various options for eating out in the village our volunteers prefer to cook or have lunch and dinner at one of the local restaurants. The families where our volunteers can also stay (at surcharge) are very welcoming, warm-hearted and generous. You will usually live no more than 5 minutes away from your place of work.
Prerequisites
Professional requirements:
In this project you will be working together with our project coordinator. This means you will receive a lot of support. However, you will also need to be able to demonstrate that you can be proactive, diplomatic and show patience when dealing with local companies and authorities. Be prepared that in most parts of South America the conception of time and punctuality are different to those in Europe.
This project supports and encourages teamwork along with a great deal of flexibility, autonomy and initiative. If you are open and ready for it, you’ll learn how to deal with aspects of daily life and be able to adapt to different fields of activity.
Generally, you should be ready to respond to changes and be able to deal with the unexpected for any work in South America.
Language requirements:
Your project is located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Spanish is the official language and you should be able to communicate well with the locals. The project price already includes a FREE 20-hour intensive Spanish course that will prepare you for the tasks in your project. If you do not yet speak a basic level of Spanish we recommend that you take an additional Spanish course prior to your stay in the project. You can either book group or individual lessons directly at our project site or you can do an online Spanish course from home via Skype, online videos or in our virtual classroom (please let us know in your application form which option suits best for you.)
Additional Information and Specials
Minimum Age:
20 Years.
Start dates:
Every first and third Friday of the month.
Length of stay:
4 weeks to 6 months (if you wish to extend your stay beyond 6 months we can make the necessary arrangements for you, but you will have to let us know at least 2 months in advance.)
Immunizations:
It is essential to be up-to-date with immunizations before you arrive at your project. This includes, among others: yellow fever (certified), tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, and rabies. You’ll receive exact information pertaining to immunizations needed in Colombia, as well as your personal preliminary documentation, following your successful application with us.
Concerning immunization requirements you can also find up-to-date information by consulting medical authorities in your country of origin, e.g. in the US, check with the Centers for Disease Control and Protection http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/colombia.
Please make sure that you have up-to-date vaccinations for all of these diseases. NGO Taxi cannot be held responsible for the provision of vaccinations for their volunteers. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to ensure that they have followed up-to-date medical advice.
Special conditions:
You will be representing NGO Taxi to communities and partners and are therefore required to demonstrate a professional attitude. This also concerns appropriate clothing. When dealing with local establishments and schools, jeans and t-shirt are normally sufficient. Volunteers who want to work with children need to provide a certificate of good conduct.
In this project, you will always be in contact with a lot of people. However, you might also be the only volunteer working with local staff at times, so be prepared for variety in the people you will meet and work with.
But why not volunteer with your best friend?!
Tell us with whom you want to volunteer and we will arrange your fellow volunteer experience for you.
The more helping hands this project receives the better they can advance and secure a clean environment for the children. Why not apply with a friend?
Volunteer with your buddy!
Tell us with whom you want to volunteer and we will arrange everything for you.
Free Time Activities
- Mountain biking.
- Hiking.
- Cooking classes.
- City tours.
- Ocean Kayaking
- Surfing
The Project is here
Included Services
- Accommodation (volunteer apartment/self catering).
- Airport transfer.
- Pre-arrival pack.
- Welcome dinner.
- Complementary t-shirt.
- FREE 20 hour intensive Spanish course.
- 24 hour support.
- Comprehensive introduction to your work and the local culture.
- Mentoring.
- Post-departure pack.
Pricing
€ 1099,00 – 1st month
€ 1049,00 – 2nd month
€ 999,00 – 3rd month, and after
