Guide
for volunteers in Colombia
Dear Volunteer,
Welcome to our beautiful country, we are very glad to receive you. In this folder you will ďŹ nd very important and useful information for the ďŹ rst days and the rest of the program. Please take in consideration all these tips, rules, regulations and information have been collected through years of experience. They are all compiled for you, wishing you to experience the best year of your life.
Office Address: Telephones: Mobile: E-Mail: Office hours:
Carrera 15 N° 36-40, piso 2 Bogotá, D.C.-Colombia 232 12 51 - 340 36 08 3204917242 icyecol@icyecolombia.com Monday – Friday 10:00 am to 12:00 am & 3:00pm to 6:00 pm
Executive Committee- Staff Program Director Omaira Olano Mobile: 310 563 55 05 Phone: 202 6751
Incoming Program Coordinator Jorge Iván Hermida Mobile: 320 230 31 45 Phone: 641 7236
Administrative Coordinator Camilo Ordoñez Mobile: 317 698 93 06 Phone: 303 1481
Outgoing Program Coordinator Gustavo Lopera Mobile: 310 210 04 89 Phone: 704 0363
GENERAL SCHEDULE Aug Window days, incoming arrival to 21st and 22nd El Dorado Airport
Aug 23rd to 26th Introductory Camp
Aug - Sep 27th to 9th Spanish Course.
During the course we will go to Migration Colombia/ Getting the Colombian ID and some volunteers will visit their projects in Bogotรก.
Aug Visit to La Candelaria, Historical center and 30 th Monserrate. Going out dancing.
Sep Beginning social voluntary work and travelling 10 th to 11 th to others cities.
Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar. Colombia
Guide for volunteers in Colombia
1. SECURITY Security in Colombia Streets and trafďŹ c Banks and Money Personal Belongings Public Trasnport and Taxis Traveling
2. CULTURAL SHOCK Interacting with people Personal appeareance Clubs and parties Cultural and social organization Communication Host family / Host Projects Health and insurance Building relationships and social interaction
SECURITY IN COLOMBIA Almost always, news about Colombia are related to the conflict between the government and guerrillas, drugs, corruption or poverty in the country. It is true since, for a long time, this country has had a conflict caused by the large gap between poor and rich; a situation that has been used by the guerrillas to justify their actions and the oligarchy to protect their wealth with the buried government weakness. The armed conflict has as well affected for decades a large part of the population, especially in rural areas. It does not “directly” affect the “ordinary” citizens, especially those who are living in large cities, but definitely there are collateral effects of the conflict countrywide. If you avoid certain places for reasons of conflict you will see Colombia is as safe as any other country in Latin America. The reality is: volunteers in Colombia are not target of any armed group. We could say that young people or normal tourists who come to Colombia would be more affected by poverty, the big gap between social classes, corruption and oblivion of the government with communities, also obviously affected by the delinquency product of social deficiencies, inequality, injustice, lack of education and opportunities. Street crime is a problem in major cities and pickpocketing can be accompanied by violence. Even though the majority of volunteers will live in Bogotá, some of you will live in different cities around the country. The security in every city is different and depends on the size, area, zone, and even culture and idiosyncrasy of the city, middle or small town.
Bogotá D.C. Cundinamarca. Colombia
KEY POINTS Be aware that in any place something can happen to you, some places are more secure, and others less. Absolut security does not exist but If you know the risks, you can minimize them. Daily routine might be an enemy. If you are predictable, possible offenders can attack easily. It is essential to be informed about the places you go to and the things you do. Also, if you know how to act and react, you can minimize risks. Accept trusted people’s advice! Observation is key to preventing falling victim to a crime. Keep a close eye on the people and places around you. Remember that you are in a less developed country with a lot of poverty. If you look foreign, many people will just assume you are a tourist with money. Be aware of your role in society and how you are seen by others.
STREETS AND TRAFFIC
In the streets of Colombian cities there is a lot of traffic, and it can be dangerous. Reckless driving is not uncommon and pedestrian rights are often not respected. However, traffic is not the only hazard in the streets: Always be careful where you go. Not all places are safe, some might be okay in the day, but dangerous at night, and some should be avoided at any times. Always know where you are going, and don’t hesitate to take a longer route if it is safer.
Bogotá D.C. Cundinamarca. Colombia
KEY POINTS Avoid walking alone in the streets, especially at night. As long as there are people who see you, there is somebody to call for help in case an offence happens. In some places, even crossing a single street can have you end up in a completely different zone with a different security situation. Many drivers tend to ignore rules. Speeding is very common, as well as is crossing red lights. Always use pedestrian bridges, even if it means a small detour. Be very careful if you have to cross a street without a pedestrian crossing, especially at night. Also keep in mind that in trafďŹ c jams, motorcycles often pass ahead between cars.
BANKS AND MONEY
In Colombia, cash is still very important and, depending a lot on the areas you go, there are many places that don’t accept cards. You will be exchanging a foreign currency to Colombian pesos (COP) during your whole stay. There are various banks and in the cities you generally find a lot of ATMs where you can withdraw with foreign cards. In smaller towns, ATM availability might be limited, so carry enough cash. Be aware that the fuller your wallet, the more lucrative you are as a victim for criminals.
Bogotá D.C. Cundinamarca. Colombia
KEY POINTS Find safe places to withdraw money. Such as Shopping Centres, market stores and banks with cash machines inside. Avoid withdrawing money from cash machines you find on the street, late night or alone. Falling victim to a robbery or pickpocketing can happen at some point. If it happens, the damage is smaller if you only carry around what you need. Be careful with people asking for “information” or offering “help” when you are in a Bank, cash machines or when using your credit cards. Some thieves profit the opportunity to steal your pin-code or documents. Keep in mind the fees your bank charges you for exchanging currencies and ask them if it is better to withdraw a lot of cash or pay a lot with card. Some local banks charge you fees for withdrawing at their ATMs, find out which ones are free for you. Also keep in mind your exchange rate: The peso’s value varies a lot, so withdrawing or spending at strategic times can save you money.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Pickpocketing and robberies are very common, so always keep an eye on your belongings.
Bogotรก D.C. Cundinamarca. Colombia
KEY POINTS When carrying your backpack in buses or crowded places, keep it in your front to protect your properties from thieves. If you are carrying expensive items like cameras or phones, leave them in your backpack and be careful where you take them out – try not to show them in public places. If you don’t absolutely need them, leave them at home, especially in unsafe areas. If you have your Cédula de Extranjería, you do not need to carry your passport inside Colombia. You just need to have a copy of your passport and your ICYE participation card with you, even though the police seldom request it. Authorities will often ask you for your Cédula, so have it ready to show them. Never keep anything valuable in your pants’ pockets. It will be an easy target for pickpocketing. Use inner pockets or a backpack instead.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TAXIS
Most big cities have an integrated transport system, for example Bogotá’s TransMilenio / SITP, Cali’s Mio and Medellín’s Metro. Routes can be complicated, and you might need some time to understand the system, but you can use Apps or Websites to plan your journey in advance. Outside integrated systems, busses are complicated: They stop anywhere, and you must request their stop and pay in cash. There’s no official route network, you need to ask locals who know which bus to take. Apart from public transport, in most cities there’s taxis available. Applications like Uber are commonly used and might be a safer alternative but are actually prohibited by law.
Bogotá D.C. Cundinamarca. Colombia
KEY POINTS If available, always use busses from ofďŹ cial transport agencies. They might be more expensive but are safer and faster. Taking taxis from the street can be dangerous, especially at night. Try to always take taxis from authorized taxi stands or request them from an ofďŹ cial taxi company. You can do this by calling them or using a mobile application. In both cases you will be provided with the plate number and a security code that you need to check with the driver.
TRAVELING
In your exchange year, you will have the opportunity to get around Colombia and explore the country. Colombia is known in the world as a dangerous place, but if you follow our recommendations and rules and act responsibly, you can discover our beautiful country and get to know a lot of great destinations.
Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona Magdalena. Colombia
KEY POINTS It is totally forbidden to visit Departamentos of: Arauca, Casanare, Vichada, Guainía, Caquetá, Guaviare, Vaupés, Norte de Santander and Putumayo. (Except their capital cities) It is possible to visit Departamentos of: Meta, Amazonas, Huila, Nariño, Cauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Sucre and Antioquia, but just in some areas or in its capitals. Some of these regions can be visited just by plane. You must ask the ICYE Colombia committee before planning your trip. If you plan to visit rural areas, seek security advice in advance. Never explore the area on your own and always go with authorized, recognized tour guides, Colombia has a good network of overland busses and cheap flights. We recommend you not travel alone or at night by bus, but of course it depends on the distance and the area you are visiting. In any case, only take busses from official terminals and not from the street. “Hitchhiking” is completely forbidden. In case of any emergency, accident or difficulty you must inform Jorge Iván Hermida or any other member of the ICYE Colombia Staff. No one can go on vacation without sending the format request at least one week before your trip. No one can leave the country without the authorization of ICYE Colombia.
CULTURAL SHOCK
The most important experience when you go abroad is to confront your own culture with the hosting country’s one. You might enjoy some of these differences, others can seem shocking and difficult to understand. Of course, this depends strongly on the culture you are from – anybody will, however, find things they are not used to. We encourage you to be open minded, ready to live new experiences, understanding and respecting the differences. You will need time to get used to the culture, and you will have to learn a lot on your own. While there is no way to fully prevent mistakes and misunderstandings, the following advice might help. Punta Gallinas Guajira. Colombia
INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE Colombian people are friendly and polite. They are eager to help and give good impression to foreigners. Some people usually atter in excess hoping you feel comfortable. This can lead to misunderstandings. No matter how nice Colombian people are, you need to be careful when you meet people, especially if you don’t know who they are. During the year, you will learn to understand how people express their feelings, emotions, approval or disapproval. Direct language might be considered too harsh. You must start checking how people you communicate with, express their feelings, ideas and opinions.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
In Colombia, generally personal appearance is very important. This does not mean that you always need to use formal clothing, but keep clean, take a daily shower, change your clothes frequently, and use deodorant. We cannot suggest you how you should dress or look. But you have to be aware that since in general the way you look is important, it can open or close doors for you.
CLUBS AND PARTIES
Try to ask about the best places in your city/town to go and avoid going alone or to the ones disproved by your acquaintances. Do not leave neither your belongings nor YOUR DRINKS unattended when partying. Colombians party a lot. Dancing is very important, in fact people go out to dance, part of that is to drink, or to meet people, but everything is around dancing. Enjoy parties, festivals, celebrations, special dates etc. Always with responsibility.
CULTURE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION The Colombian culture is the result of the mixture of several races, historical traditions, and economical backgrounds. According to the experts, each geographical region could be a different country. Be cautious before criticising some customs or traditions. Read a lot, talk to people and enjoy this experience. You will find that many Colombians do, undo or change plans frequently. Try to be flexible and spontaneous and do not feel offended. Also, be prepared that people might run late a lot. In Colombia, it is normal to stand close and sometimes touch each other in conversation, even if you don’t know each other. Don’t be intimidated, you will soon get a feeling for what is normal and what not. If it makes you uncomfortable, try to tell them in a polite way.
COMMUNICATION Communication can be the key of an excellent experience. When communicating with ICYE, your host family or your working placement, you should take into consideration the difference between these verbs: inform vs. get permission. If you do so you will avoid trouble. In order to avoid problems and inconveniences, we advise you to follow some regular ways of communication as follows: Family: Talk to them to clarify family rules. If necessary ask for a translator. In case there is a misunderstanding or difďŹ culty and it is not possible to have direct dialogue with the family, talk to the director Omaira at the ICYE Colombia ofďŹ ce. Project: A follow up at the project will take place, by phone, e-mail or personally every three months. The result of these written evaluations will be shared with ICYE-Colombia. A monthly follow up may also be held by ICYE according to the needs of the participants and their projects.
HOST FAMILY HOST PROJECTS Talk to your family and / or your project to clarify which rules they have and what they expect from you. This is essential for avoiding any problems or misunderstandings. Host families, and sometimes projects as well, are usually very protective towards volunteers. They might ask you to inform any time you go out, where you are going, when you come back, etc. Colombian families are quite conservative. So bringing home friends always requires their permission. They should usually stay in the living room. Your host family/project is not a hotel. Dialogue is very important. To avoid misunderstandings do not let the situation get worse.
HEALTH & INSURANCE It is very normal you might feel sick during the first days. Trying new food and Bogota’s atmosphere can cause stomach and headache. We can understand it, so staying at home is possible, but just for one or two days, after the second day of sickness you must go to the doctor. Ask your family if they do have a doctor or a hospital they belong to or they can recommend. ICYE Colombia will also be able to get you an appointment and take you to the doctor in case you need. You have to collect all bills/receipts you have done (if you do not have official receipts you won’t be able to get your money back). Steps to go to the doctor: 1. Make an appointment. 2. Normally you will have to pay. If that is not possible somebody from your family or project can pay and we will reimburse the money. If nobody can pay, you can contact us, anywhere, anytime, we will cover the payment. We will accompany and support you. 3. You always have to tell them that you will pay directly, so they provide you the service immediately.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS SOCIAL INTERACTION Colombians are very friendly and open to relate with foreigners. They usually start making some general inquiries. You will be bored to hear always the same questions. Don’t worry. Soon, you will be used to them. Everyone is friendly but be cautious- not everyone is a good guy. Some new “friends” only want to take advantage of you. Girls, even some guys also, be prepared to listen “Piropos” (compliments) on the street. Back in the days, it was a cultural way for men to show their admiration for women’s beauty. Nowadays they are unfortunately most of the time offensive, sexual and nasty. People stare at you in a weird way. Not all the time is offensive. Sometimes it is just curiosity. Because of your physical appearance, some will call you “gringo” (any person who is blond or foreigner)
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