Traveling on a budget? Discover our cheapest programs
Elderly Care Volunteer Program in Colombia - Bogota
This project is currently not accepting applications.
Check out this similar project in Quito

Elderly Care Volunteer Program in Colombia - Bogota

Eager to be a Elderly Care volunteer in Colombia - Bogotá? International Volunteer HQ’s Elderly Care project empowers volunteers to assist in community programs that help get abandoned and ill elderly women off the streets and into care. Volunteers will help improve quality of life for those elders who will benefit from increased interaction, connection and care, while the local staff will appreciate the helping hand.

Highlights:
  • Programs start on the second and fourth Monday of each month
  • Affordable fees from CA$380 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals (monday to friday), airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Care for elderly women, many of whom have been abandoned by their families

  • Discover Colombia’s vibrant culture

  • Stay with other volunteers in the safe neighborhood of El Quirinal, Bogotá

Key information

Provide companionship & care for elderly people
Based in community centers in Bogotá
Stay in a local volunteer house
Volunteers aged 18+
Fully hosted experience from CA$380 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
Spanish language lessons available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who are patient and caring by nature. You’ll also need to be willing to interact with and provide care to older people. As you’ll be volunteering alongside local staff members, you don’t need to have any prior experience working with the elderly to take part in this project.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

In Colombia, the elderly get little to no financial assistance from the government as traditionally their care was left to younger generations of the family. Due to war, poverty and illness, many Colombian families are faced with crowded multi-generational households that have no financial ability to care for the needs of their elderly family members. Unfortunately, this has led to high rates of abandonment among the elderly, many of whom are left to fend for themselves on the streets of Bogotá with dementia, pneumonia or other health conditions.

As an Elderly Care volunteer, you will volunteer in centers that help elderly women off the streets and into care. You will provide social interaction, encouragement, protection and assistance to older people during their daily activities, improving their quality of life. Elderly Care volunteer work can include:

  • Assisting with meals
  • Talking and connecting with the elderly
  • Helping staff with basic medical care
  • Cleaning and operational tasks
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Good mental and physical health is key to sustainable development and building healthy and happy communities. Now more than ever, we must increase access to free healthcare and health education across the globe to achieve an acceptable standard of living and wellbeing for all.

Why do Elderly Care volunteering in Bogota with IVHQ?

While volunteering on the Elderly Care project in Bogotá, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Providing care and attention to elderly people
  • Practicing your Spanish
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining elderly care experience
  • Immersing yourself fully in Colombian culture
  • Exploring Bogotá, Colombia’s busy capital

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
  • All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.

This project is currently not accepting applications.

Check out this similar project in Quito, Ecuador


Not sure which program to join?

Get personalized recommendations >

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit

”I experienced so many memorable moments, therefore it is hard for me to choose an overall favorite. I'd say I really loved volunteering with the elderly and having the support I needed while doing so. My trip to Bogota, Colombia was my second volunteer experience with IVHQ. Both of my volunteer experiences with IVHQ have been phenomenal and I will continue to volunteer with IVHQ in the future. The project was amazing and I felt as if I had total support the whole time.”

Read reviews from Elderly Care volunteers in Bogota

See more reviews
Volunteer Abroad in Colombia, Bogotá with IVHQ

Location

Bogotá is Colombia’s capital, its biggest city and home to several IVHQ projects.The sprawling metropolis is a hive of activity where you can find an interesting mixture of nature, history, culture and modern convenience. There are plenty of museums, markets and mountains to be seen and vibrant nightlife, shopping and delicacies to try.

Some projects are set in Bogotá’s surrounding neighborhoods rather than the central city.

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins on the second and fourth Monday of every month. Volunteers need to arrive in Bogotá the day before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the El Dorado International Airport (BOG). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Bogotá. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are traveling in Bogotá prior to your volunteer program, you will need to make your own way to the volunteer accommodation and the local team will provide guidance on this.

Orientation is taken by our Colombia team at the volunteer apartment in Bogotá. Orientation is held on your chosen start date and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Colombia – an introduction to Colombia, Colombian customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Colombia, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays

Volunteers typically work in morning and afternoon shifts, but work hours are dependent on the project and placement. Volunteers on the Bogotá program can easily take part in a range of the projects if they would like to, this can be arranged with the local coordinators. A typical volunteer day is as follows:

7:30 AM Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation.
8:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements.
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Volunteer work and a lunch break.
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM Spanish lessons and volunteer work.
6:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house.

Evenings

To ensure the safety of our volunteers and respect of others in the volunteer apartment, a curfew of 11:00 PM has been put in place from Sunday to Thursday and a 2:00 AM curfew for Friday and Saturday.

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have free time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Bogotá and wider Colombia. You can ride the cable car to Cerro de Monserrate, boasting breathtaking views of all of Bogotá, or in the center of the city, walk the cobblestone streets of La Candelaria as you explore the Botero Museum, Gold Museum and Emerald Museum. At the Usaquen Flea Market, pick up souvenirs for friends and family, listen to live music, and stroll down more cobblestone streets set amid colonial architecture. Further afield, explore the coastal paradise of the Caribbean, the numerous hiking adventures of the Andes, or the natural wonders of the Orinoquia region.

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll stay in a volunteer house in the safe neighborhood of El Qurinal. Bedrooms have bunk beds and volunteers can expect to be sharing a room with up to six other volunteers of the same gender. Bedding is not provided, so you’ll need to bring your own sleeping bag and fitted single sheet, towels and toiletries.

Living is comfortable and the volunteer apartment has electricity, running water and western bathrooms, generally with hot water. For couples or those wanting more privacy, private rooms in the volunteer apartment are available for an additional CA$35 per night. Private rooms are subject to availability.

WiFi is available at the volunteer house, although this can glitch out at times. You can purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the volunteer apartment Monday through Friday.

Breakfast is varied and can include pancakes, fruit, eggs and arepas (corn bread). Lunch and dinner include a range of traditional dishes like Ajiaco - a chicken soup or stew - and Bandeja Paisa - a platter of various foods including beans, rice, meats, egg, avocado and lemon.

During the weekends, volunteers can prepare their own meals using the ingredients provided, or can eat out at one of Bogotá’s many restaurants.

Tea, coffee, fresh juices and toast are available in the volunteer apartment throughout the day. Purified water is available in the volunteer house, however it is recommended that volunteers buy bottled water for drinking at their placements.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you.

Pricing

Duration
1 week CA$380 Equivalent to CA$54/day
2 weeks CA$577 Equivalent to CA$41/day
3 weeks CA$761 Equivalent to CA$36/day
4 weeks CA$930 Equivalent to CA$33/day
5 weeks CA$1099 Equivalent to CA$31/day
6 weeks CA$1268 Equivalent to CA$30/day
8 weeks CA$1677 Equivalent to CA$30/day
10 weeks CA$2086 Equivalent to CA$30/day
12 weeks CA$2509 Equivalent to CA$30/day
16 weeks CA$3354 Equivalent to CA$30/day
20 weeks CA$4200 Equivalent to CA$30/day
24 weeks CA$5046 Equivalent to CA$30/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals (Monday to Friday)
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$463) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.

Spanish language lessons

Spanish language lessons are available for all volunteers regardless of their ability. IVHQ recommends these lessons for all volunteers unless they are fluent in Spanish. Volunteers with a basic level of Spanish should strongly consider these lessons to allow them to work and communicate more effectively during their program. These language lessons are organized upon your arrival in Bogotá during your program orientation. The language course is tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish. The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers at US$15 per 90 minutes. There is also ample opportunity to participate in conversation exchanges if your Spanish is at a more advanced level.

Check what's required to visit Colombia

Check out the widget below to find out what the Covid-19 restrictions and visa requirements are for Colombia, based on your country of residence.

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Bogotá
Population 50.3 million
Languages Spanish
Currency Colombian Peso (KES)
Time zone UTC-5:00

Weather and climate

Given Colombia’s proximity to the equator, the country experiences little variation in temperature throughout the year. However, the climate does vary greatly with changes in altitude, creating various climactic zones from hot, coastal lowlands to freezing, mountainous peaks. Bogotá has a mild climate that is generally characterized by frequent cloudiness and occasional drizzling rains throughout the year. Days are cool (averaging 19°C/65°F) and nights can be cold, due to the altitude (average 5°C/40°F).

Other projects you may be interested in

How to get started

Pick a destination + project and apply for free
Meet your personal volunteer travel expert
Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
Get ready to volunteer abroad, we’ll support you every step of the way!