Fundacion Mariposas Amarillas, Santa Marta

Description

Mariposas Amarillas is a small Colombian grassroots organization committed to supporting disadvantaged children and families around Santa Marta, Colombia. We run schools in two of the poorest areas of Santa Marta, where the children would have no acccess to education without our work.

We are happy to accept foreign and local volunteers to help with administration, fundraising, and publicity and to teach classes and offer counseling to children. 

We are looking for both temporary and long-term volunteers. You can decide yourself how long you want to stay, and you make your own work schedule. The benefit of this structure is that you will have plenty of time to take Spanish or dive courses, explore nearby areas such as Tayrona National Park, or just lie on the beach if you like!

What you can do with foundation will largely depend on your interests, skills, time commitment, and ability to speak Spanish. We welcome people with any skill, or none! Volunteers can help with administration, fundraising, and publicity and/or teach classes and offer counseling to children.

The main members of the foundation do not speak English, so at least basic Spanish is necessary for all volunteers. We can help you out with Spanish lessons from local teachers at discounted prices.

There is a one-time, nonrefundable $50 administration fee for all volunteers. This fee goes directly to supporting the foundation and helps pay for the costs of internet, telephone calls, photocopies, staff transportation, materials for the education program, and much needed items for the students. This small fee goes a long way, and is sufficient to buy workbooks or shoes for 15 students or medicine for a sick child.

We have no minimum age requirements, but volunteers must display independence and maturity. Since the foundation is not run from an office, most of the work is done independently or on-site working in Santa Marta’s poorest neighborhoods. The ideal volunteer will be flexible and self-driven. Independent projects and ideas for the foundation and the neighborhoods where we work are encouraged, though outside funding is needed.

We can recommend affordable places to stay and reliable tourism services and can arrange homestays, Spanish tutoring sessions, and Latin Dance classes.