Iñigo had a fantastic time in Medellín

Iñigo speaks about his period as a volunteer in Medellín:

After leaving behind my life as a programmer, stuck in an office in Barcelona working an 8-to-6 schedule, I decided to embark on a journey to Colombia in search of new experiences. I found this volunteering opportunity through the workaway.com platform and had a video call with Alex, who told me about the project and life in Medellín. Alex shared wonderful things about the project, and the experience seemed very enriching. But I'm not going to lie—at the beginning, I was scared as hell because of the prejudices and the history of Medellín. 🧐

From the first day I arrived, all my prejudices vanished. It has been, without a doubt, one of the best experiences of my life, and I feel very grateful to have made the decision to go and to have been part of the project for almost two months. I fell in love with EVERYTHING: Medellín and its landscape, where you feel like you’re in a giant sea of lights. With the people, who are so lovely and proud to see foreigners enjoying their culture. With the volunteering, where the little ones show you unconditional love from the very first moment. With the streets of Comuna 13, its history, and the incredible transformation it has undergone in recent decades. And, of course, with the arepas and fried chicken with honey. 🤎

Volunteering Experience

Together with two other volunteers (Adrien and Adriana) and later Sofia, we taught English classes in two different foundations.

Dame la Mano

This foundation is located in Belencito Corazón. I loved going there—the children are all so lovely, and the girls who work in the foundation welcome you with all the care and love in the world. Our task was mainly to accompany and help the children during class since Alejandra, a permanent teacher, handles most of the lessons. As we only had classes in the morning, we didn’t spend much time in the neighborhood, so we didn’t get to know the life of the area or the children outside of the academic context.

Sembrando Paz y Esperanza en las Comunas

In this foundation, we had classes in the afternoons with breaks between sessions, which gave us more time to connect with the children and explore "la Divisa" neighborhood. I loved walking the streets, meeting students in their daily lives, and being greeted with shouts of “Profeeee, hellooooo!” from their homes. I enjoyed visiting Fernando, the best baker in the neighborhood, for tinticos and churros with arequipe while chatting with him about life. I also loved staying to play soccer with the kids after class. Despite the pouring rain and their rusty boots, their joy was contagious. One of the most touching moments was spending time with Jan, a boy from the foundation who, due to childhood trauma, doesn’t speak but greets you with the warmest hug in the world. I loved taking out my camera and seeing waves of curious children eagerly ask if I could teach them how to take pictures. Spending time with Yenni, the founder of the project, and her children Diego and Sara, was another highlight. They are the stalwarts of the foundation and have created a safe, educational space for the children of the neighborhood. My respect and admiration for their work and life are immense. In short, I loved feeling that I was part of their wonderful community and that I was contributing my little grain to the happiness of the barrio. 🫂

Final Thoughts

To anyone reading this and considering volunteering with Intercambio, from the bottom of my heart, I tell you: do it! Leave your prejudices and fears behind, because you will become part of a wonderful community, and the experience will be worth it.

Qué chimba Medellín! I am still traveling and volunteering around the world, but a small part of my heart will always stay there. I will be back 100%! 🫶