MINGA HOUSE FOUNDATION
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Travel with a Purpose!
Travel with a Purpose
Enjoy the heart of the beautiful Colombian coffee region with year-round Spring-like weather, while you Serve & Learn!
Minga House Foundation, Carrera 9 # 11-34, Chinchina, Caldas Colombia 176020
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Minga House Foundation is a non-profit organization founded to host & facilitate volunteer roles, internship roles, or paid educator roles in the beautiful Colombia.   We represent a collective of nonprofit organizations and schools that might  otherwise be able to reach international support & participation. Our staff helps these organizations in operations, fundraising, capacity building, and staffing. Our training facility, professional bilingual staff, and expertise will ensure you have a SAFE & FUN learning experience!

Who we are:  Minga House Foundation was founded in 2014 by Glen Galindo who has 20+ years experience in U.S. higher education, is former U.S. Marine Corps Officer, and was the former national director for a U.S.-based logistics company responsible for operations in Latin America.  His expertise in planning, educational programming, and risk management has built a solid foundation for a sustainable organization. Our extended staff team is composed of local bilingual young professionals who are passionate about guiding you and sharing their communities & country with international visitors.. 

Volunteer Service Projects: Our staff will be involved with you during the planning, the worksite orientation, provide you with ongoing support, and with periodic review & reflections.  We will be your guide and we will introduce you to many people in the community beyond your internships or volunteer role. Our goal is that you be fully engaged immersed into the language & culture!  You will return home with lots of new friends, and a certain love for beautiful Colombia! Plus, you will have achieved your goal of having made a positive social impact.

Often times, individuals find themselves exploring Colombia independently wishing they would be having a more 'real' experience engaging with communities in their daily lives and playing a more defined & significant role; perhaps either related to their professional background or something entirely new.  Yet, it is difficult to have such a rich experience in a safe and efficient manner in a limited amount of travel time & budget as a stranger in a foreign community.  Minga House Foundation has professional educational staff and active relationships with many NGO's, government entities, and private companies that welcome Minga House Foundation volunteers.  So, if you wish to join us, simply make your reservations and reach out to us to tell us about yourself, your skills, what you'd like to learn, and how you feel both an organization and yourself will benefit from the shared experience. We want to hear what you what believe would be the perfect experience for you.  Challenge us! We dare you not to FALL in LOVE with the Colombian coffee region and our wonderful Chinchina community. Come MINGA with us!  Stay a week, or up to 180 days! 

No one learned culture by staying at fancy resort hotels filled with foreign tourists where the locals are often not allowed to stay.  Minga House is a traditional Colombian home built with high ceilings, open spaces, and wooden floors. Yet, we have all modern appliances, warm showers, and WiFi throughout the facility.  We are next to the downtown plaza and Cathedral; you'll be the middle of all the action!  We guarantee that you engage with locals in a safe & richly educational manner.  Form relationships, perform community service and practice your Spanish. Minga House Foundation is strategically located in beautiful picturesque settings symbolic of the central Colombian coffee culture between two state capital cities, Manizales & Pereira, providing amble educational & cultural resources.  

Paid Educator Roles:   Since 2017, our team has matched over 1,000 teachers with paid part-time & full-time educator roles in over 67 municipalities throughout beautiful Colombia. And not just for English!  Every subject imaginable and for ever grade/level possible!  Colombia is a wonderful location to enjoy & grow your professional teaching career. We have the experience to guide you through the whole process. Speak to one of our advisors so we can think through all your goals & priorities during your Colombia teaching experience; we'll match you to the right opportunity for you!
Who we are:  Minga House Foundation was founded in 2014 by Glen Galindo who has 20+ years experience in U.S. higher education, is former U.S. Marine Corps Officer, and the former national director for a U.S.-based logistics company responsible for operations in Latin America.  And our staff team is composed of local bilingual young professionals. 

What is Minga? - "palabra quechua que significa construcción colectiva."

Minga entails a collaborative work system that dates back to the Incas. It refers to the commitment, contract or work agreement between two or more people. The word minga also stands for meeting or reunion.   

The word minga has continued to evolve in that direction. Nowadays, in South America, it refers to community work or work among friends when they need help from each other. In addition to this, mingas usually include a fest to celebrate the collaboration and hard work.

Carry the traditions of the Quechua people to build your community!
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​Partner Travel Websites:
Open Minded Traveler
Girl About the Globe
Volunteer South America 
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Teach in Colombia
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We love the concept of Minga House Foundation!  
Travel with a purpose! Colombia's Coffee Region is one of the most beautiful places on Earth; and Colombia is the 2nd most bio-diverse country in the world, next to Brazil. I love Colombia, my year-round Spring weather paradise.

Contact Us

Got Questions?  Colombia@MingaHouse.org

Email Us
  • MINGA
  • Service Projects
    • Emergency Medicine
    • Children
    • Youth
    • Seniors
    • Animal Rescue
    • Lake Habitat
    • English Teacher
    • Visual Arts
    • Special Needs
    • Sports and Fitness
    • Community Health
    • Construction
  • Teachers
  • Testimonials
  • Coffee Region
    • Travel Guides
    • Regional Attractions
    • Regional Events Calendar
  • Facilities
  • Our Team