Join our Facebook Group!
Meet former & current volunteers, plus see thousands of pics & videos!
Meet former & current volunteers, plus see thousands of pics & videos!
Volunteer Testimonials
|
Francisco Bermudez, Puerto Rico
Doctor, EMT - 2018 |
I had the opportunity to be a student volunteer at Minga House Foundation twice. These experiences were very important when I was in the process of getting the residence here in the United States. Now I'm a Doctor and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.
|
|
|
Alexandria
Acevedo United States EMT - Ambulance Ride-along 2023 |
My experience with Minga House was great, I'm thankful with my guides, my translators, I'm thankful for the cultural experience. I'm glad I got to be of service to the community here.
|
|
|
Rachel Casey
United States (WA) Youth Shelter Volunteer Role: 2022 Nutritionist |
"Staying here at Minga House for the last few months has been one of the most phenomenal and rewarding experiences. The staff and everyone here has been so welcoming that they've become an extension of my own family. The town of Chinchiná is rich with Colombian culture and the most friendly people you would ever meet."
|
|
|
Abigail Ghylin
United States (MN) PreMed Volunteer Role: 2015 Global Health Team |
"I had a wonderful experience on my community health volunteer project with Minga House in Chinchina, Colombia in the summer of 2015. Glen, Aidee, the Colombian doctors working with our group, and the entire team were all so supportive and professional. This has been the best experience of my life so far, and, with the way the program maintains relationships with the rural communities we served, I could see that we were making a huge difference in the lives of the people we served."
|
|
|
Brittany Bahk United States (WA) International Business Volunteer Role: 2016 Marketing Assistant |
"My experience here will be one I will never forget. I had the awesome opportunity to work with BioProteccion as an intern during summer 2016, and everything from the program to the people were very organized. I highly recommend this is to anyone who is also looking for something professional yet challenging. I learned so much from my internship and was able to apply my skills and actively engage with the company. I helped with Spanish-to-English translations of public documents, company marketing through their website as well as hosting in their video to market their products. I carried back so much experience & knowledge with me back to the states, and I am applying what I have learned into my studies & professional life in the states! This internship was very hands-on, and the people I worked with were absolutely wonderful. I have made friends of a lifetime here, and I will gladly return in the future! Thank you so much for making my time so well-spent and remembered in Colombia!"
|
|
|
Daniel Sterner
United States (MD) Educator Volunteer Role: 2016 Community Health |
"I volunteered as a Bilingual Assistant for visiting Global Health Teams. This experience is unlike an other. Being able to assist vulnerable populations to provide them with health care services and medications, really is a great feeling. The way Minga House is structured and managed, it makes the logistics run very smoothly while also being a great place to stay. The thing I like most about Minga House is the overall goal of assisting many other organizations in the community, to bring unity. There are many different options for volunteering, from a nursing homes and schools to a dog refuge, so there is always an option that aligns with your current studies or career."
|
|
|
Wilson Lei
United States (OR) Pre-Med Volunteer Role: 2015 Community Health |
"I can say that it was the best experience of my life. One of my goals in life is to become a part of Doctors Without Borders and an internship with the global health teams was the closest experience to that I have ever had. I was able to help provide medical care and free medications to those that are not able to receive medical attention that they need. On top of that, I was able to learn a lot about different medical conditions and the processes of diagnosing conditions with direct hands-on experiences and working side-by-side with local doctors. My outstanding service trip in Colombia would not have been complete or as fun as it was without also having a good living situation and also having great activities planned around Colombia. Words cannot describe how beautiful this country is and the food is so good!"
|
|
|
Kody Ziller
United States (CO) Registered Nurse Volunteer Role: 2016 Community Health |
"Minga House is an incredible organization of the International Service Learning organization. Located in the small town of Chinchina and in the heart of the Colombian coffee region, they provide incredible volunteer opportunities to any visitor. Each volunteer receives a personalized volunteer package depending on the skills of the volunteer. In my case, I am a Nurse and my wife is a Teacher. They organized volunteer opportunities in clinics and healthcare for me, and in schools and English courses for my wife. We were also given opportunities to help at a dog sanctuary outside of town, teach or participate in music classes, and to learn to dance "Colombian style" salsa. They will also personalize your volunteering to the amount of time you are able to stay and volunteer. The staff are incredible bilingual speakers that help to communicate with the outside organizations and people with whom you will volunteer. The Minga House is a "hostel" right on the main plaza with hot showers, a shared tv, shared kitchen, and incredibly comfortable mattresses."
|
|
|
Ana Gil Robles
United States (WA) Student - Nutrition Volunteer Role 2015 Nutritionist Asst |
"I consider my stay in Minga one of the best experiences in my life. In that town, I met influential professionals as well as people I now consider good friends. During my stay in Minga, I completed a nutrition internship in Coopsaludcom, an organization geared towards providing families with food and nutrition education. I worked hand in hand with the organization's dietitian who taught me so much. She was welcoming and never hesitant to answer questions. At Coopsaludcom I had the liberty to be part of different projects. For example, I organized and directed a workshop for mothers of overweight children. The main focus at this workshop was proper nutrition followed by a question/answer session. Also, I was part of the breast feeding campaign. My job at this campaign was to visit different towns with the organization's dietitians and promote breast feeding along with its benefits. Overall, I earned valuable experiences that I would have never been able to earn in a classroom setting. This internship prepared me for the last two years of my bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology."
|
|
|
enjamin Tausheck
United States (CA) Pre-Med Volunteer Role: 2015 Community Health |
"Minga House is the bomb. I came to Chinchina to assist the community by helping run some clinics and Minga House was an awesome base of operations. Everyone there was able to help out with coordinating events and schedules and were able to get us everything we needed to do a good job. It is a beautiful little place and all the resident staff are angels. I really got to get close to the community and Minga house during my short stay there and I guarantee that I will return for multiple missions in the future. Thank you Minga House."
|
|