The magic of Medellín

There is something magical about Medellín. Maybe it’s the perfect weather, maybe it’s the beautiful setting, or perhaps it’s the friendly people. Whatever it is, it keeps drawing people back to visit and even to live here.

Long-term Danish volunteer Michael is on his way back to Medellín right now. He came to Medellín for a three-month volunteer stint in November 2011 but found it so difficult to leave that he ended up staying a total of six months! You can read more about ‘the volunteer that wouldn’t go home’ on our Globalteer website. 

In his old life, Michael was head of an anti-corruption initiative at the World Economic Forum in Geneva but volunteering in Medellín changed his life and he now plans to start his own organization to help impoverished children. We wish him the very best of luck!

Michael and some of the kids at one of our partner projects

Australian volunteer Jodie volunteered with Globalteer at one of our Colombia Children’s Projects in August 2011. She came back to the flower-filled ‘City of Eternal Spring’ a few months back and is now planning on making the city her home.

Kevin was one of our Globalteer Colombia Children’s Project volunteers in May 2011. He had such a great experience that he recently returned to Medellín with a friend for a 10-day visit. Kevin was keen to see the wonderful kids he had worked with during his volunteer stint and loved catching up with them all again at one of our Globalteer Colombia Children’s Projects. Kevin is planning on moving to Medellin next year and is committed to helping more and raising funds for the projects here.

Californian Bob holds the record for returning volunteers - he has volunteered at one of our Globalteer Colombia Children’s Projects three times! He continues to make donations to help support our projects and he will be coming back to visit ‘his kids’ at the end of the summer.

Bob and friends

And recent volunteer, Norwegian Bjarne, had such a great experience in Medellín that he is also planning on coming to live here in 2013.

Bjarne on an outing with some of the cute Colombian kids

Lukas, who came from Holland to volunteer for 8 weeks from October to December 2011, also had a life-changing experience in Medellín. He recently went back home after staying and living here for 8 months but he didn’t go alone. He met a local Colombia girl, fell in love, and has taken her back to live in Holland where they are planning on getting married very soon. Congratulations, Lukas!

Lukas on an outing with some of the kids

It’s amazing and very special to us that many of our Globalteer volunteers have enjoyed both their experience at our projects and their stay in Medellín so much that they have either stayed much longer than originally planned or have found a way to come back to visit or live!