About YMCA COLead3rs
It is an International Volunteer Program for young leaders from different parts of the world who come to do Experiential and Playful Educational activities with all ages, to support the entire educational community, and create Intercultural Experiences through English as a foreign language. These young leaders become Cultural Agents.
Duration of the Program: From January 2026 until June 2026 Deadline to apply: September 30th 2025
Who can apply?
English speakers with passion for the language, nationals from countries where Spanish is not the first language, who enjoy working with children and youth, are looking to gain teaching experience or to volunteer abroad and make an impact.
Requeriments
Nationals from countries where Spanish is not the official language
Ages between 21 and 39
Native speaker of English or C1 level
Previous experience as a volunteer, camp counselor or professional working with children or teens is preferred
Graduated from technical school, college, university is preferred
Clear health and police background check
Overview
Bring diversity to schools, creating a more accepting and inclusive generation of kids
Most Schools and Universities are in Colombia’s capital city - Bogotá D.C. Other destinations include Valledupar, Pereira and Rionegro
5 and 10 month programs available
Age of participants 21 - 39
Learn about Colombia's history and culture through the eyes of its community and youth
On-site support from YMCA Staff Including pre-departure and visa guidance
Orientation, trainings, and certificates
Free Spanish lessons available if mentors are available
What to expect
Be placed as a Cultural Agent, teaching English and leading YMCA activities.
- Be placed as a Cultural Agent at a local Colombian school or university (most of them located in Bogotá)
- Cultural Agents are not the main teachers, you’ll be working alongside local teachers
- 30 hours/week leading activities in English in Colombian Schools and universities
- 10 hours/week leading activities in YMCA programs
- Age groups vary: 5 – 17 and university students (young adults)
Activities in other areas of the YMCA
Become part of the YMCA movement by getting engaged in other activities of the community outreach programs and the YMCA Colombia office in Bogota.
10 hours/week leading activities in YMCA programs.
Opportunity to travel and volunteer in different parts of the country on some weekends and holidays
Work side by side with a community of Colombians and international volunteers
Trainings, certificates, follow up and support from the YMCA team
- Pre-departure, documentation and visa guidance
- Airport pick-up, Orientation, and support to find housing options
-
YMCA training on Experiential and Integrated education among other topics (includes certificate)
- Gain experience with seasonal participation in the YMCA Colombia Programs such as: YCAMP YTAC, English Immersion Programs, Camp Sessions and others
- On-site support from YMCA Staff during the entire program
- Monthly stipend to cover: accommodation, meals, local transportation and basic personal expenses.
What you will need to cover
About enrollment fee
The YMCA Colombia is a non-profit organization and relies on enrollment fees to provide participants with placement assistance, orientation, guidance through visa and pre-departure, and arrival process.
Duration of the Program: From January 2026 until June 2026
Deadline to apply: September 30th 2025
The destinations
- Bogotá: Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia. It is a place of convergence for people from all around the country and is therefore diverse and multicultural. Within this city, the past and present come together. The city is also very green thanks to its parks and hills that extend along its eastern boundary, dwarfed by their two highest points, Monserrate and Guadalupe. The landscape that the people of Bogotá enjoy daily—the green sea that makes up the Andes mountain range, rising up in the east—would be nearly impossible to find in any other large city.
- Pereira: Pereira, capital of Risaralda department, is situated in the Eje Cafetero region, being therefore the most populated city of the zone. It is surrounded by three snow-capped mountains, including Nevado del Ruiz, which is located in the middle mountain range. Due to its warm temperature, Pereira also offers a variety of plant and landscape coverage, empowering the municipality with one of the richest biodiversities in the nation with forest reserves, natural hot springs and lagoons.
- Valledupar: Valledupar is a city located on the Colombian Atlantic coast, known for being the capital of the department of Cesar and the birthplace of Vallenato, a Colombian musical genre. The city is characterized by having a tropical savannah climate, an outstanding wildlife and being classified as one of the most wooded cities in the country. The city is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá, enjoying multiple water sources that originate inside the mountains.
- Rionegro: Rionegro is a city in eastern Antioquia, known for its colonial heritage, cool climate, and growing economic importance. Once the stage of key events in Colombia’s independence, it now thrives as a development hub thanks to the José María Córdova International Airport and its direct connection to Medellín through the Túnel de Oriente. Festivals like the Fiesta Nacional de la Empanada and the Festival de las Tradiciones Rionegreras, together with its cultural landmarks and scenic surroundings, make Rionegro a vibrant destination where tradition and progress meet.
You are one step away from traveling to Colombia!
What the alumni are saying?
Check out more testimonies at GoOverseas
The YMCA Colombia is looking for Cultural Agents from all over the world!
Duration of the Program: From January 2026 until June 2026
Deadline to apply: September 30th 2025
