Study Abroad Program in Colombia

Preparing for a more sustainable future

Develop the skills and knowledge to contribute to a more sustainable world while exploring a country brimming with color, music and passion.

Join Kagumu’s ground-breaking Jaguar Program in South America's hub of innovation and transformation, Medellin, Colombia. Widen your knowledge of pressing global issues, develop a deep understanding of sustainable development and learn how to start your own social impact project in your own community.

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Program details

Where: Medellín, Los Nevados National Park - Santa Marta, Cartagena (optional)
Focus: Sustainable development, SDGs, environmental conservation, social impact, project development
Date: Summer 2022 (June 27 - July 25) & flexible dates offered
Suggested Ages: 17-25
Number of participants: 6-18
Cost: 2,499 USD (4-week program), 3,399 USD (5-week program)
Discounts: Refer a friend to receive 200 USD off!
Credit: Available depending on your university
Language: English or Spanish Immersion
Kagumu Support: Local guides and support staff. 24/7 emergency support
Contact: info@kagumuadventures.com

Program Activities

Your learning: 20 hours of formal classes on the UN's 17 Sustainable Development with our partner institute: EAFIT.

Project visits: Reforestation, organic farming, community gardening, urban development, bio-construction, and human rights projects and organizations.

Your project: Develop the necessary skills to be able to start your own impactful social or environmental project in your country.

Soft skills developed: Problem solving, leadership, adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills among others.

Cultural activities: City tours, salsa class, cooking challenge, exotic fruit tasting, soccer match, coffee workshop, graffiti workshop and a nighttime bike ride!

Adventure weekends: Raft and zip line in the Andean jungle, trek the UNESCO-listed coffee zone, explore a stunning Spanish colonial town.

Responsible Travel: Travel responsibly, limiting your environmental impacts and increasing your positive social impacts.

Itinerary (4 weeks)

Week 1: Medellín & Rio Claro
AM: Sustainable development classes with EAFIT University.
PM: City tour, urban transformation, salsa classes and graffiti workshop. Organic farming and responsible production, reforestation of native forests.
Weekend: Natural nature reserve trip - rafting, zip lining and river swimming.

Week 2: Medellín
AM: Sustainable development classes with EAFIT University.
PM: Coffee tasting, fruit exhibition and market tour. Human rights and gender equality workshop, community gardening and home composting.
Weekend: Free weekend

Week 3: Medellin & Los Nevados National Park
AM: Social project development workshops
PM: Colombia's national sport - tejo, visit to a transformed community, and evening cycling tour. Award-winning zero-carbon emissions living, social gastronomy and sustainable cooking class.
Weekend: Trip to UNESCO-listed coffee zone and Salento. Hiking among the tallest palm trees in the world.

Week 4: Medellín & Guatapé
AM: Social project development workshops
PM: Canopy experience and evening soccer match. Social impact organizations workshops, helping lives through education.
Optional Weekend: Trip to Guatapé, trip up an otherworldly rock, visit one of Colombia's most colorful towns.

Week 5: Santa Marta & Cartagena (optional)
You travel to Colombia’s Caribbean coast to explore the highest coastal mountain range in the world. Engage in reforestation projects, discover world-class cacao and coffee and discover a rarely-visited archaeological site that dates back to 700AD!

End your adventure with a trip to Cartagena, enjoying Caribbean beaches, a unique mud volcano experience and a Afro-Colombian drum workshop.

Testimonials

"There are no words to describe Colombia. People here are playful, they hug all the time and have a lot of love to give...I think the experiences we lived are important development for our personal selves."

Brisa Yoana Alzaga, 17, Participant, Mexico

“I honestly couldn’t have imagined a better trip to Colombia... dream come true. I appreciate everything they did to make it so amazing and I’m not too sad because we’ll be running this trip every year now.”

Meredith Brady, Spanish Teacher, Pacific Ridge, United States.

"The homestay was an incredible way to legitimately connect with Colombians and discover what the culture is like. I was beyond lucky to be spoiled by an incredibly open, loving, and kind family."

Jake Sagar, 18, Participant, Pacific Ridge, United States.

What's included

20 hours of formal classes, covering the UN Sustainable Development Goals with EAFIT University.
30 hours of project development workshops with local experts in sustainable development, project implementation and impact measurement.
Private rooms in shared housing in the vibrant Poblado area of Medellin
Six cultural activities
Six sustainable project visits
Weekend excursions including meals, activities and transport
Full health insurance
Kagumu support staff (24/7 emergency support)
Carbon offsetting for your flights

Accommodation

While in Medellin, you will stay in shared student accommodation in the beautiful and green area of Poblado. The house is fitted with:

Fully equipped kitchen
Balcony
Social room with cable TV
High speed Wi-Fi
Front-desk security and CCTV-protected area
Single occupancy rooms – wardrobe, desk, chair, fan, cleaned sheets
Shared bathrooms
Weekly cleaning and laundry service

Methodology

During this unique 4-week program you will discover how you can help create a more sustainable world for all. Your university course will teach you about the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which provide us a framework of fighting pressing global issues like climate change, extreme poverty and inequality. You will experience what true change looks like with visits to pioneering local social and environmental organizations and learn from experts how to develop your own impactful project back home.