Renovation of houses and teaching English on the Caribbean island of Tierra Bomba
       Tierra Bomba          August 21 - September 3, 2010

Volunteer project: Tierra Bomba is a small beautiful island located in the Cartagena bay in the North coast of Colombia. The island belongs to the city of Cartagena Di Indias which is one of the most colorful and attractive cities in Colombia. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cartagena was part of Spanish Empire around the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, one of the chief ports of the Spanish treasure fleet and so a prime target for English and French pirate and privateers. Many of Cartagena's fortifications still stand: the Castle of San Felipe, built between 1536 and 1657; the walls around the Old City (las Murallas); the undersea wall across Bocagrande built between 1771 and 1778; and the forts of San Jose and San Fernando, built between 1751 and 1759 at Bocachica.

To the south of the Murallas is the modern city of Cartagena on the peninsula of Bocagrande. Cartagena is the capital of the department of Bolivar, with a population of a little bit more than 1 million inhabitants.
Tierra Bomba is almost like a forgotten island though it is only 15 minutes away from Cartagena by boat. In the island there are around 4.000 inhabitants who live virtually from tourism in the city of Cartagena and fisheries. Tierra Bomba as not a typical destination for tourists, the travel agencies are concentrated in Cartagena and on the islands, which are located a little further south for example about 30 km southeast of the city are the Islas de Rosario (Rosario Islands), a nationally protected park which features an aquarium with trained dolphins and many varieties of tropical fishes. Therefore the people in the island usually have to go by boat to the beaches of Cartagena to sell coconut water, necklaces and conduct massage with coconut oil. It is also very sad that due to a lack of opportunities and education, many of the young people are led into prostitution in the city to earn their living.
The island is a safe place to visit and the people are very friendly and grateful for the work that we are trying to establish.

From 9.00 pm to 12.00 in the morning the work will be mainly focused on renovation of houses in the island. From 14.00 to 17.00 in the afternoon the work will be focused in the education part. Weekends are free.

Renovation of the houses in Tierra Bomba
The work will be focused on the renovation of the houses in the village of Tierra Bomba. We will start with the poorest houses giving the opportunity to the owners to paint the walls and to fix the floors. Some of the houses are in a very bad shape but we will only handle tasks which we are able to perform. This means that we will mainly focus our work on beautifying the houses outside and inside as much as we can.

English teaching and non formal education
The educational part of the project will be focused on teaching basic English and basic geography to the people in Tierra Bomba. Mainly this workshops are focused on teaching the children but if the adults will like to join the workshop than they are very much welcome to join us.
We will also organize different games and sports for the children of Tierra Bomba in order to give the opportunity to the kids to have a different view to enjoy free time.

Language: English/Spanish

Leisure time: Excursions to Rosario islands and the national park of Tairona, both amazing places in the Colombian Caribbean Sea, will be organized, as well as a city tour to Cartagena Di Indias. The volunteers will be always under the protection and supervision of the group leaders.

Accommodation: We will be staying in the local school.

Location: Tierra Bomba Island in the Caribbean Sea

Terminal: Rafael Núñez International Airport. Volunteers will be picked up at the airport and brought to the Tierra Bomba Island.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 160 Euros
The extra fee is intended to support the hosting organization who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival on the project.
 

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