How would you describe a week in the life of a VWI participant?

Check out a week in the life of some of our VWI participants on our blog HERE.

Each participant’s experience is unique, because each individual is matched with a volunteer role that aligns with their professional skills, interests and remote work schedule. Some participants may volunteer two afternoons a week, others one full day a week. Some participants may be taking time off of work and will be volunteering full time.

In addition to the partner projects, there will be many other planned activities throughout the program, all of which are optional and include:

Weekly Meetups

Each week we will have a planned dinner meetup in which participants have a chance to try a new local flavor, and get to know other participants in the program. We’ll discuss our experiences from the week and invite guests from the community.

Cultural Events

VWI will plan sporadic cultural opportunities such as lectures from local community members (professors, government officials, etc.), or local events such as dance performances, music events, etc.

Day Trips

A day trip is included in each of our program locations (beginning 2019):

Medellín Program - Guatapé and El Peñol Rock

Guatapé is an Andean resort town about 2 hours east of Medellín. The town is known for its houses decorated with colorful socolos (bas-reliefs) that are unique to each home. Guatape is located next to the vast, man-made Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir. The day trip includes a short hike up Piedra del Peñol, a giant granite rock southwest of town, with an incredible view. Venturers will enjoy a typical Paisa lunch, and explore the town.

Chiang Mai Program - Bua Tong (Sticky Waterfalls) and Mae Ngat Dam Floating Houses

Bua Tong or the Sticky Waterfalls are located about an hour and a half drive north of Chiang Mai’s Old City, and are impressive in nature. The mineral deposits that form the falls, allow one to climb directly up the rocks into the oncoming cascading water.

Following the falls, is a trip to the Mae Ngat Dam floating houses. Venturers will take a short boat ride to a floating house restaurant where they will enjoy a Thai family style lunch and spend the afternoon in the water kayaking or having fun on the lake's inflatables.

Lisbon Program - Bike Tour of Costa da Caparica

Costa da Caparica, located across the river Tejo from Lisbon, is home to many historic fishing villages. Venturers will spend the day peddling from town to town on electric bikes as they learn about the livelihood and history of the locals, whose families have subsisted off of the same traditional fishing practices for hundreds of years.

San Miguel de Allende Program - The Pyramids of Canada de la Virgen

One of Mexico’s best-kept secrets, the Cañada de la Virgen archaeological zone has only been open to the public since February of 2011. Through the tour Venturers will be provided with an academic-level introduction to the pre-Hispanic history of Mexico through visits to the site led by a local guide. The site itself is a true testament to the mathematical, astronomical and architectural genius acquired over thousands of years by its builders and their ancestors.

Partner Site Visits

In each location, we coordinate visits to various partner sites, so that in addition to each participant’s pro-bono project experience, they will also have the opportunity to view the work of other participants. There may also be opportunities to work with our partner organizations in short-term projects, such as a beach clean-up or assisting with a fund-raising event.

Self-organized Events

We encourage participants to organize additional activities and clubs, such as running groups, yoga meet-ups, photography workshops, book clubs, or any other interests that participants have! One of the most valuable aspects of our participants' experience has been sharing skills and learning from their fellow Venturers.

Hanging Out

Part of Venture with Impact’s mission is to influence people to learn about new cultures. The diverse range of participants allows people to learn not only about South American culture, but about the experiences and culture of their fellow VWI participants. There are plenty of opportunities to spend time with fellow Venturers, locals and other foreign volunteers.

Everything’s optional

The only required activity as a VWI participant is the commitment you make to your non-profit organization. All other events and trips are optional. Some Venturers may wish to participate in most activities, where as others may wish to spend more time on their own. VWI staff are available onsite 24/7 for assistance.