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The Emiliani Project Mission Trips to Colombia
The Emiliani Project has begun a Christian mission in the South American city of Medellín, Colombia, where we are working with a home of children without families; and where we are building a new home to rescue 150 more orphaned and abandoned children from starvation, homelessness, drugs, violence, and prostitution. We are looking for volunteers to support our endeavor to save the lives of these children – and you can help! For more information about the problem faced by the children we are helping, visit the Hogar Bohío de María page.
2023 Mission Trips
- March 11th to 19th, 2023
- July 8th to 16th, 2023
- November 29th to December 5th, 2023
Here are some frequently asked questions. For more detailed information about the trip, download our Volunteer Information Packet.
What Will I Do on the Trip?
New Home Construction Volunteer
You will work at our construction site in Caldas, Colombia (30 mins south of Medellín) where we are in the process of building our new children’s home – Hogar de Cristo. You will stay in our newly remodeled guest house or in one of the new dormitory style buildings we’ve built. Each day you will volunteer your time and skills assisting our construction crew. Work duties will be based on our needs and the current construction project. For December trips, you will also be asked to help plan and facilitate a Christmas Party for the kids, which we will host in our newly built cafetería.
What Does it Cost?
The trip to Colombia costs $750 USD per person*, which covers all lodging, food, shared transportation and planned activities for the duration of the trip. All funds raised are tax deductible. Roundtrip airfare is not included. All money received is used to cover trip costs while in Colombia: unused funds are donated directly to the children’s home with whom we work.
* Due to global inflation, which has impacted costs in Colombia, we need to raise our price from $500 to $750 in order to provide a comparable experience for our volunteers.
Where is the Trip?
Medellín, Colombia. The Hogar Bohío de María is located just 30 minutes north of the city of Medellín. Our home, The Hogar de Cristo is located 30 minutes south of the city in a small town called Caldas. The home is nestled on top of a mountain at 7,000 ft of elevation with beautiful panoramic views of the countryside. It offers a perfect retreat setting for those who want to unplug and plunge into missionary work!
For more information on travel to Medellín, Colombia, please visit our Travel Guide page. Note that this travel guide is not specific to your trip. It is a generic guide for traveling to the city.
How do I Get More Information?
For more detailed information about the trip, you can download our Volunteer Information Packet. Even if you have not made up your mind to join us, we strongly encourage you to register below or contact our Director of Missions at missions@emilianiproject.org. You will receive related updates which will answer many of your questions and help you make a decision.
What is the Mission Trip Schedule?
Please note: due to rapidly changing conditions, all schedule information below is tentative and subject to change.
Day 1 – Arrival in Medellín, Colombia
On arrival into Jose Maria Cordova (MDE) airport, we will arrange transportation for you to the Hogar de Cristo home in Caldas (south of Medellin), where you will be assigned your room and given time to settle in. You will be given a tour of the facility and share a meal with the other volunteers. There are no formal activities in the evening this day. Please note, if you arrive after 8PM, you will have to make lodging arrangements at the airport hotel for the evening. We can provide more information if necessary.
Day 2 to Day 3 – Construction and other projects begin
Breakfast with the volunteers at 8am, followed by a tour of the work site where tasks and jobs will divided among you, then it is off to work. You’ll eat lunch at 1pm and dinner at 6pm. There will be free time after dinner to roam about the facility or take a walk with Arley the keeper of our facilities.
Day 4 – Christmas Party
We will be hosting a Christmas Party at the home for all of the children that live at the sister home; Hogar Bohio de Maria. Volunteers will be needed to help plan and host this party to make it as special as possible for the kids.
Day 5 to Day 6 – Construction and other projects continue
Breakfast with the volunteers at 8am, followed by continued work where tasks and jobs will be divided among you. You’ll eat lunch at 1pm and dinner at 6pm.
Day 7 – Departure Day
Transportation will be provided to the airport for departing flights.
Is it Safe?
Travel to any developing country has risks, however, we take your safety extremely seriously. At no time will you be away from Emiliani staff outside of the homes. The home in Caldas is fenced/gated and in a rural area.
Can I Bring My Children?
Yes. We find the experience to be of great benefit in developing a child’s greater understanding of the world. If you wish to bring small children, please let us know in advance as there are considerations such as access to pediatric medical care that you may want to consider in your decision.
For a complete list of FAQs along with more information about the trips, please review our Volunteer Information Packet or simply ask us.
How Do I Register to Join a Mission Trip?
Please complete the form below. If you still have questions or need additional information, please contact our Director of Missions at missions@emilianiproject.org.