{"id":2929,"date":"2026-07-25T13:07:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T18:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hepacom.org\/voluntariado-en-colombia\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T13:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T18:07:41","slug":"voluntariado-en-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hepacom.org\/en\/voluntariado-en-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteering in Colombia: types, requirements and how to choose an organization"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated: July 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Almost no one becomes a volunteer because they read a law: they become a volunteer because they saw something they couldn't ignore.<\/strong> But then come the practical questions\u2014can they ask me for money? Will it look good on my resume? How do I know the organization is legitimate?\u2014and that's when it's helpful to know that the volunteering in Colombia<\/em> It has been recognized and regulated by law since 2001. Here we translate it for you without legal jargon and give you a path to choose wisely where to invest your time.<\/p>\n

We are Hepacom, the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation (NIT 900.841.914-1), and from Itag\u00fc\u00ed we work for the right to decent housing through our own volunteer days. We are writing this because we get asked the same question every week, and because those who arrive informed contribute more and stay longer.<\/p>\n

What is volunteering in Colombia according to the law?<\/h2>\n

\"Volunteering<\/p>\n

It is the action of service to the community that a person freely offers, with their time and talent, without receiving remuneration of a work nature.<\/strong> That's the definition in Law 720 of 2001, the law that recognizes, promotes, and regulates voluntary action by Colombian citizens. And from that law come three things worth understanding before signing up anywhere.<\/p>\n

The first is the definition itself. A volunteer is \u00ab"any natural person who freely and responsibly, without receiving remuneration of a labor nature, offers time, work and talent for the construction of the common good"\u00bb<\/em>. No contract, no salary, and no obligation to stay: freedom is the first principle recognized by the law.<\/p>\n

The second point is that not all organizations are the same. The law distinguishes between them. Volunteer Organizations (DOV)<\/strong> \u2014with legal status, non-profit and created precisely for that purpose\u2014 of the Entities with Voluntary Action (ECAV)<\/strong>, Those who carry out voluntary work even if it is not their primary purpose. A foundation like ours belongs to the first group; a company that organizes a day out with its employees belongs to the second.<\/p>\n

The third one is almost unknown and is the most useful: the paragraph of article 7 says that the volunteers They can request a certificate of the services provided.<\/strong>. Your time is documented in writing. If you're in college, looking for a job, or applying for a scholarship, that matters, and asking for it isn't being presumptuous: it's your right.<\/p>\n

What types of volunteering exist in Colombia?<\/h2>\n

The law does not speak of "types" but of activities of general interest<\/em>, And that list is much broader than people imagine: not all volunteering involves carrying bricks or distributing food baskets. Here's a practical explanation of the areas recognized in Article 4, along with what each typically entails:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Area of voluntary action<\/th>\nWhat do you do in practice?<\/th>\nWhat do they usually ask you for?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Welfare and social services<\/strong><\/td>\nAccompanying families, delivering aid, supporting soup kitchens and shelters<\/td>\nFixed days of the week and respectful treatment; sometimes a short induction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Educational<\/strong><\/td>\nAcademic support, literacy, reading with children, workshops for adults<\/td>\nProof of employment for several months; if you work with minors, any documents required by the organization.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Civic and community<\/strong><\/td>\nSupport community action boards, oversight committees, and neighborhood coexistence<\/td>\nKnowing or moving around the territory and enduring long meetings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Housing and improvement<\/strong><\/td>\nDays of construction, painting, and home improvements for vulnerable families<\/td>\nAppropriate physical condition, work clothes and follow site safety rules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Health<\/strong><\/td>\nLogistical support for health brigades and campaigns<\/td>\nIf the role is clinical, a degree and professional license are required; if it is logistical, neither is required.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Environmental<\/strong><\/td>\nPlanting, cleaning of ravines, separation of waste<\/td>\nAlmost nothing: it's the best starting point for a first time<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sports, cultural and leisure<\/strong><\/td>\nSports schools, music workshops, neighborhood libraries<\/td>\nTalent or experience in the discipline, rather than social experience<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional (pro bono)<\/strong><\/td>\nAccounting, design, law, or communication for the organization<\/td>\nYour professional profile; usually done on an hourly basis and remotely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Hepacom was developed based on the activities of general interest outlined in Article 4 of Law 720 of 2001. The requirements for each area are defined by each organization, not by law. Last updated: July 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Common mistakes when starting a volunteer program in Colombia<\/h3>\n