INTERN WITH US!
We are calling all animal lovers! If you’re looking for an internship sanctuary experience in the magical Andes Mountains in South America, we are waiting for you!
IMPORTANT
At the sanctuary, we have early hours and late nights.
As an intern, you need to be ready to receive instructions and carry them out to the best of your ability. You’re not signing up for a holiday with lots of animal cuddles, you will be put to work on our internship program… ok ok, yes! you will get those animal cuddles too!
We are a medium size sanctuary that has been rescuing animals for the last 17 years, with around 300 rescued animals living right now in the sanctuary fields. We are the first sanctuary in Colombia and the only one in South America verified by the Global Federation for Animals Sanctuary.
Your help is essential to continue giving animals the best quality of life, the sanctuary team is responsible for the daily care of our rescued animals living at the Sanctuary. Animal Caregiving Interns are vital to daily functioning, and your support is essential.
REQUIREMENTS
-Must be 18 years or over
-Must eat a plant-based diet while at the sanctuary
-Pay your own airfare
-Able to carry out tasks of a physical nature
-Reliable, honest, and hardworking
-Be comfortable and loving with all the animals
-Respect the peaceful environment at the sanctuary
-Provide references from organizations you have volunteered with before or from your current employer
-Help to maintain buildings and fences
-Be able to work cooperatively with other volunteers and staff
DUTIES MAY INCLUDE:
-Cleaning out kitty litter trays & bedding; poo patrol
-Raking – keeping all pathways clear & presentable
-Sorting & assisting with feeding as required
-Cleaning the animal shelters
-Collecting or spreading cow manure
-Working in the organic greenhouse
-Fixing fences
-Sharing time with animals
-Brushing the animals
-Socializing
-Assisting in maintaining records for each individual animal
-Contributing content for social media and website
-Carrying bales of hay to some of the animals
-Cleaning rescued rats’ cages
-Cleaning water bowls and troughs and replenishing them with fresh water
-Raking and cleaning out barns, coops, and pens
-Doing laundry
-Washing dishes
-Taking out garbage and recycling
-Refilling feed bins
-Unloading hay and food deliveries
-Supporting staff and vets during health checks and treatments when needed
-Observing animal behavior and getting to know each animal as an individual
SKILLS
-Willing and able to perform all responsibilities and duties
-Ability to maintain a positive and respectful attitude
-Strong team player while having the ability to work independently
-Capable of working in different weather conditions (No worries, we don’t have winter or summer in this area, it is nice weather normally)
-Be reliable and hard-working
-Ability to perform strenuous physical labor and consistently lift at least 50 pounds unassisted
-No previous animal experience is necessary but it is a big plus
WHEN: RIGHT NOW! November to January 2023
We expect volunteers to volunteer for a minimum of 3 months. Pick your best months…
- January to March
- April to July
- August to October
- October to December
You have to cover your living expenses like food and personal items.
The sanctuary house:
- The Sanctuary House is a shared, comfortable communal space where every intern lives. You can have your own bedroom or share (It depends on the number of interns we have at the moment), and each bedroom has a private bathroom.
- Companion animals are not permitted.
- Out of respect for the rescued animals under our protection and our desire to change the world for animals, all staff and interns are required to maintain a plant-based (aka vegan) diet while on sanctuary property.
- Food markets and restaurants are within a 15-minute drive. We are located near the town of Chia, where you can find everything, and 40 minutes from the capital city Bogota. Transportation and food are very cheap.
- Interns are responsible for buying and preparing their own food and have to keep clean all the areas of the sanctuary house. There is a schedule among all the residents of the sanctuary house to organize the cleaning days
- A vehicle is provided to full-time interns living on-site to go grocery shopping only for those with valid driver’s licenses who are eligible. If not, transportation is easy here, and we also do weekly trips with interns to the grocery shop.
Yo soy diseñadora gráfica y podría ofrecer mi servicios voluntarios para eso. Déjenme saber si necesitan mi ayuda, siempre he sentido gran respeto y amor por los animales.
Hola yadira. Muchisimas gracias! Claro que necesitamos de tu ayuda, puedes por favor escribirnos a juliana@paramatmafarm.org y asi quedo con tu email y nos comenzamos a comunicar ahi. Muchisimas gracias. un abrazo
My family and I are interested in visiting. Are children welcome?
Yes, of course. All are welcome, especially children.
Hola Juliana,
Que Pena te mande un email hace unos días para organizar un visite, pero no recibí una repuesta. No vivo en Colombia y estoy aquí por corto tiempo, me gustaría visitar por 3 días, espero que lees esta email.
Hi, thank you. We have a campaign going on now that we need help with. https://www.youcaring.com/juliana-s-animal-sanctuary-512908
Hi, where are you located? I am in Bogota but can not find your address online!
We are about 40 minutes from Bogota.
Hola,
I am interested in your retreat program. Where is the information? 🙂
Thanks
We are still working out the details for the retreats. We have been so busy setting up the new sanctuary and getting settled. Please subscribe to our newsletter so that you learn about the retreats when we are ready to announce them.
Thanks for your reply Juliana.
I’d like to volunteer from Sunday 16 th for 2 weeks if poss.
Thank you
Gill
Hi Gill, sorry we missed this. Please write to us directly through the contact form to arrange to volunteer. https://julianasanimalsanctuary.org/contact-us/
Hello, my name is Sonya Williams. I am very interested in learning more about how i can become involved with your program. I would like to be able to come to stay during the month of July.
Hi Sonya,
You are very welcome to come and stay with us. We always need help here and Colombia is a lovely country to visit. What would you like to know?
Hello Sonya, great! Please send us a message with more info about you and your desire to volunteer
Hello, I would like to come help for one week. I see that people who live in Colombia have different accommodations. Can you please tell me about that? Thank you for doing something so amazing!
Hi Alexa, we have guest rooms so you are welcome to visit. You just have to book it.
Hola Juliana. Yo quiero visitar el santuario, yo vivo en Medellín pero estaré en Bogotá en noviembre, quiero ir hasta ese lugar tan bonito. Cómo puedo tener más información?
Hola! Cuál es el plan especial por quedarse más de un mes? En qué consiste?
Muchas gracias!!
Hola! yo soy artista y empezaré a estudiar diseño de escenarios. vivo en Medellín y me encataría hacer un voluntariado con ustedes!
HOla, te acabamos de enviar un email
Hola Juliana!
Hace un año te escribí interesada en el voluntariado, quedamos en hablar pero la comunicación se cortó ahí.
Estuve viviendo un tiempo afuera del país y ahora estoy de regreso otra vez interesada en ser voluntaria en tu granja.
Mucho ánimo con tu labor, espero me contactes si crees que haya algo en lo que pueda ayudar. 🙂
Hola! Estoy interesada en realizar un voluntariado. Vivo en Bogotá entonces quisiera conocer precios y acomodación.
Hi Juliana,
I am moving to Colombia with my wife and dog Chewbacca in May 2019, I have been searching to be apart of an awesome team of people who share similar beliefs. I am interested in becoming a permanent volunteer, I am going to school to become a Holistic Health Coach and I am getting training on social media/ business through IIN. If I can be of any assistance to you and the animals please let me know. I am great with communicating on paper and in person, and I am looking to change the world one step at a time. I am also vegan, an advocate for the vegan lifestyle, and I am passionate about helping people and animals.
I also wanted to know if my dog would be allowed to visit, and wanted information on becoming a permanent volunteer. How much it would be to visit etc.?
Hi Fabiola, thank you for offering to help. Please write to Juliana directly at our contact page: https://julianasanimalsanctuary.org/contact-us/