The volunteer work at La Granja is not only rewarding: it also allows the student to practice Spanish with children and with other professionals working at the site.

La Granja has several fields of action where the students can cooperate according to their possibilities. These fields of action are:

• La Granja has a kindergarten for children from low-income status. Many children reach La Granja in a state of malnutrition. This is why the kindergarten provides the children with a balanced diet.

• La Granja offers some adolescent  girls –who live in an orphan house connected with the foundation- the opportunity to learn and carry out some domestic chores, agricultural work and animal breeding aimed at motivating them to become self sufficient at a moment in their lives when they are about to become citizens and to leave the orphan house.

• La Granja offers person with mental problems the possibility of feeling useful by doing some gardening. These persons are also connected to a mental health care institution with which La Granja has contact.

• La Granja owns a beautiful house.  The house was a donation by a family and can be rented to persons or companies for social events.  The money received is then used to help finance multiple activities..

Following is Dr John’s testimony about his voluntary work:

My vacation in Bogotá Colombia is one of the finest I’ve had in many years because of the volunteer program offered to students while studying Spanish here at Nueva Lengua Escuela de español Universidad de la Sabana.

I volunteered in a Charity called La Granja, The program gave me the opportunity to work with two groups of children. The first group range in age from 2 to 4 years old. The second group are girls ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old.

Even though my ability to communicate effectively in Spanish was limited, the management and Staff of the farm have been extremely helpful and considerate. They know I want to be of help so they have been more than willing to help me accomplish that.

I have enjoyed helping the smaller children play games, work puzzles and use the playground equipment.

The older girls are indeed young ladies so I treat them as such, consequently we have a great time using both English, which they are studying and the Spanish I am learning at the University.

They are very enthusiastic about learning English, so during the time I accompany the girls when they feed the rabbits, plant vegetables and various fruit products I help them with their English which they seem to appreciate.

We all laugh a lot as we struggle to communicate with each other about our lives and dreams for the future.

There is much more I could say about how much I’ve enjoyed the Sspanish course at theUniversity and the volunteer program.

I will be glad to correspond with anyone interested in having an experience of a life time. You can email me in the USA at: Dr. John Jackson drjuliusya@sbcglobal.net

Dr. John Jackson