As a volunteer

As stated, the meaning of being a volunteer for the Arhuacos comes from a place of personal desire and openness. This is the reason why the Mamos from Mamorwa, who represent the guardians of the ancestral wisdom of the Arhuaco people, offer to immerse volunteers in a full experience that blends work on the body, on emotions, on the mind and spirit.

This personal work starts at a really particular time of the day, at dawn. Between 3 and 6 a.m. there is a special conjunction that helps to meditate, focus and untangle the sufferings and difficulties that block our way in life. This opens the door to slowly move towards a clearer mind.

This daily process teaches us to “look inside ourselves”, so that our understanding of our history grows.

It is also at the same moment of the day, the Mamos teach us, that the Spirit of water is far more present, and that the river’s water acquires deeper cleansing characteristics, which complete the morning mind work through a purifying immersion in the river.

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After this introspective moment comes breakfast with the arhuaca family.

The work started in the morning is internalized and continues to develop within the activities throughout the day. Indeed, the Mamos will offer many different physical tasks linked with the current necessities of the reserve, each carrying a precise meaning for the ones achieving them.

As an example, cutting wood and bringing it back to the village means, in the arhuaca tradition, that we are asking for a conversation around the fire and that we implicitly have the wish to listen and to learn.

The physical work of the day is fundamental to the concept of volunteering. This is why there is no precise time limit set by the Mamos (the minimum being 4 daily hours of work, 6 days a week). Rather, it is a question of being involved with the daily life of an indigenous community and of learning as much as possible about all the richness the people and community have to offer.

At sunset, comes the moment to gather around a fire for the fire circle. This is a powerful moment of communion and exchange with the spirit of fire, for which the Mamos are translators, connected to the knowledge of their ancestors, dating back millenia.

Each one of the volunteers will have the opportunity to talk about feelings that arose during the day and to go deeper and access the areas they wish to work on, while at the sacred Mamorwa site.

The equipment available during your visit :

- Rooms with hammocks.
- Dry toilets and regular ones.
- The site has no electricity or phone cover which offers complete disconnectedness and tranquility. Note : please remember to bring a headlamp for the night.
- Mineral water, taken directly from the local sources. Note : for people who are not used to drinking unfiltered water, we provide a tank of water boiled with plants, ready for consumption. If you wish, you can bring a purification or filtration system for drinking water.

Conviviality with the Arhuacos is an amazing life experience in itself because of the natural joy and happiness that radiate from these wonderful beings.

The children and other members of the family also enjoy teaching visitors the basics of the “Iku”, their mother tongue.

Typically, Sundays are kept for contemplative mountain walks intended to welcome and nurture within ourselves the wisdom that the mountains embody, according to the arhuaco knowledge.

Baths are taken directly in the river, a place full of magic with an incredibly intense wild flora and fauna.

Finally, the entire elaboration process of coffee and chocolate will also be part of the discoveries that you will make at Mamorwa.

The Arhuacos are waiting for you with the desire to talk and exchange about their culture and their views of the universe… and they do this naturally and spontaneously, emanating from their love of life and natural sense of humor that, no doubt, will charm you.

We hope you can join us soon and Duni (meaning thank you in Iku), you are all welcome !

Practical details

– Possibility to come at any moment during the year without any time limitation

– It is advisable to stay for at least 10 to 15 days if you wish to benefit from the introspective work offered by the Mamos

– Costs : 50 000 COP a day which includes food and accomodation in addition to the personal support from the Mamos
(equivalent to more or less 10 to 12 euros)

Contact us

Find all the comments from volunteers on our dedicated page:

</p> <p>View project reviews of Mamorwa on Volunteer World</p> <p>

There are places that we never forget, that touch us deeply because of what they leave in our hearts. Mamorwa is one of them…

Anne-ClaireVolunteering and Retreat 2022

This 3 weeks experience in Mamorwa will remain engraved in my mind. It was an unforgettable adventure…

CharlotteVolunteering 2019

It is a stay that will remain forever engraved in my mind. To live with the Arhuacos is to reconnect with nature and with oneself. By coming to them I opened a door and simply learned to BE. I will be forever grateful for what they have given me…

MarlèneVolunteering 2019

In this magical place, far from any technology, where time seems not to exist, I had the happiness and the honour to share the daily life of this Arhuaca family. Thank you to all these people for these moments of life that still accompany me in my daily life, and to this new part of the family that is waiting for me and that I will have a lot of joy to find again…

ThomasVolunteering 2019 Retreat 2021

Thanks to Mamos Duavico, Juan and the whole family, I had a great experience, authentic and spiritual. I went there out of curiosity and I came out better…

RémiVolunteering 2021

VOLUNTEERING
IN MAMORWA

BEING A VOLUNTEER
IN PRACTICE

AND APART FROM THE WORK
IN MAMORWA

Practical details

VOLUNTEERING IN MAMORWA

BEING A VOLUNTEER IN PRACTICE

AND APART FROM THE WORK IN MAMORWA

Practical details

VOLUNTEERING
IN MAMORWA

BEING A VOLUNTEER
IN PRACTICE

AND APART FROM THE WORK
IN MAMORWA