VA Education Benefits for U.S. Veterans in Colombia
via Minga House Foundation
At Minga House Foundation, we honor and support U.S. veterans by offering educational & service learning programs. Through our hands-on, community-driven approach, we provide meaningful opportunities for U.S. veterans to develop new skills and make a lasting impact on their own lives and on our Colombian communities through their service-learning experience. MHF is recognized as an official study site by the Center for Veteran and Military Services of Westminster University (UT).
Why choose Minga House Foundation as a study site?
Located in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, Minga House Foundation is committed to fostering leadership, cross-cultural exchange, and social responsibility since 2014. Our educational & service-learning programs are designed to empower participants with practical skills in education, healthcare, social work, community development, and environmental conservation. In 2022, Minga House Foundation became an official study site for IPSL & Westminster University, allowing participants to earn college credit and apply for various types of academic funding.
All of our programs are facilitated by our bilingual staff and are recommended to include supplemented Spanish-language courses, ensuring that participants can fully immerse themselves in their experience while contributing to our local communities. With a blend of hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world impact, our participants leave with confidence, a more profound sense of purpose, and the ability to turn their aspirations into reality. To explore and design a personalized educational plan, contact our veterans advisor at +57 323 505 5710 or [email protected]
Located in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, Minga House Foundation is committed to fostering leadership, cross-cultural exchange, and social responsibility since 2014. Our educational & service-learning programs are designed to empower participants with practical skills in education, healthcare, social work, community development, and environmental conservation. In 2022, Minga House Foundation became an official study site for IPSL & Westminster University, allowing participants to earn college credit and apply for various types of academic funding.
All of our programs are facilitated by our bilingual staff and are recommended to include supplemented Spanish-language courses, ensuring that participants can fully immerse themselves in their experience while contributing to our local communities. With a blend of hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world impact, our participants leave with confidence, a more profound sense of purpose, and the ability to turn their aspirations into reality. To explore and design a personalized educational plan, contact our veterans advisor at +57 323 505 5710 or [email protected]
Veterans Convention @ Medellin, May 27th
Education Opportunities in Colombia Workshop
FREE REGISTRATION (Free lunch included)
Important Info:
Program eligibility can only be confirmed after an academic program proposal is approved by the VSO of the Center for Veterans and Military Services at Westminster University in Utah. As a recognized study site since 2022 by Westminster University, veterans may qualify to earn college credits using the GI Bill (Ch. 33) or VR&E (Ch. 31 benefit to support their immersion. There should be no automatic inherent expectation that every U.S. veteran will qualify by default. Minga House Foundation is not a qualifying governmental agency. Minga House Foundation is a Colombia-based Non-Profit Organization that has provided service-learning experiences primarily to university students in the U.S. since 2014. Each participating veteran must apply for program eligibility through the standard process and can expect to qualify or not, based on their individual profile as determined by the VA. Minga House Foundation has no power to influence any participant's eligibility process. During your intake process, you will have the opportunity to work with advisors to apply and confirm your own individual and independent eligibility.
Program eligibility can only be confirmed after an academic program proposal is approved by the VSO of the Center for Veterans and Military Services at Westminster University in Utah. As a recognized study site since 2022 by Westminster University, veterans may qualify to earn college credits using the GI Bill (Ch. 33) or VR&E (Ch. 31 benefit to support their immersion. There should be no automatic inherent expectation that every U.S. veteran will qualify by default. Minga House Foundation is not a qualifying governmental agency. Minga House Foundation is a Colombia-based Non-Profit Organization that has provided service-learning experiences primarily to university students in the U.S. since 2014. Each participating veteran must apply for program eligibility through the standard process and can expect to qualify or not, based on their individual profile as determined by the VA. Minga House Foundation has no power to influence any participant's eligibility process. During your intake process, you will have the opportunity to work with advisors to apply and confirm your own individual and independent eligibility.
Where to start:
- Contact the MHF veterans advisor at [email protected] or WhatsApp +57 323 505 5710.
- Once registered, submit your Enrollment Form (VA Form 22-1999) to the IPSL-Westerminster admissions team.
- The IPSL-Westminster team will review and certify your application, then submit it to the VA for approval and funding disbursement.
- IPSL-Westminster will process payments directly to Minga House Foundation for tuition or provide stipends for living expenses.
- During this intake process, upon your request, you can be introduced to a VR&E eligibility advisor to assist you with the VR&E separate application process.
- Families are welcome! While you are enrolled in your courses, your children may also enroll in our worldschooling option, part-time or full-time, at ColegioMenfis.org.
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Programs of study through IPSL-Westerminster: Some courses may be offered in Chinchina, Caldas (Coffee Region) study site, located between the two state capital cities, Manizales (Caldas) & Pereira (Risaralda). Other courses are also offered in Medellin, Antioquia.
1. Spanish 2. Spanish & Latin American Studies 3. Master of Arts in Community Organizing and Social Activism 4. Master of Arts in International Development and Service 5. Non-degree service-learning programs 6. Study abroad |
Warrior Scholars Fellowship
To recognize the service and contributions of U.S. veterans, we offer the exclusive Warrior Scholars Fellowship. These fellowships honor veterans as distinguished leaders who embody our core values: diversity, community engagement, and global citizenship. Warrior Scholars at Minga House Foundation gain hands-on experience while working on meaningful projects that create real change in our community and inside the Scholar Warrior him/herself. The Warrior Scholars Fellowship is part of Minga House Foundation's volunteer program and does not receive support from any veterans' education benefits funding. The part-time 3-6 month program is custom-designed to meet the personalized objectives of each participant.
To recognize the service and contributions of U.S. veterans, we offer the exclusive Warrior Scholars Fellowship. These fellowships honor veterans as distinguished leaders who embody our core values: diversity, community engagement, and global citizenship. Warrior Scholars at Minga House Foundation gain hands-on experience while working on meaningful projects that create real change in our community and inside the Scholar Warrior him/herself. The Warrior Scholars Fellowship is part of Minga House Foundation's volunteer program and does not receive support from any veterans' education benefits funding. The part-time 3-6 month program is custom-designed to meet the personalized objectives of each participant.
Troops to Teachers - Apply your experience as an instructor/trainer to grow into an English teacher in Colombia
Minga House Foundation is the parent organization of MingaTeachers.org. We have over 220 private schools throughout beautiful Colombia, where we have placed teachers not just to teach English, but to teach all subjects. If you are interested in interviewing for a paid position that offers a 1- or 2-year work visa, please reach out to our account managers. View currently open positions here. We have positions available for junior teachers, with or without prior experience or a college degree. And we also have open positions for senior teachers with education degrees and US certifications. There are open positions available for everyone, and we can advise you on how to reach the ideal position for you to be happy living & working in Colombia. An additional offering is a Teacher Onboarding process in which you may explore teaching part-time under the mentorship of a professional teacher, allowing you to confirm your passion and ability to teach and determine whether teaching is right for you.
Program Eligibility: Simply the desire to teach! There are roles for any and every level of teaching experience. A bachelor's degree is not required to explore junior teaching opportunities; however, if you are an experienced, certified teacher in your home country, you will have many more nationwide opportunities, of course. It is possible to combine education courses through Westminster University and TEFL certification through OLSA with this employment program, to embark on a true long-term teaching career that will see salary growth and specialized teaching opportunities.
Onboarding Teacher Program: A 1-2-3-month part-time practicum program available for program participants who are new to teaching and/or new to teaching in Colombia, designed to provide teaching mentorship, classroom-management experience, and an in-country job reference. This experience may be enhanced by formal Spanish courses, volunteering with local NGOs, and opportunities to coach youth sports.
Current Teaching Job Listings: (not all positions make it to the listing; consult with our account managers for personalized assistance by sending your CV/resume to [email protected]
Minga House Foundation is the parent organization of MingaTeachers.org. We have over 220 private schools throughout beautiful Colombia, where we have placed teachers not just to teach English, but to teach all subjects. If you are interested in interviewing for a paid position that offers a 1- or 2-year work visa, please reach out to our account managers. View currently open positions here. We have positions available for junior teachers, with or without prior experience or a college degree. And we also have open positions for senior teachers with education degrees and US certifications. There are open positions available for everyone, and we can advise you on how to reach the ideal position for you to be happy living & working in Colombia. An additional offering is a Teacher Onboarding process in which you may explore teaching part-time under the mentorship of a professional teacher, allowing you to confirm your passion and ability to teach and determine whether teaching is right for you.
Program Eligibility: Simply the desire to teach! There are roles for any and every level of teaching experience. A bachelor's degree is not required to explore junior teaching opportunities; however, if you are an experienced, certified teacher in your home country, you will have many more nationwide opportunities, of course. It is possible to combine education courses through Westminster University and TEFL certification through OLSA with this employment program, to embark on a true long-term teaching career that will see salary growth and specialized teaching opportunities.
Onboarding Teacher Program: A 1-2-3-month part-time practicum program available for program participants who are new to teaching and/or new to teaching in Colombia, designed to provide teaching mentorship, classroom-management experience, and an in-country job reference. This experience may be enhanced by formal Spanish courses, volunteering with local NGOs, and opportunities to coach youth sports.
Current Teaching Job Listings: (not all positions make it to the listing; consult with our account managers for personalized assistance by sending your CV/resume to [email protected]
For more information about using your veteran education benefits at Minga House Foundation, please don't hesitate to contact our team today. We’re honored to welcome you to our community!
Contact our Veterans Advisor at WhatsApp +57 323 505 5710 or [email protected]
Meet our Instructor Team @ Chinchina, Caldas, Colombia!
Ginno Vera
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Diego Tamayo
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Dana Giraldo
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Monica Vargas
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Glen Galindo, EdM
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Gabriel Mara
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Omar Barbosa, CNA
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Maria Camila Leon
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Courses & service learning experiences in our beautiful Coffee Region!
Visit with our staff to determine which courses are eligible for VA education benefits.
For maximum Spanish immersion, you may integrate academic courses for university credit into our many volunteer opportunities in health, education, social work, animal well-being, teaching, coaching, tutoring, mentoring, community development, and NGO support.
Lodging Facilities
Planning Guide
Recreation & Cultural Experience Options
Extending your stay in Colombia - PAID Teaching Jobs
24/7 Support
[email protected]
WhatsApp +57-323-505-5710
Planning Guide
Recreation & Cultural Experience Options
Extending your stay in Colombia - PAID Teaching Jobs
24/7 Support
[email protected]
WhatsApp +57-323-505-5710
Want to teach in Colombia?
Our teacher staffing company, MingaTeachers.com, has over 220 private school clients throughout Colombia, where we place at least 150 teachers annually of all levels of experience and fields of study. We also have ColegioMenfis.org, our local community's first bilingual school, where our teachers can gain teaching skills through a 90-day volunteer program that includes teacher training and classroom management experience. This is a great opportunity to explore if teaching is a profession for you before embarking on a teacher degree. To learn more....
Veterans Education Benefits Conference - Presentation
Actuall Full-Presentation Recording ( will be showing linked below after Tuesday June 2nd )