Our Work

overview.

We are both working 0.75 FTE with MCC, which is a standard requirement for couples. Our main job title is Exchange Program Coordinators, which we share. Normally, this job is done by one person, but in our case, we split and share the workload. As such, MCC Colombia-Ecuador has us doing other tasks, along with our Exchange Program Coordinator role, to round out the hours.

exchange programs.

MCC has three exchange programs named IVEP, YAMEN, and SALT it offers through its Global Service Learning opportunities. They are all very similar, run at the same time, and have the same objectives. Volunteers in each of these programs will leave their country and travel to a different one for one year, serve with one of MCC’s partners, live with a host family, and be connected to a local church.

The main difference between the three exchange programs is which parts of the world people are coming from and which parts of the world they are going to. IVEP is for participants from the global south (Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East), and Europe) going to volunteer in the global north (USA/Canada). SALT is the opposite where participants from the global north go to volunteer in the global south. YAMEN is for participants from the global south going to other countries in the global south. YAMEN is particularly strong in Latin America, as many of the people only speak Spanish, so other Spanish-speaking countries are their only options.

Matt doing a presentation about MCC Exchange Programs (YAMEN and IVEP) at a denominational youth conference in Armenia - in Spanish!!.

job roles.

In regard to what our job involves, as Exchange Program Coordinators, we manage these programs from the Colombia/Ecuador end. So for volunteers leaving Colombia in these programs, we advertise, recruit, and select applicants for both IVEP and YAMEN, secure visas, train them, and then send them out. Typically, we have three IVEP participants and three YAMEN participants a year. The IVEP and YAMEN participants are going through the same process at the same time, so on our end, they look very similar to each other. One of the bigger differences is that getting visas for Canada/USA is much more difficult than other countries (in general). During the year we are always trying to walk alongside churches to help them prepare and send their young people, as well as raise awareness for the program.

As well, each year we will receive SALT and YAMEN participants from other countries and support them while they live and work in Colombia. We typically have 5-6 participants split between SALT and YAMEN a year. So before they come to Colombia, we work with them to get visas to come to Colombia, help prepare them for their service year, find host families, find partner organizations where they can serve, and secure Spanish tutors. Once they arrive in Colombia, we orient them to the country, help them settle in, and then check-in with them regularly throughout their time and provide support with challenges they may experience with working and living in a different culture and language.

When people are finished their service year in Colombia, we do a debrief time and send them home. As well at the same time, we are welcoming back the Colombians who were serving outside, helping to reintegrate them and support them once they return. The transition home can be just as hard as the transition away.

Kristin (center) visiting an outreach program led by the Riohacha Mennonite Church, an MCC partner that provides humanitarian aid and support to Venezuelan refugees who have settled in the North Caribbean coastal city of Riohacha due to its proximity to the Venezuelan border.

other responsibilities.

Kristin also does internal communications for the MCC Colombia-Ecuador team, which largely involves taking photos and managing a monthly team e-newsletter. Matt also supports one of MCC’s partners in Cali, a peace education organization called Edupaz, helping expand its revenue sources and build their financial capacities for the future.  Along with these responsibilities, other things that fill our time are visiting partners and host families, helping plan team retreats, accompanying learning tours, and developing the exchange programs, which includes expanding to include neighbouring countries.

The other side of our work that we try to keep in my mind is that part of our job is being an ambassador for Christ for Colombia and Canada. To us, this means trying to stay connected with people back in Canada, being a part of the church in Colombia, building friendships, helping support our kids in the cultural transition, learning Spanish, supporting the MCC team in general, hosting visitors, exploring new parts of Colombia, and sharing the stories of the people we meet here. These are just general life things, but when you are a guest in another country, the little things are often more noticeable to others.