Welcome to Colombia!

Glen G. Galindo

• Criminal Justice, B.S.
• MBA
• Higher Ed Mgnt - Service Learning Abroad, Ed.M.

• USMC - 1991-1997
• 4002 - Data Systems
• CPEN, 1st FSSG, ISMO (Oceanside, CA)

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Colombia Story

• Recon missions - 2007 (twice)
• Deployments - 2013-2016
• Permanent Assignment 2016-Present
• ….3 kids, 4th on her way this week!

LIVING THE DREAM!

Thank you!

Glen G. Galindo

Founder & President

Minga House Foundation

Established as Non-Profit Organization - 2013

US & CAN university nursing & pre-med teams - 2014

VolunteerColombia - Individual volunteers - 2016

TeachColombia - 2017 (Troops 2 Teachers)

TeachUSA - 2019

LearnColombia - 2021

Colegio Menfis - 2022

Worldschooling Colombia - 2024

U.S. veteran VA-approved education programs - 2026

Minga House Foundation

Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia

1,378 m– 4,500 ft elevation

Heart of Coffee Lands

Freeze-dried Coffee company, Cenicafé, Coffee Cup

You are in

Colombia! the 2^nd megadiverse country in the world, next to Brazil

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54M Population

5 Natural Regions

32 States

CHINCHINÁ

75-80.000 Residents

21 Veredas

What is our proposal?

Visit our facilities! Visit Chinchiná!

Explore our community, explore our region!

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If our existing authorized IPSL-Westminster University programs are aligned with your professional & academic objectives,.....then you are welcome!

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… more programs to come!

Especially in the areas of education, social work, health, nonprofit management, community organizing, international development, and SPANISH!

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TeachColombia - Existing programs!

IPSL-Westminster University

Chinchina Study Site - Founded 2022

• Spanish Language
• Social Science (Medellín & Cartagena)
• AmeriCorps Scholarship service missions
• PreMed, Nursing & Paramedics
• Public Health
• Social Work
• Nonprofit Management
• International Development
• Community Organizing
• Teacher Training & Practicums
• Athletics Coaching

Online Course - Veteran’s College Success Kit

Warrior-Scholar Project: The Veteran’s College Success Kit (Recommended before Bootcamp Orientation)

The online “Veteran’s College Success Kit” is self-paced, with an estimated completion time of 10–12 hrs.

According to the Coursera listing, they estimate:

• 1 week to complete
• at roughly 10 hours per week

The course has: 9 modules

• videos, readings, and assignments/quizzes
• practical college-transition skills for veterans

The main topics include:

• Warrior-scholar mindset & student veteran identity
• Productivity & time management
• Note-taking & analytical reading
• Exam prep & essay writing
• GI Bill and college navigation
• Understanding the “hidden curriculum” of college

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Transformative programming ​that advances skills, builds confidence, and forges lasting connections.

Recommendation

Colombia Bootcamp Orientation @ Coffee Region (7 days)

Personal Security & Street Smarts

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Cultural Integration & Colombian Reality

Legal & Immigration

Cost of LIving & Money Management

Spanish for Survival

Housing & Daily Life

Relationships & Family Life

Work, Volunteering & Purpose

Mental Health & Identify Transition

Emergency & Crisis Preparedness

Ethical & Legal Boundaries

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Recommended for new arrivals embarking on long-term academic programs.

Cultural Excursions

Coffee Landscape Jeep Ride

Railcar Riverview Ride

Horseback Riding

Coffee Tour

Traditional Tejo Challenge

Wildland Waterways Hike

Bridge of Death

3-wk Spanish Immersion

Cohort & Individual Student Start Dates

Second Saturday of every month! (arrival day)

21 days (July 11th to 31st) - 45 hrs - 3 credits

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Expected Weekly Schedule

• Spanish Courses in the morning M-F (3 hrs/day)
• Practicum/Volunteering in the afternoons (Open)
• Optional Weekend Excursions - Hot Springs, Manizales & Pereira Tours, Jeep Rides, Horseback Rides, Railcar Rides, Coffee Tour, Chocolate Tour, Dance Lessons, Culinary Classes, Hikes, Tejo, Athletics/Fitness, Pool BBQ, Language Exchange Meets, and other social events.
• Concurrent Cohorts for Beginners (A1, A2) & Intermediate (B1, B2)

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Weekends!

• Coffee Tour
• Jeep, Horses, Marranitas, Bridge of Death - Landscape Excursion - Day in the life!

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Tejo Game

Latin Dance Classes

Hot Springs

Manizales & Pereira City Tours

Sunday Excursions with Pajoy Adventures!

Hiking Groups

Chinchiná & Manizales Conversation Groups

Chinchiná Community Directory!

3-day weekends, are many!

Gracias!

Bienvenidos a Chinchiná!