Last week, I began my six-week Leadership in Action (LIA) project with make_sense in Medellín, Colombia.

Medellín, Colombia’s second largest city and the capital of the Antioquia department, will be my home for the next six weeks. I am staying in the Laureles neighbourhood, at the Indie Universe Hotel. Having my own room, complete with a small kitchen and bathroom, has made settling into life in Medellín both comfortable and convenient. The hotel also has bright, colourful communal spaces that have made it easy to connect and collaborate with other scholars.

As one of the central LIA projects, 13 scholars from universities across the UK and the USA are working alongside make_sense and three local partner organisations: Picacho con Futuro, Platohedro, and Fundación SORA.

During our first week, we visited Picacho con Futuro, a community organisation located in the northern hillsides of Medellín. Accessible via the city’s MetroCable system, the community offers stunning panoramic views across the valley. During our visit, we learned about the organisation’s community initiatives before enjoying a traditional meal together. This visit provided a valuable insight into the community, the organisations’ mission, and the positive impact they have on the lives of the locals.

Immersing myself in a new culture has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience so far. Meeting local community members, trying new foods, learning about Medellin’s history and transformation, and seeing first-hand the impact social organisations have had has been inspiring.

One of the biggest challenges so far has been the language barrier. Communicating in Spanish has been difficult at times, but my Spanish classes have proven to be extremely valuable, and every conversation is helping me build both my confidence and my understanding of local culture. It has also reminded me of the importance of patience, active listening, and finding different ways to communicate.

Over the next five weeks, I will be working with four other scholars at Fundación SORA, a community organisation based in Comuna 13, one of Medellin’s 16 comunas. I am looking forward to contributing to Fundación SORA’s work, learning from the wider community and the make_sense team.