Program Reviews

I was incredibly apprehensive about going to Colombia with a group of strangers for 3 weeks who were to be the first people take the course. Was met at the airport by a driver which was organised by the program and was driven to the hotel in Candelaria. The location of the hotel was perfect; minutes away from the university and in one of the more interesting districts in Bogota.

The apprehension soon faded away once I met up with one of the program organisers and the rest of the students as they arrived. The group of people this course attracts seem to come from a wide variety of backgrounds and has been one of the best assets to the course. The course itself was very interesting and the field trips provided insight into potential careers in the field of peace-building. It was also a great opportunity to network with other students who had very strong aspirations to enter into this field.

I would recommend to anyone thinking of taking the course to first learn at least a minimal amount of Spanish and also to take advantage of being in such a beautiful country and travel either before or after.

10/10 highly recommend

It was very good course indeed. The classes didn’t assume any prior knowledge in either conflict studies or the Colombian case more specifically. This is not to say, however, that prior knowledge wouldn’t be beneficial, as the lecturers scheduled in time for questions and conversation. Thus, the more you know about the subject matter, the better they can tailor the class to suit you.
The standard of lectures was excellent and the lecturers seemed quite excited about the project themselves. Aspects covered varied from the Colombian political party system to the implementation of peace, and from transitional justice to international aid. And a whole lot more. The wide variety of academics from different backgrounds were indispensable in helping us to put the jigsaw puzzle of the conflict together, while the academic coordinator Simone, from her part, did a superb job at facilitating the lectures and avoiding overlaps in the fields covered – not an easy job in the first year of the course.
The programme coordinators were friendly and helpful and the afternoon activities varied, taking us to visit various social, cultural and political institutions, as well as to cycling, social dinners and armchair football.

Highlights:
A visit to the Foundation Ideas for Peace consultancy firm.
A chat with the President’s communication team.
A hike through the stunning countryside to the Colombia’s highest waterfall.

Having just spent 3 weeks in Bogota on the Peace building course I am very sad to be leaving. Whether being taught by leading professors in the field, touring round the cities graffiti or watching the football with thousands of Colombians the overall experience has been fantastic and eye opening. The academic teaching is the best I have ever received and I have learnt so much in a short space of time. The organisation by Red Tree Study was seamless with the coordinators being constantly on hand for any worries. The organised social activities were all fantastic and offered a real taste of Colombian culture.

For me, the visit to the Transitional Justice centre was a particular highlight as it changed my previously resolute ideals about what exactly justice encompassed. The ability of the course to challenge and change my political and ethical standpoints has surprised me the most. This I had not previously experienced within my studies at university and is something I feel anyone with a keen interest in politics would benefit from.

Studying a peace process in the country of implementation has been a unique experience and the fact that the peace agreement was signed during the course, made my academic work real in a way that I have not previously experienced.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in politics and will be sad to leave this beautiful country

Peacebuilding in Colombia through Red Tree Study was a fantastic three weeks. We were located very centrally in Bogotá which allowed us to get to Universidad de los Andes with ease as well as to explore the city on our own time. The professors were extremely knowledgable and engaging and the support staff was always helpful and professional. I look forward to keeping in touch with many whom I met along the way. The field visits as well allowed the group to experience all aspects of Colombian life and different perspectives on the conflict. My experience in Bogotá was unique and enriching, and I would absolutely recommend this course.

This course has taught me so much about peacebuilding, Colombian history, international law and major philosophical debates. Of course, it has been intensive but totally rewarding. The quality of teaching is excellent and the staff are all really nice and friendly. I'd encourage anyone to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit institutions such as Congress, United Nations, while also being able to speak with them. Also, as I don't speak Spanish I was concerned that it could impact on my time here, but it was absolutely fine - I had no problems whatsoever; the course is in English, there are translators, and many Colombians can speak English too.

However, Red Tree Study is what makes this experience so amazing. They have made sure we have had the best time in Colombia, and not only on an academic level. So many social activities were organised, such as the Ciclovia, graffiti tour, salt cathedral and waterfall hiking. We also went out for dinners and drinks many times and thats what made this 3 week program so social and fun. The best memory would be when we went to a bar and watched Colombia play Peru at football. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible, and it made me realise how fun Bogota really is.

So if you're considering taking this course, I totally encourage you to take this opportunity. Colombia is amazing, and this course will enrich you with its culture!

A really excellent program! I came here knowing absolutely nothing about the Colombian conflict but I've learnt so much in the past three weeks. The course schedule is jam packed with classes and field visits. Professors assumed no prior knowledge so everything was explained in detail, very informal classes, most more of a discussion than a lecture.
The course was arranged to be classes in the morning and field visits in the afternoon. Field visits included the Communications Team of the President, UNDP, the Victims' Centre and International Centre for Transitional Justice, all of which expanded our knowledge of the peace process. One particular field visit which stood out was the visit to the UNDP project in Soacha, where we got to see firsthand the work that the UN is doing in the country.

A knowledge of Spanish could prove very useful, however not essential since there is always someone around to translate during field visits etc. I speak no Spanish and have managed quite well.

I've made some really great friends here. The number of students on the course is relatively small so everyone gets the chance to bond with the whole group.

The social activities are extremely fun, knowing exactly what to do and where to go. Social activities included tejo, a traditional Colombian sport, a party bus and a hike to Colombia's tallest waterfall. The Red Tree Study team are organised and very helpful.

Overall an excellent program and Bogota is an amazing city to do this. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

It was a really fun experience. I got to make new friends and explore Bogota for the first time. The lectures where great, especially for someone coming in with very little prior knowledge on Colombia or the armed conflict.
Have a basic knowledge of the Spanish, being that it is a Spanish speaking country and very few outside the university speak English. If you are going out without staff it will make the trip much smoother.
Overall it was a fun experience that I will always remember and learned so much in such an important time in Colombian history.

While searching for a language school in a new country it is always good to have another opinion or suggestion about the school. Red Tree did that for me and also offered advice on other parts of my travels.

I think this program is of top quality, I had too much fun and I learned a lot about my own culture. At my placement I worked on design, script editing, location scouting, subtitle creation, and the film making process in general.

I liked my host family who were very friendly and I enjoyed the social calendar because it gave me the chance to explore Bogota and its surroundings as well as work. My favourite activity in the social calendar was the weekend excursion to Villa de Leyva, a pretty old town in the countryside outside Bogota. I thought that the talks at Bogota Audiovisual Market were a highlight and were very informative about the Colombian Film industry.

The organisers were friendly and helpful and made sure that we were always safe (thanks Ginna!) I would recommend the program.

Through Red Tree Study I was able to find an amazing internship in Colombia. My internship allowed me to experience the film industry in a whole new way, learning so much about the industry and about myself. Working in Colombia provided me with incredible experience and knowledge that I will carry with me into my future career in film. Not only was the internship amazing, but I also had a great time getting to know Colombia and other interns in the program. My only regret is not staying in Bogota longer.