 Trained as a "community development" volunteer, he was assigned to a semi-urban barrio known as Hoyo Sapo ("Frog Hole") on the outskirts of Medellín.There, he helped organize the community to construct sewer lines, streets, a community center, library, soccer field, and a footbridge.It was also in Medellin that he became fluent in Spanish, embraced Latin culture, and was first exposed to severe poverty, infant malnutrition, and illiteracy.