Volunteers in Costa Rica greatly contribute to improving the quality of education that every child deserves. Women, mostly single mothers, need to work to support their family, and thus rely on community support to help with their children. Community groups and childcare centers are present to provide these essential services, but they are grossly under resourced and understaffed. Our volunteers assist teachers, conduct early education programming, teach English language skills and provide children with one-on-one attention.needed from the participant.
All volunteers can choose their length of stay in a program, for between 1 and 12 weeks. Volunteer work takes place each weekday morning for 4-5 hours, and Cultural & Learning Activities are provided most afternoons. These activities provide unique insights into the local community and culture, and include language lessons, reflection sessions, excursions to local points of interest, guest speakers, cooking lessons, and dance classes, among others. Volunteers have free time available most evenings and all weekends to explore the local community and country.
Health and safety (site specific health and safety information).
We take the safety of our volunteers seriously – it’s our #1 priority. Our programming was built with your safety in mind – from the 30-point vehicle inspections conducted each day, to the local of our Home-Base and volunteer work assignments, to the attention to detail you’ll see throughout our programs to ensure that you are safe and comfortable. Our in-country cooks are trained on safe food preparation, as well as preparing food for a wide range of dietary restrictions, preferences, and food allergies. All volunteers are provided with comprehensive travel medical and emergency evacuation insurance, and we’ve developed relationships with local hospitals and healthcare facilities for any healthcare needs. Additionally, our in-country staff is there to support you throughout your experience, and provide you with valuable guidance on your safety. You’ll see our commitment to safety in every aspect of our program.
Logistics.
Volunteers will be guided through the preparation process by a dedicated Program Specialist, who’s also an alumnus. Volunteers will arrange their own airport transportation to arrive at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica on the volunteer start date, and will be welcomed by the in-country staff and transported to the Home-Base to start the volunteer experience. Volunteers should plan to depart on the end date of their program, which is the last Saturday of the experience.
Additional Information
Your in-country experience will be led by the experienced Country Director, Jose Hernandez. Through his work with the University of Costa Rica’s International Programs department, the Foreign Service Foundation for Peace and Democracy, the United Nations Conference on the Environment, and the Close-Up Foundation in Washington, D.C., Jose brings with him extensive experience in the field of international development. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Jose is deeply involved in his community and especially committed to eliminating child abuse. A lifelong learner, Jose speaks fluent Spanish, English, and Portuguese, is currently studying International Relations and Diplomacy, and has set his sights on moonlighting as a DJ so he can make people dance.