1272940074_Carpe-Diem-Education

Carpe Diem Education

http://www.carpediemeducation.org

PO Box 17427 Portland, OR 97217 United States

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Phone: 503-285-1800

Fax: 866-903-1077

Central America - Spanish, Culture & Community

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Location
Costa Rica; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua

Program Duration
3-6 months (includes high school academic semester abroad)

Typical Duration of Program
3-6 months

Dates
Fall and Spring

  • Description

    Our program in Central America covers Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica over the course of three months. University credit is available for a minor fee and while approximately 2/3 of our students choose to take this program for credit, many opt out in favor of a purely deep and enlightening experience. Our groups are smaller groups of no more than 12 students in order to not erode any efforts of cultural integration.

    Actual volunteering takes the form of; construction in a remote village in the lowlands; environmental volunteerism in the Peten region; construction and environmental volunteerism in remote communities of the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala; volunteering with sea turtles in Costa Rica, and sustainable building/alternative material development in Nicaragua. Our programs also incorporate 4 weeks of dedicated one-on-one Spanish classes early in the program complete with individual homestays, and typically finish SCUBA diving off the coast of Honduras in Roatan.

    Students can expect to be pushed by our staff when there are appropriate growth opportunities.

    Please note, our programs are not for adjudicated or troubled youth and carry an ethic of drug and alcohol-free volunteering. We find this helps clarify our intention in volunteering abroad while simultaneously providing a safer environment to learn in.

  • Qualifications

    Most students come with some background in Spanish, and while helpful, this is not necessary. Please, however, do come ready to push your boundaries and grow with your traveling community.

  • Type of Programs

    • Adventure Travel
    • Community Service / Volunteerism
    • Cultural Exploration
    • High School Study Abroad
    • Language Immersion

  • Languages

    • Spanish

  • Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

    • English
    • Spanish

  • Cost in US$:

    7,900

  • Cost Includes:

    • Excursions
    • Food
    • Housing
    • In-country orientation/Training
    • In-country staff support
    • Language instruction
    • Living stipend
    • Pre-departure orientation/Training
    • Registration fees
    • Travel while in host country
    • Written materials abroad
    • Written materials pre-departure

  • Cost Include Description:

    Portland State University College Credit is an additional USD 900. Airfare is not included but typically runs an additional USD 1,100.

  • Credit Available

    yes

  • Experience Required

    no

  • Volunteer Types

    • Agriculture
    • Animal Welfare
    • Appropriate Technology
    • Arts
    • Building Maintenance
    • Building Schools
    • Childcare/children
    • Community Centers
    • Community Development
    • Community Health
    • Community Organizing
    • Conflict Resolution
    • Consciousness-raising
    • Conservation
    • Cooking
    • Culture
    • Eco-tourism
    • Education
    • English Teaching
    • Environment
    • Festivals
    • Global Warming
    • Grassroots Organization
    • Health
    • Health Education
    • Housing
    • Human Rights
    • Indigenous Issues
    • Infrastructure Planning
    • Labor Issues
    • Natural Resources
    • Organic Farming
    • Organizational Development
    • Parks
    • Peace
    • Planting
    • Playgrounds
    • Population Issues
    • Primary Education
    • Public Education
    • Recreation
    • Reforestation
    • Sea Turtle Protection
    • Self Help
    • Social Services, Social Work
    • Solar & Hydro Projects
    • Tourism
    • Trail Building
    • Tree Planting
    • Volunteer Management
    • Volunteering
    • Water
    • Wildlife Surveying
    • Women
    • Writing
    • Youth
    • Youth Development
  • Typical Volunteer

    Most of our students are 19 years old and taking part in a traditional GAP Year. We do, however, regularly have students that are 17 and up to 24.

  • Age Range

    17 - 27

  • This Program is open to

    American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

  • Typical Living Arrangements

    • Dormitory
    • Group living
    • Home-stays
    • Independent living
    • Other

  • Participants Travel

    in Groups

  • Typically Participants Work

    in Groups of Maximum of 12

  • Scholarships are Available

    please inquire for more information

  • Application Process Involves

    • Essay
    • Online Application plus Application Assessment
    • Other
    • Phone Interview
    • Written Application
  • Typically The Application Process Time is

    2 business days

  • Post Services Include

    • Alumni Network
    • Exit Debriefing Abroad
  • Year Founded

    1997

Program Photos
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Testimonials

Dear Nanette, Thank you for the "parent packet!" I'll be sharing some of the info with the parents of Olivia's friends. We are all in the same boat. The book list is a good one. I've read a fe...

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Olivia Awbrey

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