Description

Here's a place to roll up your sleeves and make a difference! Families, students, couples and individuals of all ages are invited to contribute to community service projects in Monteverde region. Global Volunteers has maintained a working relationship with village leaders since 1992, so you can be assured you're accepted as a member of the community.

Our local partners near Santa Elena direct important work projects such as renovating buildings, landscaping public spaces, helping a women's community cooperative, painting classrooms, and improving eco-tourism. The variety of work changes from team to team, depending upon current needs. In a short time, your personal efforts and direct financial support through your service program fee helps the host communities realize their vision.

The Costa Rican culture values flexibility and community spirit, so our assignments change to optimize our partnership requirements. You can work with local people rehabilitating classrooms, making walking paths or building rain shelters in the cloud forest while you observe mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and an amazing variety of plants and trees. Roll up your sleeves and make a genuine contribution to this amazing group of people!

Highlights

If you enjoy measuring your efforts by the shovels-full, this program will suit your appetite for "soft adventure," while you simultaneously make a significant contribution to a friendly rural community. Help with "hands-on" projects that leave you feeling invested in the futures of the people you serve.

You'll stay in a lovely, safe and comfortable family-owned hotel and enjoy home-cooked meals of authentic Costa Rican cusine. At the end of the work day and on weekends, you can can enjoy the nearly limitless natural and cultural attractions of the mountains and cloud forests. Activities include touring Mount Arenal, one of Costa Rica's active volcanoes, touring a butterfly garden, hiking, biking or visiting museums, markets and historical sites.

Travel Types

• Native Culture Studies
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Volunteering

Qualifications

If you have a lot of energy, a reverence for the natural world, an open mind and are willing to serve as part of a team, you will make a positive contribution to this exciting volunteer program. You should be in good physical health and enjoy working outdoors.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

2,395 - 2,595/ 1-2 wks - discounts available

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

These costs support the community's on-going community development programs and environmental projects and also cover your meals, lodging, transportation within the work site, project expenses, administrative costs, and the services of a trained team leader. The service program cost does not cover free-time expenses or your airfare or other travel to the host community. All costs, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. tax-payers.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

This is a great program for families, students and teachers! Our volunteers are culturally curious and open-minded people looking to contribute to a community development project and to improve their understanding of different ways of life, the rainforest ecosystem and the social struggles in developing communities. They are all ages, from various ethnic backgrounds and of all different professions, such as educators, students, laborers, medical professionals, full-time parents, computer professionals, artists, lawyers and the like.

Age Range

minors with parents; adults

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 10-15

Scholarships are Available

Check with us about scholarships that are available during the year.

Application Process Involves

• Written Application
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview

Typically The Application Process Time is

12 hours

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Volunteers's Mission Statement

Global Volunteers is a private, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization in consultative status with the United Nations working at the invitation and under the direction of local leaders to deliver the 12 Essential Services to partner communities worldwide. We engage short-term volunteers on long-term development projects to create, nurture and sustain the wellbeing of the world's children - so they can realize the full promise of their human potential. Each year, we mobilize up to 300 teams of volunteers to work alongside local people on work projects central to their advancement. We also raise funds to support our international and domestic partners and to provide sponsorships for educational, social and medical assistance.

Year Founded

1984