Description

About an hour from the city of San Jose, in a gorgeous, hidden valley (Orosi), rests the tiny community of El Yaz, known for its clean water, rich soil, eternal spring-like temperatures (about 75 degrees every day) and organic, agricultural way of life. Although the villagers love their natural paradise, they have struggled to make ends meet, as even low paying jobs are rare. Most villagers are not in abject poverty, but have no access to hot water, cars, or the quantity of protein sources to which a North American may be accustomed.

Volunteers will work together with the local community members to help with projects that they choose as important.

Possible Projects:

* Promote requested perma-culture gardening to locals through demonstrations
* Organize butterfly garden
* Repair pedestrian bridges
* Provide environmental education and conservation
* Solar cooking projects
* Bury and installed new PVC water pipe to bring new clean water source into community
* Paint school and build fence around it
* Plant trees
* Build book shelves for school
* Make and install road signs to community
* Paint communal hall
* Build recycling stations
* Build waste receptacles
* Paint and install identifying signs in rain forest

Highlights

Leisure Activities:

* Excursion to Irazu Volcano or Tapanti Rainforrest, Cachi Dam Lake
* Nature hikes
* Horse-back riding
* Bathe in the many nearby natural hot springs
* Cheese making
* Traditional sugar cane processing
* Bird-watching
* Incredible star gazing
* Coffee tasting, coffee plantation tour
* Challote farm
* Relaxing in a hammock
* Visit one of the last remaining colonial towns, Orosi, and its famous church
* Guayabo, the nation's most famous archeological site

Travel Types

• Volunteering
• Tours

Qualifications

No need for special skills or qualifications.

Type of Programs

• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

1,290

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials pre-departure

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

The typical Globe Aware volunteer is a working professional, between the ages of 25 and 45.

Age Range

No age restrictions.

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of <10

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 to 7 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Globe Aware's Mission Statement

Globe Aware seeks to promote lifelong advocates for a better world and to sustain the world's cultural and natural resources. The organization, together with the local community hosts, develops effective local solutions to global problems in non-religious, non-political, multi-international environments. The aim is to expand and foster cross-cultural peace and understanding between Americans and the rest of the world, to preserve culture and promote sustainability. Globe Aware expeditions provide volunteers the opportunity to live and work side by side with a host community. The hosts provide a safe and interesting setting in which to learn, help, and have fun. The volunteers help to empower the host communities in creating renewable, self-sufficient programs. While Globe Aware's financial assistance benefits the community economically, it is actually the involvement and collaboration between the volunteers and community that is the greatest mutual benefit.

Year Founded

2001