Description

Costa Rica, located in the heart of Latin America, is a varied mix of landscapes and cultures. Its fine range of attractions includes volcanoes, tropical rainforests, magnificent waterfalls, and beautiful sandy beaches. Costa Rica is an environmental wonderland. It is renowned for its biodiversity and many national parks while boasting an array of wildlife: from crocodiles and monkeys to whales and dolphins.

Costa Ricans commonly called Ticos are well known for their friendly hospitality. For over 50 years Costa Rica has been without an army and, unlike many neighboring countries, peace and stability has lasted. Time and effort has been dedicated to sustaining the wildlife and improving the standards of living.

While Costa Rica now leads the way in terms of ecotourism, many Costa Ricans still live in very basic conditions. The growth of tourism in the country has lead to an increased demand for English speakers.

Our projects are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world, whether you are on a gap year, a summer placement or a career break.

Projects Abroad has volunteering opportunities in Teaching, Care, Sports and Learning Spanish. These projects are based in or near the town of Liberia, in north-western Costa Rica. Conservation & Environment volunteers are based in a number of national parks throughout the country.

Volunteer Opportunities in Costa Rica

With 14 hours of instruction per week, you'll learn quickly and can practice what you've learned with your host family each day! Lessons are with a private tutor and tailored to your ability. Whether you are a complete beginner or have been learning Spanish for years, being surrounded by the language every day will help your skills progress by leaps and bounds. After your lessons you will have plenty of time to complete your homework and explore the area with other volunteers.

Conservation - Poaching and a decline in suitable nesting sites has led to a significant decrease in the number of sea turtles, which are now globally listed as an endangered species. At the research station, you will be involved in every aspect of the job helping to protect the turtles and their environment. Much of the work is done at night when you will be out on patrol, recording any sightings of nesting turtles. In the mornings, you may be out on foot marking the nests and helping release hatchlings on their perilous journey to the sea.

Care Work - Our care placement in Costa Rica works primarily with children and adults who have mental and physical conditions such as Downs Syndrome, autism, learning disabilities and blindness. Here you will assist with their rehabilitation and prepare them for life beyond school. The ages at the center range from babies to adults, so there is a wide group of people you can interact with.

Teaching English - Our teaching projects are based in the primary schools of Liberia in Northwestern Costa Rica, though some volunteers also have the chance to teach English at the university level. The size of the classes ranges from 10 to 45. Sometimes you will be supporting a teacher in a full-sized class or you could take some of the students with you to give them more individual attention during a private lesson. There may also be occasions where you will teach your own class independently or with a fellow volunteer.

Coaching Sports - As a soccer coach in Costa Rica, you will be responsible for the development of young soccer players' basic skills and techniques. You will co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop - for example - ball control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space. The young age of the children means they are at an ideal stage to be taught the basics and to learn the foundations for their future. However, at the same time, it's really important that playing soccer is about enjoyment and participation. This makes your role easier as these children all have a real passion for sports and are eager to be involved. Your job, with the help of your supervisor, is to make sure the fun and the desire both continue.

Journalism - On our Journalism placements in Costa Rica are based at Canal 36 Community Television station in Liberia. You will get not only an insider's view of how a television station is run, but also the chance to put together an impressive portfolio of work. Your resume will be greatly enhanced by the practical skills that you gain during your journalism placement - you will be given a real opportunity to get involved and the more enthusiasm and effort you put into the project the more you will get out of it.

To learn more about our various projects in Costa Rica, see the individual pages for the projects that interest you.

Highlights

For your accommodation, you'll live with a Spanish speaking host-family, which is a great environment for developing and improving your language skills. All the families involved are extremely supportive of the placements carried out by Projects Abroad and are eager to experience an inter-cultural exchange and learn about the lives of volunteers.

Costa Rica is Central America's jewel. It's an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors and an ecotourism heaven, making it one of the best places to experience the tropics with minimal impact. It's also mostly coastline, both Caribbean and Pacific, which means great surfing, beaches galore and a climate built for laziness.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications

none

Intern Types

• Education
• Sports
• Spanish

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

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

Program Fees Include:

The price of each placement includes all your food and accommodation, transfers to and from the airport, full travel and medical insurance plus support and 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-80

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

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

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992