Volunteer in Costa Rica with World Endeavors

Diego, our in-country coordinator, he is very helpful and kind. The information about the family and the project was detailed and useful. Yes, I would recommend World Endeavors to a friend or colleague.

This was a terribly run experience, Do not book this program. I did a 2mth program. After 1 month it was so shocking I asked for a refund for the second month which they would not give me. I left early and wasted thousands of dollars. It started when I arrived they put me in the wrong program. I registered for a nutrition program and they placed me in a job at a nursing home for physiotherapy. When I told them, they didn’t know what to do with me do they sent me to the kitchen to wash dishes. I did that for 2 days until I complained and said I wasn’t going back. I’d paid $5000 to wash dishes. The home they put me is was so unwelcoming, that the other students there asked to leave which I shortly did after as well. I also had some of my laundry stolen. You are paying a lot of money, more than staying in a 5 star hotel and you get a bed, sheet, access to shared bathroom with everyone in the house, laundry done and very basic food. Meat was very very minimal, mainly rice and beans. I understand that is what they eat but don’t charge hundreds of dollars per night. I wasn’t picked up for my transfer to the airport and had to source my own transport. The whole program was a disaster and seems like a big money making scheme. I took a 16 year old under my wing who they had expected to try and work out herself how to get public transport to her job on her first day and she didn’t even speak the language. I’d be horrified if I was her parent. It’s appalling how this program is run. Every student that came on the program said how horrible their experience was. Do not trust this program.

Through volunteering in Costa Rica, I learned about myself and my capabilities to adapt as an independent traveler. I met lots of great people from all over the world with whom my path would probably have never crossed otherwise and I learned how lives are lived in a different country.

I now have a broader view of the world and its beauty and people. I will go back and visit Costa Rica and also it helped confirm that someday I would love to teach in a foreign country. My host family was very nice and the kids spoke English fluently so we had a very, very easy time communicating since I also speak Spanish. My housing was not far from town so it was a very nice distance, although it wasn't quite the center. They had a domestic assistant who cooked amazingly and was very sweet.

The learnings from this program has reinforced my desire to become a teacher. I felt touch on how thankful the kids were to us volunteers- they were very appreciative of any help they received. I hope that I made an impact on the children in some way, I taught them new songs to help them with their language skills and I hope that my presence in the classroom made learning to speak English a bit easier. My homestay experience was also one of the highlights of my volunteering experience. My hosts spoke no English, but with the bit of Spanish that I have picked up over the years, we were able to learn a lot about each other. They were very accommodating and patient with us when we were unable to communicate.

When I was in Costa Rica, I saw how the alcaldesa/mayor of Atenas work with citizens and address issues. I also studied how to understand official jargon in the government, and I helped in organizing paperwork. This experience clarified that I want to work in Central America. I already brag about the Volunteer program of World Endeavors to any student wanting to study abroad and I would suggest them to look at everything as an adventure.

Volunteering in Costa Rica left me with a greater appreciation for other countries, cultures, and languages. I will seriously consider living abroad.

The language training I received on the program was the highlight of my days in Costa Rica. My host family was amazing, my Spanish improved, and I grew a lot as a person. Everything in my program is near perfect!

The biggest highlight of my volunteering experience was the orphanage and the children I worked with. I didn't want to leave them. I couldn't have asked for a better volunteer placement.

World Endeavors was remarkably responsive and dedicated to customer service, which is why I chose the program - I truly appreciate your attentiveness and professionalism. Keep up the good work!

It's hard to put into words what a tremendous impact this experience has had on my life. This was hands down the best summer of my life and I had so many unforgettable experiences. In short, my experience in Costa Rica has helped me find who I am as a person, reaffirmed my career choices, and provided me with invaluable teaching experience. I will carry my memories from Costa Rica with me for the rest of my life.

World Endeavors did a great support all around! Excellent experience and smooth transition for my first time abroad! Great resources and all my questions were answered in a timely manner to the best of my Advisor's abilities. I felt supported and secure before my departure. We kept in touch via email and text. Any questions I had were answered or was pointed to the correct resource.

I believe that after this volunteering program, I knew more about another culture which is far from me, knew more about the outside world, and knew more about another whole different lifestyle and so on which broadened my mind and eye.

The experience abroad gave me a feeling of maturity and independence, as well as extensive knowledge of turtle biology.I will definitely do another turtle project soon.

Although I only had two weeks, the experience was life changing. Typically, I am a person that is always by the book, and I always need a plan. The lifestyle there is very relaxed, so it really challenged me, but in a good way. Since I've returned, I've been living a much more relaxed lifestyle and refuse to make major plans. My structured lifestyle is great for school and work, but I find it often causes additional stress in my social life.

I have become much more independent since my trip in Costa Rica and it has left me wanting to do more and volunteer more. I learned what it is like to live in Costa Rica and the different perspectives and lifestyles of the people who live there.

The arranged housing of World Endeavors in Costa Rica is good. Would have preferred to be with another volunteer as well. The in-country coordinators and staff are wonderful!!

This experience helped me understand my limits and what I a willing to do. It helped me put things in perspectives for my future plans, which are teaching ESL abroad.

I was nervous about deciding to do a volunteer program on my own through an internet site. I am so glad I decided to do it though because it has been one of the best experiences of my life!

I learned a lot about travelling, costa rica, and sea turtles. I met a lot of great people as well. The work was hard but rewarding, there was a good balance between work and down time.