Volunteer In Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

Monteverde,  San Jose

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: United Planet's Costa Rica program is multifaceted and growing and there are many opportunities for volunteers to make a critical difference. Volunteers can play an important role in contributing to the local community and in building bonds of understanding. Many opportunities are offered, both short and long-term on projects supporting the environment, focusing on community development, and a few projects tailored to the needs of high schools students (age 16 to 18). Volunteers involved with Environmental Quests can work at designated conservation areas, national parks, wildlife refuges and more. Volunteers on Social Work Quests are placed at centers for homeless children, elderly homes, hospitals, cultural houses and indigenous projects.

Highlights: Costa Rica Environmental Quests:

- Conservation and Environmental Education: Many of our conservation projects are located in rural areas or inside the national park system. Daily volunteer duties may include any of the following: constructing and maintaining nature trails, building fences, repairing wooden bridges, making plant nurseries, making fertilizers from dead plants, researching and identifying plants, sowing plants, or teaching the local community about recycling and the environment.

- Eco-tourism: Volunteer duties include maintaining and improving trails, assisting the tourists who come to the Eco-Lodge and working to improve the information on the trails, fixing signs, gardening, etc. Volunteers may also help to develop environmental education curriculum for children and the community.

- Sea Turtle Projects: Volunteers work at various beach locations protecting threatened sea turtle populations in Southern Costa Rica.

The work of the volunteers involves night patrols, hatchery shifts, collection and relocation of eggs, beach cleanup and small projects including construction of the hatcheries. This work may also consist of park trail maintenance, assessment of turtle behavior, turtle measurement, and necropsies and biopsies, depending on the time of year and the needs of the hatchery at the time. Volunteers are welcome to this project during the nesting season from the beginning of March through to the end of November, with limited availability thereafter.

This project has a 150 USD per week surcharge in addition to the prices listed.

- Wildlife conservation: Volunteers assist in the rehabilitation and conservation of wildlife, such as various species of birds, invertebrates, or primates, depending on the project location and time of year. This project has 150 USD per week surcharge in addition to the prices listed. Two weeks or more required.

Social Work Quests:
- Teaching quest: Volunteers will learn firsthand about the educational system in Costa Rica through classroom placements in primary schools in San Jose. Many volunteers also help in the administration's office, though the volunteer's responsibilities are usually defined together with the school staff.

- Childcare quest: Volunteers can work with children who attend government run day care centers in the suburbs of San Jose. Tasks include taking care of the children, helping them with the activities of the center, serving food and play, and organizing games. The children's ages range from 2 to 6 years old. Volunteers can also teach English.

- Cultural department Projects: Volunteer work at the Cultural Department Project generally involves preparing materials for activities, distributing information, educating locals and tourists about the local cultural activities of the department and various administrative/practical tasks. The project is part of a local government of a town located outside of San Jose, in one of its most developed suburbs. This project is a good option for volunteers who are interested in cultural activities and want to get to know more about the culture of the central region of Costa Rica.

- Healthcare: you can collaborate with the work of the association of Volunteers Ladies of the Hospital of San Jose by assisting them in their daily activities. You can also choose to work in a rural clinic located in the country side town of Santa Elena of Monteverde to collaborate with the every day administrative task of clinic as well as assisting the nurses and doctors with their patients (all ages), in accordance with your Spanish level and medical knowledge.

- Working with People with Disabilities: Volunteers will work at an organization devoted to helping blind and deaf people of all ages by participating at different workshops and preparing materials needed for those activities.

- Working with the Elderly: Volunteers work at an association in the east of San Jose and give support to its staff by accompanying the elderly, helping with the workshops and other administrative tasks as needed. Occasionally the volunteers also have the opportunity to do outreach in outlying communities.

Quests for 16-18 years old:
Volunteers under the age of 18 can choose from three different projects in Costa Rica: working in a school in San Jose, a bird conservation project outside San Jose or an environmental conservation project in a rural community. Additional pre-departure support and information is available to volunteers in this age group along with their parents and/or family members. This includes an informational interview with the volunteer's parents. There may be Spanish language requirements for these projects, so please ask which project is best suited for your interests and skills.

Costa Rica Short-term Quests run year-round and begin on the first and third Thursday or Friday of each month, depending on the length of your stay.
Long-term Quests begin in January and August of each year. Specific start dates for each country may vary.

Qualifications:
* Desire to contribute to communities in need
* Compassion, cross cultural understanding, open-mindedness, courage, flexibility, tolerance
* For some programs there might be Spanish language requirements

Cost in US$: Starting from 1,645 USD

Experience Required: yes

There may be Spanish language requirements for these projects, so please ask which project is best suited for your interests and skills.

Typical Volunteer: -Desire to contribute to communities in need -Compassion, cross cultural understanding, open-mindedness, courage, flexibility, tolerance

Age Range: Up to 16 years old

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

United Planet's Mission Statement: As an international non-profit organization, United Planet (UP) strives to create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders. In 2008, United Planet was one of only ten organizations selected by CNN to be part of its "Be the Change" initiative.

Year Founded: 2001