Build homes for underprivileged families in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Nicoya Peninsula,  San Ramon
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Cartago
• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: multiple dates year round

Description: If you want to immerse yourself in the laidback Costa Rican culture while making a real difference to the lives of local people, this project is just the thing. You'll have the chance to work closely with Costa Rican families as you help them to build a home that will really improve their quality of life. Hundreds of thousands of people in Costa Rica live in sub-standard housing that doesn't have adequate sanitation or safe weather protection. By working with our partner project you could help our ongoing efforts to help improve this situation and make friends for life in the process.

*Project details:
Our building projects in Costa Rica work with The Fundación para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canadá. This foundation was established in 1989, when the Costa Rican - Canadian Rural Housing Programme, was founded thanks to a contribution from the Canadian Government. The people from Fundación have become specialised in rural housing and they operate with a network of rural organisations, which are responsible for proposing families for a house, to help them fulfill the established requirements, to advise them during the construction process, and to collect the monthly loan payments. Therefore, it is not a charity giving away homes but a foundation. Each project is a cooperative effort incorporating the home recipient, volunteers from inside and outside the immediate community, and the foundation. The labour contributed by homeowners and volunteers, which we call "sweat equity", keeps house costs affordable.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
25% of the world lives in inhuman conditions and more than 100 million do not have a house. Sign up for building homes in Costa Rica alongside fellow i-to-i volunteers and the Fundación para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canadá in order to carry on this work and help to provide homes to the communities where it is most needed.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights:
* Working alongside the community making a significant and noticeable immediate impact
* Getting a real work out in the sun, and for a good cause too
* Staying with a homestay family - the best way to get to understand a country
* Exploring Costa Rica - you can see the sunrise over the Caribbean and set over the Pacific if you fancy!

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
You will need to be willing to get involved in hard work and be very hands on and willing to get involved in anything that is asked of you. You have a love of the outdoors and not mind working in any weather. You will need to be easy going and be able to work alongside the local community as much of your time will be spent with the families. Building experience is not necessary but if you have a specific skill it will be welcomed.

Your role as a volunteer:
You will get involved in all aspects of the building but this will depend on the stage you get involved in the building. You could help build septic tanks, lay floors, dig trenches and help put on roofs amongst other tasks.

Cost in US$: USD 1195.00 for 1 week, USD 300.00 for every week thereafter

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 17-80

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

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of varies; you will work with families and volunteers

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994