Health Care Project in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• North Western Region: 
Heredia

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, all year.

Description: Many Costa Ricans are still deprived of public health care. With a majority of hospitals located in the major cities, it is difficult for the poor people in rural areas to access health care benefits.

As a volunteer in Costa Rica working in our Health Project, you will support the local doctors and nurses in the health centers. You will use your medical skills to treat patients; check blood pressure, weigh babies, and help with other routine first-aid procedures. Your work in the health center is a 30-36 hour a week commitment.

It is helpful for the volunteers to learn some Spanish, so our Costa Rica volunteer projects also tailor one to two weeks Language and Cultural Immersion Program to learn the basic language, and Costa Rican culture and lifestyle prior to starting your volunteer work. This is an A+ language school that offers personal, group and intensive Spanish language courses. The full immersion courses can be intermixed with sight seeing of the beautiful coastal nation.

Highlights: One of the most bio-diverse regions in the world while volunteering in Costa Rica you can access more than 20 natural parks, 8 biological reserves and a series of protected areas, Costa Rica is naturally a blessed country with rich culture and heritage.

Qualifications: Candidate must be able to demonstrate Health Care training, education and experience.

Cost in US$: Starts 999 USD

Language and cultural courses
Food and accommodations for 7 days
Training materials: books, paper, orientation package, TV, video, trainer, etc.
Local sightseeing/tourist site arrangements
Recreational activities
Village stay/host family
Cultural programs and additional activities
Travel related expenses (one week orientation)
Insurance
What does two weeks Spanish language program fee cover?

Four hours of daily Spanish instruction
Workbook of exercises
Lodging with a Costa Rican family
Two meals a day - Breakfast and Dinner
What Spanish language program fee does not cover?

Lunch
Any traveling part
What program fee does not cover?

Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
Transfer to airport, airport taxes
Any personal expenses
Mineral water and soft drinks
Gifts to project staffs and host family
Laundry, Telephone, Immunization

Credit Available: yes

Salary / Pay: Volunteer job

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 or Above

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Institute For Field Research Expeditions's Mission Statement: The mission of our volunteer abroad program is to offer meaningful volunteer abroad opportunities for volunteers and to seek sustainable solutions for education, health, conservation, and development issues through international volunteering. We hope to achieve this goal by offering community orientated volunteer programs where the efforts of our volunteers go directly to the poor people and their communities. Many grass-root organizations working in developing countries are poor in resources. These organizations are doing a commendable job to address development, education, health, and conservation issues by launching a variety of programs but these organizations are in a great need of help and support. IFRE promotes these local organizations by making donations and sending volunteers.

Year Founded: 2005