CC International

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Osa Peninsula
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Bribri,  Gandoca,  Talamanca,  Tortuguero,  Puerto Viejo

  Ecuador

• Quito: 
Quito
• Galapagos Islands: 
Galapagos Islands
• All Other Regions of Ecuador: 
Esmeraldas,  Muisne

  Panama

Bocas del Toro

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: any time

Description: CCI connects worthy local projects with volunteers around the world. Many local organizations are doing great work in their communities, but don't have the resources required to recruit international volunteers. CCI collaborates with these organizations and the volunteers needed to make their projects a success. All volunteer programs depend on the skilled coordination of a variety of elements: enthusiastic volunteers, meaningful work, organized projects, and supportive staff. It is our goal at CCI to orchestrate this process for you. We use our global experience and resources to provide volunteer experiences that bring pride and satisfaction to everyone involved.

Highlights: Community Collaborations Sea Turtle Preservation Projects will provide badly needed volunteers to conservation groups in Panama and Costa Rica. There are several locations for these projects on both the Pacific and Carribean coasts.

The San Cristobal-Galapagos Biological Research Station. The objective is to establish a working field research station for the development of conservation and development initiatives in the highland regions of San Cristobal in the Galapagos Island chain.

The Congal Reserve was created in 2000 and is located in southwestern Esmeraldas province, close to the town of Muisne. The Congal Reserve features beach, estuarine, mangrove, wetlands and humid tropical forest habitats which account for the regions high biodiversity and local endemism. Congal is part of the Mangrove Wild Life Refugee of Muisne and is in the buffer zone of the Mache Chindul National Ecology Reserve. The Reserve influences over 500 hundred hectares of publicly owned mangroves and was the first mangrove reserve of it kind created in the Muisne area.

The Tortuguero Project takes place in the area one of Costa Rica's most popular and beautiful National Parks. The Pueblo of San Francisco is a small community with a two room school house accessable by boat. The community hopes to develop a sustainable economic base by introducing micro enterprise tourism businesses run by local families. Plans include improvements to the area trail system and building butterfly gardens. Volunteers will help to get these projects up and running as well as support the work of Cano Palma Biological Station.

The Amazon Project takes place in and around the Amazonian town of Macas. The community hopes to develop a sustainable economic base by introducing micro enterprise tourism businesses run by local families. Volunteers wil help build an interpretive ecological trail near the school, rebuild a park impacted by recent road construction, and to create a micro enterprise tourism business for a local family.

The Bocas del Toro Project takes place on Isla Colon and surrounding islands. The community hopes to develop to improve the infrastructure of educational facilities and to promote eco friendy solutions for for problems related to increasing tourism, waste disposal and beach debris . There is also a sea turtle preservation project and other local initiatives. Volunteers wil help support ongoing efforts in the local communities.

Proyecto Campanario, a multifaceted conservation effort of its founders and supporters, is dedicated to preserving tropical eco-systems, both terrestrial and marine, through protecting a tract of tropical lowland rain forest and its coastal zones in Costa Rica, offering environmental education programs for national and international students of all ages, and promoting tropical research and studies. Volunteers will help maintain trails, volunteer at the local school, improve the facility, and other activities to support the local community and the project.

Qualifications:
Passport, 16 or over, fill out application and sign volunteer agreement.

Cost in US$: $200 - $700 per week

It does not pay for International Airfare (CCI will assist in getting the lowest rates for your group).

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Typical volunteer is between the ages of 16 and 36.

Age Range: 16 - 60

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 5

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Community Collaborations International's Mission Statement: CCI has managed over 1000 volunteers from thirty Universities and other groups providing disaster relief and completing environmental and human service projects internationally. Since 1994, we have provided technical assistance and program development support to conservation and educational organizations nationally and internationally. CCI works in coordination with United Nations Development Program funded Cooprena RL, Cahuita National Park, Recicaribe, The Costa Rican Ministry for the Environment, The Talamancan Association of Ecotourism and Conservation, Opportunity Access, and Asociacion ANAI winner of the prestigious United Nations Equator Award and many other national and international programs dedicated to providing volunteer services where they are needed most.

Year Founded: 1994