Volunteer at a Retirement Home in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• Eastern Lowlands: 
Bribri

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Any day of the year

Description: The Bambu retirement home, situated upon a hill catching the lazy breezes above the Suretka River, hosts a total of 20 people: on average about 5 women and 15 men. All of the residents speak Spanish and some of them speak English.

Companionship is the most important skill our volunteers provide at this location. Many of the residents have been abandoned by their families, and a little of your time and love goes a long way for them.

The Villalobos family, a local family who donated the land and initially funded the project, founded this home in 1987. The inauguration was in 1989, when the home was dedicated to Santa Teresa. The official name of the home is actually "El Hogar Santa Teresa de Ancianos."

The Santa Luisa nuns now manage the home. These beautiful, patient, and wonderful people are filled with love for the residents and help them to lead very happy lives in the home. They now rely on money from the pensions of the residents, averaging $70 per month per person. Ninety percent of their check goes to the retirement home, while the individual residents get to keep ten percent.

A social caseworker from the government pre-screens and determines whom to send to the home. Residents come primarily from Limon, but people from all over are accepted into the center.

Residents are given small tasks to keep them active and to give them a sense of purpose. Responsibilities include caring for the geese, chicken, horses and dogs.

Members of the community are also very active in helping out, which is a beautiful thing to see. Contact us for more information and pictures on the home.

Volunteers at the retirement home will:
* Help to prepare food and to feed residents
* Read newspapers and books out loud to residents
* Assist with their physical therapy
* Work with residents to create handicrafts and art projects
* Assist with the resident's chores in caring for the animals
* Exercise (walk) with the residents in the morning
* Playing table games and spending time with residents

The support they receive is not enough to cover all their expenses, so they rely on private donations to sustain themselves. When they run out of money, they look for food donations, therefore their diet changes depending on what they have in the kitchen. Because of this, many things don't get taken care of, such as regular maintenance like painting, plumbing, small construction projects,

Therefore, we are also looking for volunteers to help with:
* Repairing or replacing the chicken coop
* Painting
* Plumbing
* Gardening
* General maintenance

Please visit our website photo gallery to see photos of our projects and read what past volunteers have said about their experiences in our volunteer blog.

Highlights: Life-changing experiences, unrestricted glimpses of the Costa Rica most visitors don't know, and a way to have a positive and lasting impact on a community are all major components of a volunteer vacation with Tropical Adventures.

Live among locals, learn from them and share talents that can make a difference in a society often forgotten. Take advantage of the Spanish immersion program to enhance communication during the project work.

The vacation is not all work; plenty of play is available: snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, river rafting, canopy (zip line) tours, chocolate factory tours, and several sights to see (waterfalls, butterfly garden, volcano, etc.).

Build bridges, literally and figuratively, and return home fulfilling a community's hopes and feeling fulfilled.

Qualifications: We are seeking volunteers who will offer companionship to our residents and who have the ability to impact their lives in a positive way. Prospective volunteers should also have a good work ethic, a friendly attitude and be willing to immerse themselves in another culture.

Cost in US$: 1 week - USD 995; 2 weeks - USD 1,895; each additional week - USD 399

*Accommodation in guesthouses and hotels is available at extra charge.

Spanish language lessons, excursions and cellphone rental are available at an extra cost.

Children 12 and under are charged $799 for one week and $999 for two weeks.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: The typical volunteer at Tropical Adventures is someone who wants to experience the rich bio-diversity of Costa Rica, while learning Spanish and sharing their time, skills and love. Our volunteers like to work hard and play hard. They work well with others and enjoy submersing themselves in a different culture. Typical volunteers are college students, families or retirees.

Age Range: 16+ unless with guardian.

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

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Tropical Adventures's Mission Statement: The Tropical Adventures Foundation is a resource for empowering individuals and communities inside and outside of Costa Rica. Our goals are to: Support the inherent value of the individual, reduce poverty and injustice, help communities achieve sustainable growth, create safe environments, promote international learning and cooperation and foster personal and worldwide peace. Every community around the world faces the fundamental challenge to create social and economic systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We meet this challenge by supporting and encouraging initiatives by those living and working closest to where the problems are located. We promote collaboration among diverse individuals, nonprofit organizations, government and businesses from the local area and around the world, as well as from every level of society. Our experience shows such activities help build common understanding, bring forward and reinforce the inherent value of the individual, strengthen a sense of local and worldwide community, and ultimately enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.

Year Founded: 2005