Kaya Community Development Projects in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Every Monday

Description: Join Kaya's effort in Community Development Projects such as Women's Empowerment for Costa Rica. This project began after scores of women were left destitute during the Costa Rican coffee growing crisis, as many rural women had no other skills or source of income. Through this programme women gain skills and knowledge to diversify their income, as well as the confidence and guidance to succeed in their newfound goals.

Mother and Child Care in Costa Rica

Join this program in helping women, children and seniors to overcome abuse, addiction, abandonment and other traumas. Kaya volunteers work with women who have been battered or abandoned and need security for themselves and their kids; with children aged 12 and under who come from broken homes or whose parents suffer from alcoholism or drug addictions; and men and women over 60 from low-income backgrounds. The main objective is to improve the quality of life of those in need by providing food, education, work assistance and guidance. Placement programs include nutrition, psychological support for youth, job training for women, physical and spiritual development for youth and academic assistance for high school and university students.

Women Empowerment Project in Costa Rica

This project began after scores of women were left destitute during the Costa Rican coffee growing crisis, as many rural women had no other skills or source of income. Through this program women gain skills and knowledge to diversify their income, as well as the confidence and guidance to succeed in their newfound goals.

Projects vary, but are all related to city improvement in Atenas. You will need to arrive with an open mind as there are several projects with which the community needs volunteers. Funds are tight so projects are based on priority at the time.

Work on a Traditional Cattle Ranch in Costa Rica

In this placement, volunteers work directly with cattle, horses, pigs and other animals, helping local ranches to sustain themselves. The location of the project is in Liberia where the best beaches in Costa Rica are located. The ranching region is known as Guanacaste, which is on the upper Pacific Coast.

Highlights: Costa Rica, or "rich coast," boasts a warm climate, pristine beaches on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, active volcanoes, and contrasting landscapes. With such eco-diversity it is easy to see why Costa Rica is the best-traveled nation in the Central Americas with 1.9 million visitors in 2007. Often called the land of peace, it has the oldest democracy in Latin America and has more than 100 years of political stability. It is also one of the most people- and environment-conscious nations in the world, ranked No. 1 in the Americas on the Human Development Index and No. 5 in the world on the Environmental Performance Index.

Bungee the Old Colorado River Bridge:
Standing at 265 feet the Colorado River Bridge offers one of the tallest and most beautiful jumps in the Americas. The old bridge is located an hour west of San Jose where several companies offer bundled packages, which generally include pick-up and one jump. So if jumping headfirst off a bridge in the middle of a tropical forest catches your imagination then put bungee jumping on your list.

Learn to Surf:
Costa Rica has some of the best surfing anywhere in the world, with fantastic warm tropical water surfing. Surf the beach breaks, reef breaks, point breaks and river mouth breaks on the Pacific or Caribbean side of the country. Whether you're a beginner or a pro there is a wave for everyone.

Whale and Dolphin Watching:
The shallow warm waters create the ideal ecosystem for humpback whales, killer whales, Pilot Whales and bottlenose, spinner and spotted dolphins. Humpback whales come from two hemispheres to breed and spend the longest period of the year here. Its the premier location to see these amazing mammals up close.

There are lots of young people who work with the participants so it will be a great opportunity to interact with locals while helping them improve the community.

Qualifications: Experience and passion for working in the community and interacting with the people are needed. Participants must also possess enthusiasm and a willingness to learn about the environment and the place's culture.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: A Kaya volunteer shows enthusiasm, spirit and life to stimulate and bring something new to the residents; love, patience and a listening ear for the people; and a good motivator with a positive and optimistic attitude.

Age Range: Must be more than 18 years old

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

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Kaya Responsible Travel's Mission Statement: Kaya's mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

Year Founded: 2008