Volunteer Projects in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Puerto Viejo

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Dates: all year

Description: There are many opportunities for volunteering in Costa Rica. Most of the placements are ideal for gap year students, but some are better suited to slightly older volunteers taking a career break.

We're looking for volunteers in Costa Rica for 3 to 6 months in the following areas:

* Conservation projects
    - Rainforest Conservation
    - Turtle conservation
    - Ecological farm and yoga retreat community
    - Ecological farm promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural methods

* Teaching and Medical placements
    - English teaching placements on the Caribbean coast
    - Medical placement in the Caribbean town of Cahuita
    - English teaching placement in a remote community along the river Savegre
    - English teaching placement in San Isidro, near to the Pacific coast

These projects are just the start of Outreach International's work organizing volunteering in Costa Rica. Whilst handpicking these projects listed above, we were able to meet with other project directors and will soon have more projects working with:

* marine and mammal conservation
* medical placements for fourth year medical students and skilled health professionals, predominantly working with medical airlifting teams in remote indigenous communities.

Volunteers in Costa Rica work on their projects in pairs or in small groups of four. This ensures full, seamless integration into local communities and maximizes exposure to Costa Rican life and the Spanish language. Most of the projects are located within the same geographical area so it is relatively easy to meet fellow volunteers from different projects at weekends.

Highlights: The projects are situated in Central America, Costa Rica borders the countries of Nicaragua and Panama. The country boasts stunning coastlines of the Pacific and Caribbean oceans and is a hub of tropical climates, rainforests, volcanoes, rivers, waterfalls and mountains.

Nearly a third of Costa Rica is protected in one form or another and more than 13% is national park. Its home to many exotic species, including sea turtles, caymans, sloths and monkeys and around 850 bird species. Costa Rica is well known for its beautiful beaches and tropical reefs, which offer great diving and snorkeling. Inland, there's white-water rafting, horse riding and lots more to enjoy.

Costa Rica is considered a very safe country to visit in Latin America, as well as being home to some of its friendliest people. All in all, Costa Rica is truly a volunteering paradise!

Qualifications: Any volunteers with energy, enthusiasm, a desire to help a local community and a wish to learn Spanish are encouraged to apply.

Cost in US$: 4,400

We also provide a language CD course in the UK and a comprehensive in country language course on arrival in your host country.

* It does NOT include the cost of international flights.

Experience Required: no

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 Independently or in Groups of 2

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Outreach International's Mission Statement: We are committed to cross cultural exchange and education. We combine the desire of people to travel and spend time volunteering abroad with the needs of local communities to everyone's benefit. Our Environmental Mission: We are committed to doing all we can to preserve the environment. We are aware of the detrimental impact of international flights and make every attempt to be carbon neutral. That's why for every person volunteering abroad with us, we plant three oak trees. As we've to date sent over a thousand volunteers abroad, we now have a woodland of over 3000 trees overlooking our Somerset office and we look forward to planting many more! In addition, all staff travel is kept to a minimum. All paper and other office products are recycled. Our Cultural Mission: You are generally asked to work on your project in pairs, not in larger groups. This means that the cultural impact of sending volunteers abroad to small communities is kept to a minimum. It also makes it easier to integrate with local people and immerse yourself in the culture. We need to be sure that all projects are fully sustainable. Although they need volunteers, we make certain that they are not dependent on us. Our Moral Mission: Outreach International supports projects that genuinely help important environmental and humanitarian causes. These are not projects that hit the international press; they are small, grassroots initiatives that focus on the needs of individuals. We believe that you can make a difference to the lives of these people and that you will receive as much as you give. You should come back to the UK after volunteering abroad with a fresh outlook on life and new found wisdom. Your experiences may last for just a few months - but the memories will stay with you forever.

Year Founded: 1998