Affordable Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
Africa, Latin America, Asia

The teaching projects available in Costa Rica are for those volunteers who are interested in working with children and teaching basic English, sports, and arts classes. Teaching projects are available in the Guanacaste province, northwest of San Jose. The schools in this area are severely under-funded and lack the staff or finances to provide an adequate education.

The majority of the schools in this area lack teachers and qualified staff. Therefore, students never graduate beyond basic English skills. Although there are teachers who specialize in these subjects at some of the schools, they are often poorly resourced and welcome the support of assistant volunteer teachers in order to provide better opportunities for advancement to their students. Many schools also lack the financial resources to hire full-time staff so volunteers play a crucial role in filling out vacant positions.

NOTE: An intermediate level of Spanish is required in order to enroll in this project.

Please note that there is a tendency for schools to cancel their classes for various reasons including school staff meetings which can last for up to a week. On days that there is no school, volunteers will teach English and tutor students during the evening from Monday through Wednesday.

Minimum Program Length: 2 weeks
Start Date: 1st and 3rd Monday of every month
Arrival Date: 3 days prior to your Start Date (Friday)
Minimum Age: 18 years old
Volunteer Gender: Male and Female

Accommodation:
You will be placed with either a homestay family or in a shared apartment with other volunteers. If you have a specific request, or prefer a private accommodation, please state your preferences in the application form. Based on the location of your placement and you accommodation, you might have to commute daily on the public bus. Weekly bus expenses are always less than $10.

Food:
2-3 meals per day are included in your program fee if you stay with a homestay family. Volunteers staying in a shared apartment are responsible for their own food. Special diet requirements or restrictions can be accommodated.

Pick-up Info:
A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival location and guide you to your accommodation and project placement.

Project Schedule:
You will typically work 3-5 hours in the mornings and/or the afternoons with a lunch break. Work days are from Monday to Friday.

School Closed Dates:

• Easter week March 23-30
• July 2-13
• October 1-30
• December 1 - January 1

Suggested Donations
Any stationary, books, sports equipment, board games and any other educational materials are welcome. Again depending on the type of project, some resources will be more beneficial. We will provide a detailed list of suggested resources for donation with your program information.

You will have the choice of either leading your own class or assisting another teacher in their daily lessons. Your placement is completely dependent upon your level of comfort within the classroom. Depending on your level of Spanish and educational background, you may also be asked to teach other subjects such as Sports, Math, History, Science, Music and Art. Please keep in mind that Costa Rican holiday’s and school meetings might cause your placement to be canceled temporarily.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Required Language Level

If you are participating in one of our teaching or kindergarten daycare projects, it is required that you have an intermediate level of Spanish language proficiency. If you have little or no Spanish language skills, you must either demonstrate proficiency prior to arriving in Samara or enroll in our Spanish language and cultural immersion program for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to starting your volunteer placement. This program includes 20 hours of Spanish language classes per week as well as cultural immersion activities such as group excursions, latin dance classes, cooking lessons, yoga, and classes in art. College credit can be awarded for course work as well (please contact our office if you are interested in receiving credit for course work).

This comprehensive package of classes and activities is available at an extra cost of $375 per week and includes food and accommodation with a local host family. During the language course, the cultural activities and assignments set by the language program will occupy most of your time so you will not be able to volunteer and participate in the language course at the same time. If you would like to continue with your Spanish language classes during your stay, Volunteer Visions will gladly arrange additional classes on your behalf.

The teaching projects are based in schools in Samara and the in rural communities that surround the town. Playa Samara is considered to be one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches. The town is located on the edge of 7km stretch of pristine white sand beach. The town's life revolves around the soccer field that lies in the middle of Samara, which is how traditional Costa Rican towns are typically laid out. The Guanacaste province is home to farming communities and villages that have managed to escape over-development and retain traditional Costa Rican culture and traditions. As a result, Guanacaste is one of best the places to be if you want to experience traditional Costa Rica's culture first-hand.

Reserve Your Spot Now! Only $295 The program fee that you pay includes the following: Food Home stay or dorm accommodation Pre-departure Information (which includes visa info, vaccinations, packing list, etc.) Arrival pick up Skilled and knowledgeable onsite coordinator 24/7 emergency assistance and onsite support Safety and Health tips On-site orientation Social and cultural activities and excursions

Program Fee 2 Weeks $650.00 3 Weeks $722.50 4 Weeks $795.00 5 Weeks $922.50 6 Weeks $1,050.00 7 Weeks $1,195.00 8 Weeks $1,340.00 9 Weeks $1,460.00 10 Weeks $1,580.00 11 Weeks $1,700.00 12 Weeks $1,820.00 Additional Weeks: $120.00