Immerse yourself in rural communities in Costa Rica, take part in a humanitarian trip in Latin America, and join other volunteers from around the world as part of our child development project.
You will live and work in Esparza, where our partner organizations run an after-school child development program focused on topics such as:
The “Family” projects are suitable for children aged 4 and up. Our advisors will provide personalized recommendations based on your children’s ages, the destination, and the type of mission.
Schools in the local community often request academic support, particularly for English teaching.
Indeed, the country is a major transit point for English-speaking tourists. Employers in Costa Rica are often looking for English-speaking locals to guide international visitors. As a result, teaching English often helps children improve their future employment opportunities.
While supporting English education, you will also have the opportunity to improve your own Spanish language skills.
Your missions depend on your interests; you may:
All children need exposure to stimulating activities, such as specific games that help them effectively develop age-appropriate skills. These may include sports to improve gross motor skills, art, crafts, and music to develop fine motor skills, as well as group activities such as games to build effective social skills.
Before committing to this project, it is important to understand that in countries like Costa Rica, children often grow up in difficult conditions: domestic violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. The school supported in this area is the only structure that enables young people to overcome these challenges. Local teams work every day to give these children a chance and provide them with a safe environment.
However, volunteers will be asked to remain cautious outside the school and be prepared to face uncomfortable situations related to extreme poverty during this humanitarian trip in Latin America.
Duration in weeks | Total mission budget |
|---|---|
2 weeks | 1240 € |
3 weeks | 1655 € |
4 weeks | 2140 € |
5 weeks | 2575 € |
6 weeks | 3010 € |
7 weeks | 3445 € |
8 weeks | 3880 € |
10 weeks | 4850 € |
12 weeks | 5820 € |
Your new home will be one of two newly built eco houses in our centre in Esparza: Jaguar House and Toucan House.
The two houses sleep up to 22 people. Most rooms have bunk beds and are shared on a single gender. One room in each house has a bunk bed with a double bed below, single above, suitable for couples or small families, if needed. (Private rooms can be obtained at additional cost; this must be arranged before arriving for your program).
All doors are lockable, but as rooms are shared, and we carry out regular cleaning, we recommend that you don’t lock your rooms.
There is also a large dining hall/games room/communal area shared by both houses, with free WiFi, and table tennis, and a large garden of tropical plants, including coconut palm, papaya, banana, and citrus
Food Arrangements
Three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends) are included during your stay. The meals will mainly be a mix of traditional and modern Costa Rican food, so you may experience the Costa Rican take on foods you will be familiar with. Most meals will include either fish, chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarians can be catered for.
Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
-Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
-Costa Rican Do’s and Don’ts, Costa Rican Culture Lessons and Spanish Language Lessons.
-Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary
-Lunch
-Introduction to the Project, Project site and start participating on the project (if possible).
– Minimum age: 18
– English level: Basic
– Extract of CRB
– Passport copy
– Vaccines: Diphtheria, Typhus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Polio. Consult your doctor for destination-specific vaccinations.
For any international project, Freepackers requires travel insurance covering accidents, illness and repatriation, including civil liability for professional activities abroad.
For full protection while studying or interning abroad, you can take out Cap Student insurance online via this link Student insurance abroad | Chapka Assurances, which gives you a 5% discount.
If you choose another insurance provider, we will ask you to send us a copy of your insurance certificate in English.
Reach the language level your international project requires with tailored support. The Clic-campus method Free Packers X Clic Campus foreign language courses combines live video lessons with an innovative e-learning platform, fully flexible from home.
Of course! Whatever your academic track, you can take part.
Our 10th-grade internships abroad cover a wide range of areas that positively impact local communities. You can choose to take part in:
