Volunteer in Costa Rica

Volunteers can assist with our turtle conservation program, to volunteering in one of our orphanages, schools, construction programs and in our medical programs.

Volunteers will work with the endangered Olive Ridley (Lora) and Leatherback (Baula) turtles along the gorgeous coastlines of Costa Rica. The turtle populations have not recovered from years of hunting and exploitation, and they continue to suffer from the illegal harvesting of their eggs and inadequate fishing nets. Volunteers will assist biologists and the local population by participating in nightly beach patrols, tagging turtles and relocating nests into hatcheries.

Volunteers work at a clinic for low-income families. This project is for med students, pre-med students and qualified nurses or doctors. Volunteers for these projects require at least intermediate Spanish as the staff they will work with have limited English.

At the orphanage and childcare placements, volunteers will organise a variety of activities for the children, and assist with their school work. Volunteers are encouraged to use their skills and interests to develop music and dance, jewellery making, aerobics and arts & crafts work shops. Alongside the orphanage work, volunteers may also work in shelters, community centres or childcare facilities in impoverished housing areas, always working alongside severely underprivileged children.

Volunteers will work in either a residence for HIV positive people, or in an assisted living facility for very low income elderly residents. At the HIV residence, volunteers will provide companionship to patients and providing general help in the on-site clinic. Whilst a very rewarding position, volunteers should prepare themselves mentally and emotionally to work with terminally ill patients. At the assisted living facility, volunteers will provide companionship, assist with meals and the distribution of medication, and volunteers should be prepared to work with elderly patients.

At teaching English placements volunteers will teach children of all ages, and will also participate in cultural activities, health campaigns and recreational games. Our teaching placements are all situated in impoverished housing areas, and teaching normally takes place in a small community centre or church.

Volunteers will work on one of our construction projects based in and around San Jose. These include renovation work (painting, plastering and repairs) and full construction projects (carpentry, masonry, laying tiles and plumbing). The construction placements are located in extremely impoverished housing areas or schools, and are guided by a Spanish speaking foreman, experienced in guiding international volunteers.