Volunteer Programs: AZ Monteverde

Through our volunteer program, students at the Spanish language school are provided with an outstanding opportunity to help different communities as well as practice Spanish, learn new words and expressions, and experience Costa Rican culture outside of the classroom. Additionally it gives students the chance to gain valuable experience in various fields which may lead to or be helpful in obtaining paid positions later.

Volunteering can also be a way for students to extend their stay in Costa Rica and continue practicing Spanish after they have finished their studies at the Spanish language school.

Our volunteer program constantly changes with the needs of the community and with the requests of the students. Current positions include opportunities in social services, business, environment, teaching, child care, women's issues and the construction of housing for the poor through the programs of Habitat for Humanity (see below).

Please note that most volunteer placements require a minimum commitment of 3 weeks.

If you are planning on studying at the Spanish language school and would like more detailed information on volunteer possibilities, please contact us.

Habitat for Humanity-Costa Rica, currently has five regional affiliates: Cartago, Central Pacific (Esparza), Nicoya, Occidental (San Ramón), and Monteverde, with four more projected during the course of 2002. They have constructed already 250 houses in 12 communities. After finishing their studies at the Spanish language school students may choose any one of the building locations to participate in the construction of housing for low income families.

There is no minimum time commitment for this volunteer position. Volunteers are housed with local families for the cost of $12 per day (the families provide breakfast and dinner). Please visit www.habitatcostarica.org for more information on this global volunteer program.

The Humanitarian Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1990, works to create opportunities for marginalized and underserved populations with the goal of breaking the cycle of oppression and poverty.

Volunteers work in a variety of grass roots, community focused projects, such as assistance in: building prekinder classrooms in rural towns, renovation of local playgrounds, the establishment of a summer camp for abused children and children from low income families, organization/logistics of a women's empowerment seminar, English classes and recreation for girls in a pregnant teens home, cooking and art therapy classes for developmentally delayed young adults, working with street children, literacy projects for illiterate adults, painting a mural on the main wall of a home for children with cerebral palsy, creating rainy day boxes for children, distribution of basic food baskets to low income and indigenous families and business counseling for the start up of micro business (in the areas of tourism and baking).

Students may participate in any of the current projects of the Humanitarian Foundation at the termination of classes. Volunteers stay on an average of 3 weeks to 3 months. Due to its non-profit status the Humanitarian Foundation requests that all volunteers make an initial donation of $200 and subsequent monthly donations of $100, these funds, in turn, help to finance the project in which the volunteer chooses to work (if the volunteer wishes to live with a host family near the volunteer project the cost is $225 per month and includes all meals, room, and laundry).

The Humanitarian Foundation can also set up one day projects for groups (the cost is $10 per person). Such an activity provides an excellent opportunity to not only assist those less fortunate but to expand the mind and unite cultures.

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