Costa Rica Country Program: Feb 2011.
For decades Costa Rica has stood out for its stability and has benefited from the most developed welfare system in the region. It has no standing army and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere.
Tourism is one of Costa Rica’s main sources of foreign exchange with a rich ecosystem that ranges from tropical forest, home to a profusion of flora and fauna including 1,000 species of orchids and 850 species of birds, to coasts on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. The Costa Ricans are famously warm and welcoming, willing to share their customs and culture with people from other countries,
The Lattitude Costa Rica program is designed for everyone 17-25: some basic Spanish is required.
Program Outline
Community: Volunteers live and work with seniors in a care home. Costa Rica assumes elderly people have many interests and there is structured activity to stimulate the residents. This is a very valuable, hands-on experience. Residents are all treated as important individuals and staff value each resident. Volunteers are warmly welcomed. Meals and accommodation provided.
Teaching: Volunteers live in the community and will teach conversational English at the local High School (San Jorge). The job is to improve the comprehension, pronunciation and conversational skills of local students. Often volunteers will have their own class. Private tuition may be arranged. Meals and accommodation provided.
Ecology/Environmental: Volunteers work in the office of the Association of Guides in the Monteverde rain forest assisting with office duties, interacting with tourists and accompanying guides leading tour groups into the cloud forest. Meals and accommodation provided.
Zoology: VOLUNTEERS MUST BE AGED 20 OR OLDER, AND PREFERABLY HAVE SOME BACKGROUND WORKING WITH ANIMALS. Volunteers work in an animal rescue centre in Cañas, Guanacaste, assisting with the running of the centre, feeding animals and caring for their welfare. Accommodation is provided but meals must be paid for at $8.00 a day. A kitchen is provided for those wishing to cook for themselves.