Volunteer in an orphanage project
Overview of the Project
Poverty, abuse and alcoholism have left many children in Costa Rica without families, depriving them of the parental love and care they need and deserve. Global Crossroad's volunteer in orphanage in Costa Rica project aspires to improve these children's life circumstances by providing caring and nurturing volunteers to work and play with them. The orphanages support and protect these children, volunteer assistance helps keep these children off the street, and helps provide them with a happy and productive childhood. The projects focus on getting these children off the street, and providing them with shelter, food and education. Various ongoing educational, recreational and health projects support these unfortunate children and reinforce positive choices to improve their lives.
- Program: Volunteer in Costa Rica
- Project: orphanage
- Start dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
- Locations: San Jose areas
- Departure and End Point: San Jose International Airport (Juan Santamaria)
- Language Need: Basic/intermediate Spanish fluency
- Accommodation and meals: Host Family and Costa Rican meals three times daily
- Activities: Provide love and care to orphans & support orphanage operations
- Working hours: 25-35 hours per week
Role of Volunteer
Orphanage volunteers teach English (3-4 hours a day) in the orphanage. Volunteers provide care for the children, helping them with their homework, offer workshops, participate in playtime activities, etc. You may work with other volunteers and/or assistants. Most orphanages house separate genders, though there are a few that support both girls and boys. The children – ages 5 to 16-years-old – crave and deserve your love, care, attention and companionship; and thrive because of volunteer interactions.
Extra-curricular activities may include organizing sports training and inter-school football (soccer) matches. Volunteers also playing music and teach subjects such as mathematics, world affairs, personal hygiene and nutrition. The possibilities are endless.
Skills/Qualification Needed
There are no specific qualifications needed to join volunteer in orphanage in Costa Rica project beyond a preferred basic/intermediate fluency in Spanish. If you cannot speak Spanish, we recommend enrolling in our Spanish Language Studies program. Volunteers need to have passion and love for children and be flexible and patient.
Volunteer in Costa Rica: Project Locations and Free Time Options
Global Crossroad’s volunteer in Costa Rica projects are located in and around San Jose and nearby areas. Each location offers a different vibe with San Jose full of urban experiences and other areas offering more of a village feel. Both cities in our Costa Rica program place volunteers adjacent to the activities for which Costa Rica is famous: zip lining in the rainforest, exploring the lush jungle and its biodiversity, lounging on a beach or sipping most excellent coffee.
San José is Costa Rica’s lively and animated capital city and is considered a gateway to the coasts of the Pacific and Caribbean, as well as the rainforests. San José is not a coastal town, but located in the Central Valley and has a population of 1.2 million people. The city is positioned between three volcanoes at 1,150 meters (3,773 feet). It has a very modern and urban feel. Visitors can enjoy diverse architecture including modern and colonial. San José is a cosmopolitan city and serves up an entertaining nightlife scene, theater, tourism and shopping. The city vibe maintains a remarkable balance between fast-paced and laid-back.
