Overview of the Project
Children are living on the streets of San Jose. Global Crossroad collaborates with numerous organizations within rural and urban communities to provide much needed assistance to the growing number of street and/or at-risk children in Costa Rica – street children center, children hostels, adolescent and infant care centers, etc. Street children and at-risk children volunteers can help these children who come from very low income families who are not always able to adequately provide for their children. Some of these children have mothers/fathers in prison or have abandoned in addition to other social difficulties preventing them from living a productive and safe life.
- Program: Volunteer in Costa Rica
- Project: Children at-risk
- 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
Volunteers are needed to assist these pre-existing organizations with their noble efforts to provide some hope and improve the living conditions of these children. Depending on personal skills and interests, volunteers can teach English, music, mathematics, computer skills, assist in cooking and serving meals to the children, educating the children in issues of personal hygiene/sanitation, ensuring they complete their homework – simply spending quality time with these often-abandoned children makes a significantly positive impact. Another strongly rewarding contribution is helping to reintegrate these children into society – laying the groundwork for them to be happy, well-adjusted and productive members of society.
Skills/Qualification Needed
There are no specific qualifications needed to join our children at-risk program 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.