Question 1

Pet Rescue

Play with the animals
Train the dogs to walk on leashes
Bathe and groom the animals
Provide basic care

Answer

This project was created to provide a warm and loving home to abandoned cats and dogs. In addition to being a no-kill shelter, the project is the first animal rescue project in Costa Rica to function as an in-home foster care program for animals. Rather than being kept in kennels, the animals are kept in the home where they are nurtured, cared for, and house trained until they are adopted. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 2

Environmental Conservation

Plant trees
Clean creeks or park areas
Develop and promote recycling programs

Answer

This grassroots-driven campaign is doing its part to protect and preserve the environment with organized beautification efforts. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 3

Geriatric Care (Elderly)

Plan and organize games and socials
Teach an exercise or yoga class
Administer physical therapy (if properly trained or certified)

Answer

Aging can be a lonely experience as physical challenges can lead to sadness and depression. At this project, elderly residents receive supportive care, and medical and therapy services. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 4

Ambulance Services

Organize and conduct drug prevention and AIDS awareness campaigns
Teach English to EMTs
Assist with various administrative functions and respond to calls for assistance

NOTE: Intermediate Spanish level (B2) required. Certified first-aid/medical training or experience.

Answer

Volunteer to work with a public or private ambulance service. The public ambulance service provides emergency transportation to the clinic. When you and the team of EMTs aren't responding to emergencies, use the downtime to organize and conduct public health education workshops. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 5

Organic Farming

Implement the farm's organic practices and share knowledge of other eco-friendly farming techniques
Develop creative strategies for marketing and selling the coffee
Organize and lead farm tours

Answer

This project is located on a coffee plantation operated by a local family that made the switch to organic farming practices. The farm is a part of a cooperative. The coffee that they produce is sold in quantity, mostly to large corporations. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 6

Teen Boys Orphanage

Organize constructive educational activities and games
Teach English and help the children with homework
Read stories to the children, play sports, and teach song and dance
Assist the staff with maintenance and facility upkeep

NOTE: Must be male and at least 22 years of age. Experience working with street/at-risk children is a plus.

Answer

This project offers a program for teen boys who rescued from the street or from less than ideal home environments. The boys remain at the orphanage until conditions at home improve or until they come of age. The boys struggle with issues related to poverty and abuse; and issues that result from living on the streets such as drugs and prostitution. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 7

Community Center

Teach English to adults or children at the community center
Assist with local partnership collaborations between the community center and local library, or cultural center
Lead weekly arts and crafts projects for children
Assist the library with children’s hour
Plan and organize events, such as the Festival of Dance and the Angels for Christmas project
Create collateral to market and promote community programs and events
Help develop the website

Answer

The local community center in Atenas was created to be a warm gathering place for local community residents. Enrichment classes, craft workshops, and special events all combine to build community, and encourage social interaction and celebration of the local culture. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 8

Teach English

Teach English and other core subjects
Assist with creating lesson plans
Help the teachers learn and improve their English
Organize constructive learning activities and games

NOTE: Volunteers must be presentable and professionally dressed -- i.e. jeans, knee-length skirts, capris, t-shirts are all permissible. No excessive tattoos or piercings. No shorts or tops that show the shoulders or mid-drift. Volunteers are expected to be reliable, flexible and patient.

Answer

Help is needed to teach English and other subjects in neighborhood local schools,. kindergarten through high school. Poor, rural children are falling behind academically. Dilapidated facilities, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of funding make teaching and learning difficult. While courses are taught, instruction occurs at a low level. The teachers, themselves, lack sufficient education and training. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 9

Women's Reforestation Cooperative

Help maintain the greenhouse, plant trees to encourage reforestation, and explore organic fertilizing methods
Develop creative strategies for marketing and advertising the project
Identify funding sources to help sustain the project
Develop a website and web content

NOTE: Basic Spanish, a green thumb, and a love for nature. Volunteers are expected to be reliable and flexible.

Answer

At a women’s cooperative outside Atenas, a group of women is asserting themselves and paving their own path to economic self-sufficiency in a way. The wormen grrow orchids, cactus, and ornamental plants; and make organic fertilizer to sell to the community and generate income. Through the reforestation component of their project, they encourage the rebuilding of natural habitats and ecosystems. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

Question 10

Orphanage

Organize constructive educational activities and games
Teach English and help the children with homework
Read stories to the children, play sports, and teach song and dance
Assist the staff with maintenance and facility upkeep

NOTE: Intermediate Spanish level (B2) required. Must be female.

Answer

Once abused, neglected, and abandoned, now the children at the children’s orphanage wear the label “survivor” thanks to the compassion of one married couple that recognized their pain and despair. Because of their traumatic pasts, many of the children at this orphanage struggle with trust issues and must work to overcome physical and mental limitations that occurred during their formative years. In a private home, rooted within the foundation of a Christian ministry, the children have a safe haven where they receive love, care, nutrition, and education within a warm nurturing environment. Some are able to return home when conditions improve. Some of the children are eligible for adoption. And others to transfer to orphanages for older children. For some of the children, the orphanage is the only home they know. While the numbers vary from day to day, on average, the the orphanage is home to 25-30 children. Such a large number can be a handful for the small staff. That makes the support and help of volunteers all the more important. Here are some possible volunteer responsibilities:

COSTA RICA

Pet Rescue

Environmental Conservation

Geriatric Care (Elderly)

Ambulance Services

Organic Farming

Teen Boys Orphanage

Community Center

Teach English

Women's Reforestation Cooperative

Orphanage

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