Overview
Volunteer Work with Children in Costa Rica

Volunteers joining this programme will teach in and explore one of the last remaining indigenous areas in Costa Rica. Located on the Caribbean coast, four hours by bus from San José, Cahuita is a beautiful, laid-back Caribbean town that has gorgeous sandy beaches lined with palm trees.

Volunteers will live in Cahuita and travel each day to surrounding communities to teach in the schools in the mornings until early afternoon. Here you will help children (in classes of roughly 5-10 children) who need more attention with literacy and maths, and also give English lessons and help with other teaching activities, including sports, geography and arts. Open classes are held in the afternoon and will concentrate on literacy (child and adult), reinforcement and English.

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This area is one of the poorest and most abandoned in the country.

School Director, 2006

What Difference Does This Project Make?

GVI, along with leaders and teachers of the communities, are developing educational reinforcement programmes or ‘aulas abiertas’ to assist children and adults who otherwise may not have the opportunity of a full formal education or who need educational reinforcement. We will also be helping the understaffed schools in the region, where often just two teachers have to teach seven grades worth of children, including nursery, at the same time.

Highlights

Being immersed in the local Costa Rican community, learning Spanish, teaching and working with indigenous children and adults, having opportunities to join side trips to explore the local area and beyond, living with a host family in a tropical beachside village.

Location

Nestled in the South Eastern corner of Costa Rica, near to the Panama border, volunteers will stay in the small laid-back Caribbean coastal town of Cahuita. Cahuita has a population of around 5,000 and boasts a number of activities for volunteers to enjoy during your stay. The Caribbean waters that lap its shores are ideal for swimming and snorkelling, and volunteers can go on a number of treks through the surrounding lush coastal rainforest. This stunning black sand beach town has a few amenities, such as the Spanish school, internet cafes, bars, restaurants and mini-markets. Volunteers work in communities all within an hour’s bus ride from Cahuita.

Field Conditions

Living with local families in Cahuita in fairly basic accommodation gives volunteers the chance to have an enriched cultural experience, as well as increased opportunities to practice your Spanish! You will have your own private room and three meals a day will be provided when with the family; lunches will be provided at the school when you are working. The food is basic though very typical of the area, and is varied, including meats, vegetables, fruits, and plenty of rice and beans! Vegetarians are also well catered for.