United Planet - UP's Costa Rica Quest

Community Development Quests

These Quests require intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills.

The minimum time commitment for Costa Rica Community Development Quests is 4 weeks. Groups of 8 or more people may go for shorter periods of time. Individuals must stay for at least 4 weeks.

For Community Development Quests, volunteers will stay at a host family that will provide them with 3 meals a day.

1. Teaching Quest

Volunteers will learn firsthand about the educational system in Costa Rica through classroom placements in kindergartens and primary schools in either San Jose or Monteverde. The work consists of supporting the teachers with activities and classes, and playing with the kids. Many volunteers also help in the administration’s office, though the volunteer’s responsibilities are usually defined together with the school staff.

Due to school holidays in Costa Rica, the teaching projects are not available during the first two weeks in July; the first two weeks of October; and from early December to mid-February (the summer vacation period in Costa Rica).

2. Childcare Quest

Volunteers can work with children in the capital of San Jose. This is a good option for volunteers who are interested in working with children. Tasks include taking care of the children, helping them with homework, food and play, and organizing activities. The children’s ages range widely. Volunteers may work with infants and toddlers, young children, or teenagers.

3. Preserving Cultural Heritage

Volunteer work at the Cultural Heritage Project generally involves making signs, distributing information, educating locals and tourists about the local cultural heritage, maintenance of work stations, and various small tasks. Volunteer responsibilities vary based on the organization’s day to day needs. You will most likely have a great deal of autonomy and will learn a lot on your own. The objective of the cultural rights organization is to preserve local traditions
and offer a space for artistic and cultural manifestations.
This project is a good option for volunteers with a
background in the arts.

4. Legal Rights Project

Volunteers interested in human rights can assist in legal advocacy programs for the rights of Costa Rica’s indigenous minority. The organization’s mission is to promote, protect, and preserve traditional knowledge of medicinal plants, which has strong historical and cultural roots in the indigenous community. The volunteer duties may include writing and translating documents and assisting with general office tasks. Normally the different tasks will be defined once the volunteer is in the location.

**Specific projects and campaigns may vary depending on the time of the year.

5. Health Care

Volunteers can work at a clinic in Monteverde or children’s hospital in San Jose. The work volunteers will be doing is defined by the health center and its needs, but mainly consists in supporting the people in charge with different tasks including aiding medical professionals. Volunteers will also be asked to take part in maintenance, cleaning, etc. Volunteers will also be under supervision: they are never alone or directly in charge of people.

This project is a good option for volunteers with a medical background or those interested in pursuing a career in the medical profession.

* Please be sure to fill out the supplemental Medical Quest Application in addition to the regular Quest Application!

6. Working with People with Disabilities

Volunteers interested in working with people with disabilities can work at an organization devoted to helping blind and deaf people of all ages. The organization tries help them become an active part of society.

Volunteers will provide support for those working at the organization by helping at different workshops and preparing materials needed for those activities. The specific tasks will be defined once the volunteer is at the site.

7. Working with the Elderly

Volunteers work at an association dedicated to supporting the elderly by giving them a space to stay active and have a meaningful place in society. The association does so by organizing varied workshops and activities for them. Volunteers can help in the planning process and by running activities, as well as assisting in the central office. Occasionally the volunteers also have the opportunity to do outreach in outlying communities. The aim is to educate people about the proper and humane treatment of the elderly.