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Childcare & Development Supporter
Coordinator | Nicole
Coordinator | Nicole
Work with vulnerable children in Playa Jaco
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
The program
The mission of this program is to contribute to the children of Costa Rica, to promote education, and to ensure their proper physical, emotional, and social development. The early childhood centres on this program provide care and education for 20 to 40 local children, aged 3 to 6 years old, and provide a place where the children of working-class parents can have a place to be educated, have friends, and to feel comfortable. Some of the children also come from single parent families who would struggle without the help and assistance provided by these day care facilities. The children attending these projects require a lot of care, attention and most importantly, companionship. Costa Rica volunteers spend their time caring for the children, helping with their schoolwork, playing games and arranging fun activities during leisure time, like sports or art. Attention and companionship is what the children in these projects need the most, and the attendance of international volunteers is always a highlight for them.
Goals of this Project:
- Provide childcare to vulnerable children in Playa Jaco (Jaco Beach)
- Improve the future prospects of the children of Costa Rica
- Allow impoverished families to place their children in childcare programs and allow them to work
- Enable inter-cultural exchange which benefits both students and international volunteers alike.
How you can help
Volunteers play an essential role in helping families in Costa Rica through this program. Participants will spend their time taking care of children and assist the local staff as needed. Volunteers will work Monday to Friday for at least 4 to 6 hours per day.
Volunteers spend their time assisting the local teacher with daily activities, and will spend time teaching and playing with the children. They will contribute in a number of ways and can expect to undertake the following tasks:
- Helping to teach children
- Attending to and interacting with the children
- Creating activities and entertaining the children with games and songs
- Teaching basic English, hygiene, and spiritual values
- Help with kitchen and other duties where required
Typical day
A volunteer’s work day on this project will generally last between 4 and 6 hours and while we ask all volunteers to be flexible in this regard, a typical daily schedule is likely to go something like this:
8:00am Breakfast at the accommodation
8:30am Walk/bus to your project site
9:00am Pre-start meeting with project supervisor
9:30am VOLUNTEERING DUTIES START
A tea break and lunch break will be fitted in during the day, but often the timing of breaks will change based on the needs of the local staff and number of volunteers on hand.
2:00pm VOLUNTEERING DUTIES END
2:15pm Debrief with project supervisor
2:30pm Walk/bus back to the accommodation
Evenings Free time to relax and have dinner or go out and explore the sights and sounds of Playa Jaco – a cool and vibrant surf town!
Free-time activities
This hugely beneficial program is dedicated to helping the children of Jaco Beach (Playa Jaco), a small town beside a beautiful beach on Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast, set near lush green rain forest and mountains with an active tourism market and buzzing night life scene. Jaco Beach is one of Costa Rica’s top surfing hot spots and the town, with its bustling main street of shops and cafes, has a vibrant, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. This is a truly wonderful place to volunteer and give back to the local community!
Water Sports
Swimming
Climbing
Hiking
Program Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date.
There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak
English
(basic level)
or Spanish
(basic level)
required
at High School/University level
Emergency contact and Police check
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
This highly interactive and varied project does not require participants to have a background in the field of childcare, as there are many ways you can assist. However, volunteers with suitable education, qualifications or experience are highly sought after. Regardless, a volunteer’s individual role can often be tailored to suit their particular skills and interests. Volunteers on this project will need an understanding of Spanish in order to communicate effectively.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Included Services
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Orientation & full safety briefing
- Accommodation (as specified above)
- Food & Meals (as specified above)
- 24/7 local support network
- Project placement & onsite supervise
- Registration fee included
Upon your arrival in San Jose you will be collected at the airport and taken to the volunteer house accommodation in Santa Barbara de Heredia (just outside San Jose) - which also serves as the local team’s office. The following day (Sunday), you will be collected and taken to the local office where you will receive a welcome orientation to help you settle in and find out about your volunteering placement. The local team will fill you in on local and regional customs, traveling, rules and recommendations, and of course, what to expect from your volunteering experience. This is a great opportunity to get to know your hosts and ask any last questions you may have.
You will then be taken to the bus station and placed on the bus to Jaco Beach. A representative from the local project team will meet you on arrival in Jaco and will take you to the accommodations to settle in. On Monday morning, you will be taken to your project site and introduced to the project leader so that you can start volunteering. Easy!
- Program Arrival Day: SATURDAY
- Program Departure Day: SATURDAY
- Arrival/Departure Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose, Costa Rica (Code: SJO)
Volunteers on this amazing program will primarily be accommodated within one of our local volunteer apartments, located just a few kilometres from the sandy beach of Playa Jaco (a regular bus services runs to/from the town/beach from a bus stop 300m down the road). Rooms are usually shared with one other volunteer. All standard amenities are available in the volunteer apartment, including hot showers and modern ‘western’ bathrooms, and there is even free Wi-Fi! This is a perfect home away from home and a wonderful base for your stay in Costa Rica!
Volunteers are provided 2 meals per day (breakfast and lunch) at the volunteer house throughout the week. Dinner is generally not included and volunteers tend to eat out at one of the local cafes or restaurants where you can try cheap and tasty local food. You are also free to buy bread and other snacks. The meals provided are mostly vegetarian, local cuisine. Conveniently, there is also a fridge and basic cooking facilities if volunteers would occasionally like to prepare their own meals. Easy!
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey.
Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
This project is available year-round and programs start every SATURDAY. Volunteers can choose to participate for periods ranging from 1 week to 12 weeks.
Spaces on this project are limited and therefore subject to availability. Early booking is recommended.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 12 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$ 1,428
5 weeks
$ 1,708
6 weeks
$ 1,978
7 weeks
$ 2,258
8 weeks
$ 2,528
9 weeks
$ 2,808
12 weeks
(max. stay)
$ 3,628
Average fees
$ 330
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated and subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
Love Volunteers
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider.
If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Love Volunteers during the application process.
Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
Volunteer World is the world's leading comparison platform for international volunteer opportunities. We guide you through a safe and easy
application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
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We refund your fees if Love Volunteers cancels your trip
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Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Love Volunteers.
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