from 1,578€

Great 4.4rating (78)

Teach at a School in a Village

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Volunteer close to dream beaches
  • Boost your CV with international volunteer experience
  • Explore amazing landscapes
  • Immerse into local communities by working at elementary schools
  • Make new friends with volunteers from around the world

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+

About the program

Assist teachers during class, prepare learning materials, and plan school activities. Enjoy the project location close to dream beaches!

Volunteers are placed in schools in villages across Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific coast. The schools are typically very small, and usually only have around 15 students. There are some larger schools, however, with up to 150 students. Most of the schools you will work in only have 1-3 teachers and ...

About the program

Volunteers are placed in schools in villages across Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific coast. The schools are typically very small, and usually only have around 15 students. There are some larger schools, however, with up to 150 students. Most of the schools you will work in only have 1-3 teachers and are for children between the ages of 6-12. The main subjects taught are math, Spanish, science and social studies. Some schools also teach English, as it is becoming more important in Costa Rica. 

In some schools, volunteers assist the teacher in class. Classes that are taught by volunteers typically happen outside of mandatory school hours for children, so sizes of the classes may vary and require your creativity. 

Since English is becoming increasingly important in Costa Rica, so there is large interest in teaching it to children. There is also an emphasis placed on other subjects, such as sports, art, music, dance, and theatre, all of which are very popular with the children.


Typical day

Volunteering in a Costa Rican school comes with a large portion of responsibility because you will be a role model to the students.

There will be a volunteer coordinator who will help guide you through the activities according to the interests of the children, something that has worked well in the ...

Typical day

Volunteering in a Costa Rican school comes with a large portion of responsibility because you will be a role model to the students.

There will be a volunteer coordinator who will help guide you through the activities according to the interests of the children, something that has worked well in the past. Even though there will be someone to help you, you should be able to plan and coordinate on your own with energy and creativity. Staying in close contact with teachers and parents is highly recommended so that you can gain as much knowledge as possible from your trip. 

While you are working in one of the schools, your tasks may include: 

  • 2-4 hours per day of childcare, usually in the afternoon, but also some mornings
  • Preparing and carrying out English workshops 
  • Organizing sports and arts activities
  • Supporting teachers during classes (not at all schools)
  • Administrative tasks at school 
  • Daily operational tasks at school
  • Maintaining, preparing, and supplementing teaching materials
  • Preparing and implementing school events
  • Participating in the recycling projects
  • Helping with playground construction and painting
At some schools you can volunteer to assist the teacher in class during the morning hours between approx 7:30 am to noon. However, volunteers mainly carry out projects with the children outside of regular school hours in the afternoons between 2 pm and 6 pm.

Prepare yourself for the most sparse material equipment in schools. So you are challenged in terms of creativity and a talent for improvisation in order to make interesting offers for the children with few resources.

You should enjoy working independently, have a good level of self-confidence, be curious, open-minded, communicative and cooperative and have the desire to make a difference.

Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.


Free-time activities

Due to the project’s location on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, there are breathtaking views to enjoy, warm temperatures, and beautiful beaches. There are also water sports available, such as swimming, snorkel and surfing.

Weekends are the perfect time to enjoy an exciting hike through Costa ...

Free-time activities

Due to the project’s location on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, there are breathtaking views to enjoy, warm temperatures, and beautiful beaches. There are also water sports available, such as swimming, snorkel and surfing.

Weekends are the perfect time to enjoy an exciting hike through Costa Rican nature since the main attractions of Costa Rica is its system of national parks and protected areas, which cover around 25% of the national territory, in order to protect the rich variety of flora and fauna, which is estimated to contain 5% of the world's biodiversity in less than 0.1% of the planet's land mass.

Costa Rica is the perfect place to combine volunteer work with tourism, enjoy activities like:

- Adventure sport
- Dream beaches
- Ecotourism
- Local culture
- Bird / wildlife watching
- Visits to unique National Parks
- Rural tourism
- Sightseeing and history in San José


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

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.

Language Skills

You need to speak Spanish (intermediate level) or English (intermediate level)

Education Requirements

at High School level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV, Copy of Passport and Criminal Record Check

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  • Single room in local homestay
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Advice from our experienced staff
  • On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
  • Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
  • Your placement in the volunteer project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Packing list
  • Country handbook
  • Intercultural guide
  • On-site volunteer coordinator
  • 24/7 emergency number
  • Advice on travel insurance
  • Certificate of participation

  • NOTE: ALWAYS FULL WEEKS ARE CHARGED!

                                Accommodation

                                You will be provided with a single room in a local homestay. An important aspect of our school project in Costa Rica is providing a bilateral exchange with the local culture. In most cases, the host lives in the same village where the school is located, or nearby and are easily reachable. 

                                Food & Beverages

                                Full-board is provided (breakfast, lunch, dinner). The local cuisine is based on rice, beans, vegetables, meat, and fruits.

                                Internet Access

                                Limited access at the project site

                                What's NOT included?

                                What's NOT included?

                                Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

                                An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

                                Flight Tickets

                                The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

                                Travel Insurance

                                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. GET A QUOTE

                                Vaccines

                                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. VACCINE CHECKER

                                Details on arrival

                                The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year (except between December and March). The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningfull volunteer project.

                                Availability
                                Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

                                Program fees

                                4 weeks (min. stay) 1,578€
                                5 weeks 1,774€
                                6 weeks 1,970€
                                7 weeks 2,166€
                                8 weeks 2,362€
                                9 weeks 2,558€
                                10 weeks 2,754€
                                11 weeks 2,950€
                                12 weeks 3,146€
                                24 weeks (max. stay) 5,498€
                                Average fees 312€/week

                                Program fees

                                312€ per week 4 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

                                Payment methods

                                Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

                                NO CREDIT CARD FEES


                                Duration

                                4 - 24 weeks

                                Deposit

                                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.


                                Final Payment

                                Your final payment will be agreed with South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


                                Meet your organization

                                South America Inside

                                Great 4.4 rating (78 reviews)

                                Agency - founded in 2003

                                Verified by Volunteer World

                                  Good response rate

                                Coordinated by

                                Marion

                                Spoken languages: German, Spanish, English

                                About the project

                                South America Inside promotes intercultural, linguistic and educational exchanges. Its volunteer programs are addressed to students, professionals and retirees.

                                Meet your organization

                                South America Inside is an intercultural management agency, founded back in 2003, which specializes in the promotion of programs abroad, language travel and educational programs throughout Latin America.

                                Since 2007, to enrich the experience of our global-minded clients and to provide them with even more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding their program offerings throughout South and Central America.

                                Working together with some of the best language schools in Latin America, South America Inside provides high quality language courses in almost every Latin American country.

                                Thanks to a professional team of motivated and friendly staff, South America Inside has been very successful over the past several years and have been able to establish an outstanding network of what we call "Insider Contacts." To enrich the experience of their clients and to provide them with more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding our program offerings throughout Central and South America, in addition to our well-established Chilean programs.

                                Volunteer Work

                                Do you dream of staying abroad while doing something positive? Are you looking for a unique experience that will leave a mark on your life? Then a Volunteer Work program in South America or Central America is perfect for you!

                                With South America Inside you can combine an adventure abroad with social commitment, and create lasting memories in Latin America. Support the protection of endangered species; help a local community construct new homes; give new hope to impoverished children.

                                The possibilities to lend a hand are diverse, as there are the many places where help is needed. We have classified our volunteer projects in different areas so you can easily find the one (or more!) projects that best match your needs and interests.

                                Why with us

                                There are many persuasive reasons that speak in favor of South America Inside when it comes to selecting your perfect provider of language, study and volunteer travel abroad. Following, we have prepared a short summary so that you can get us to know a little better.

                                Our Insider benefits at a glance:

                                  Regional Experience
                                Over one decade (established in 2003) of dedication to language, work and study travel programs in Latin America. Thanks to our long standing work and life experience in the South American continent, we know this region really well. Therefore, we can help and inform you in a professional and competent way.

                                  Multifaceted Offers
                                Over time we have developed new programs to offer a wide array of work abroad opportunities to our clients. We have been pioneers in launching new exchange programs, as we have been the first in offering Work & Travel/Working Holiday and Farm Stays in Chile and successfully introduced these programs into the market back in 2005. Since 2012, we are the only agency to offer this type of program in Costa Rica.

                                  Insider Advice
                                Despite living in the modern era of the internet, we know that reliable and competent advice is still an important criterion for most of us. At South America Inside, you will find the benefits of an internet provider and an independent travel agency. We will be glad to pass on our extensive knowledge and regional experience.!

                                  Location
                                It is difficult to run programs when there is nobody “on the ground” to evaluate existing options and search for new opportunities. So, we are located in Chile, on location, and we know everything that is going on first hand. We know what it is like to live as a foreigner in South America and will be happy to assist you in making your stay unforgettable!

                                  Independence
                                South America Inside is an independent provider of language courses, internships, volunteer work, Farm Stays and Work & Travel programs in Latin America. We neither depend financially nor structurally on any other company, language school, association or organization. Therefore, we are able to give personalized information in accordance to your needs and availability.

                                •  Multilingual Team

                                Our team is multilingual and international! We speak fluent English, Spanish and German, as well as some French and Portuguese. With our customers, we can communicate in their native language and we avoid misunderstandings with local partners by communicating in Spanish with them. You can be sure that there will be an English-speaking contact person for you before, during, and after your stay.

                                  Customer Service
                                Excellent customer service is one of the most important goals for South America Inside, and this is evident with the positive feedback we regularly receive from our many happy clients. Emails are answered within 48 business hours and every client is treated with the same friendliness and expertise.

                                  Gapless and Accurate Information flow
                                With South America Inside you will have one and the same contact person before, during and after your trip. With that said, we guarantee a gapless and accurate information flow and you will always be very well informed.

                                  Approved Program Places
                                Many of our program places, especially in the area of internships and volunteer work, are designed in the way that they will be recognized by most universities, colleges or academies.

                                78 reviews · rating4.4

                                Regina H. rating5

                                2023 at Teach at a School in a Village

                                Bin gut am Zielort angekommen und mein Gastfamilie ist top. Es sind sehr herzliche angenehme Menschen und der Wohnort ist perfekt für mich, weil sowohl Schule als auch Strand so nah sind. Liebe Grüße, Regina *** english *** I arrived well at my destination and my host family is top. They ...
                                lyne bourbonnais rating3.8

                                2024 at Eco Farm Worker

                                j'ai bien aimé mon expérience à Antigua qui est une superbe ville facile à visiter. Vivre dans une famille, y prendre les repas est une très belle incursion dans la vie guatémaltèque. et quoi de mieux pour l'immersion en langue espagnole! eco farm: bien qu'au départ je n'ai pas bien saisi ...
                                GERALDINE QUIRKE rating3.2

                                2024 at Work in a National Park

                                When I scheduled volunteer time the indication was that there was a limited number of volunteers based on the projects/work to be done. As more and more volunteers arrived i realized that we were more valued for the money we paid than for the limited amount of work to be done. Also, I felt that ...
                                Floriana D. rating5

                                2023 at Local Wildlife Helper

                                Hey there, I love my experience, it is amazing !!! Tomorrow I am going to visit and I am working, it's going very well ! Thank you for everything!! ...
                                Emilie Hasni rating4.2

                                2023 at Help Save Sea Turtles

                                Magnifique expérience avec les tortues et avec les autres volontaires aussi. Le cadre est magnifique, les couchers de soleil et les balades dans la nature autour du lieu du volontariat sont superbes. Petite info : si tu veux avoir internet, le seul réseau qui fonctionne est Kolbi. Nous on a ...
                                Ich bin gut auf der Osterinsel angekommen. Wurde von dem Projektleiter am Flughafen abgeholt. Er hatte sogar eine Kollegin mit, die deutsch spricht, sollte ich mit spanisch nicht so gut umgehen können. Echt toll! Die Unterkunft ist gut und ordentlich und groß, sie liegt am Ende der Ortschaft, ...

                                Location


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