from 1,363€

Great 4.4rating (78)

Work in a Daycare Center

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Explore Costa Rica, one of the most amazing countries in the world
  • Do meaningful volunteer work helping our young generation
  • Become more passionate about other cultures and countries
  • Get to know the very typical Costa Rican "tica" lifestyle
  • Relax on dream beaches

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+

About the program

Do you love working with children? Help out at a day care center where you can organize activities and be a positive influence for children from low-income families.

In Costa Rica, low-income families are very prevalent. This means that both parents often have to work fulltime in order to support their family. As a volunteer, you will take care of children at day care centers while their parents are at work and help create home-like atmosphere that fosters ...

About the program

In Costa Rica, low-income families are very prevalent. This means that both parents often have to work fulltime in order to support their family. As a volunteer, you will take care of children at day care centers while their parents are at work and help create home-like atmosphere that fosters growth and development. Typically, the day care centers are filled with children in the surrounding areas from different backgrounds, ranging from low to middle class. What families are charged depends on household income. The children’s ages vary from 6 months to 12 years old. 

One of the major goals of the day care centers is to keep kids away from the streets, drugs, gangs, alcohol, and prostitution. The centers provide the children with care, education, snacks, and meals. They also specialize in certain topics, such as nutrition and other types of education. 

The day care centers are situated in and around San Jose, which is the capital of Costa Rica. The centers can be reached by bus if they are not within walking distance. The day care centers vary in size, ranging from very small groups of children to groups with over 100 children. The children are split up into both age groups and personal development groups according to their individual needs. 

The children are given classes to help with their education in addition to taking part in recreational activities and meals. Some specialized centers also offer therapy sessions.


Typical day

When working with children, you will be seen as a role model, something that comes with a lot of responsibility. You should be very creative, spontaneous, and patient on a day-to-day basis.  

Your work may include the following tasks:

  • Organizing games and activities
  • Playing with the children ...

Typical day

When working with children, you will be seen as a role model, something that comes with a lot of responsibility. You should be very creative, spontaneous, and patient on a day-to-day basis.  

Your work may include the following tasks:

  • Organizing games and activities
  • Playing with the children outdoors
  • Doing handcrafts, painting, building, creating
  • Playing group games or with single children
  • Helping out with the daily operational tasks of the centers
  • Providing warm and caring attention to the children
  • Helping to feed and wash younger children
  • Assisting in napping the small children
  • Monitoring and supervise the children 

On a day-to-day basis, you will be expected to organize and play games with the children. In addition, you will have to be creative when building and creating various objects with the children. You will also be expected to help with daily operational tasks, such as painting a wall or bathing and feeding small children. 

In some centers, especially for children in pre-school, tasks may include teaching arts and crafts and other classes, such as English. You may also be asked to prepare materials for lessons.


Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, 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

Being in the vibrant city of San Jose, there are many activities to do in your spare time. There are regular concerts, and a wide range of sports to participate in. Weekends are the perfect time to enjoy an exciting hike through Costa Rican nature since the main attractions of Costa Rica is its ...

Free-time activities

Being in the vibrant city of San Jose, there are many activities to do in your spare time. There are regular concerts, and a wide range of sports to participate in. 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. In addition, Costa Rica has countless amazing beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean Ocean. 

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

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 from 09:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  • Single room in a local homestay
  • Breakfast, dinner
  • Laundry service once a week
  • Airport pick-up
  • 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
  • Welcome meeting in San José
  • On-site volunteer coordinator
  • 24/7 emergency number
  • Advice on travel insurance
  • Certificate of participation

                            Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

                            Our local staff will pick you up from the airport and take you to your homestay.

                            Accommodation

                            As a volunteer with a host family, you will have your own single room and share living areas and bathrooms with the family. This is a great way to improve your Spanish skills and indulge in the culture of Costa Rica.

                            Food & Beverages

                            Homestay accommodation includes breakfast and dinner. Special diatry requirements can be taken care of.

                            Internet Access

                            Good access at the project site

                            What's NOT included?

                            What's NOT included?

                            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. 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) 1,363€
                            5 weeks 1,574€
                            6 weeks 1,786€
                            7 weeks 1,997€
                            8 weeks 2,208€
                            9 weeks 2,419€
                            10 weeks 2,630€
                            11 weeks 2,842€
                            12 weeks 3,053€
                            24 weeks (max. stay) 5,587€
                            Average fees 286€/week

                            Program fees

                            286€ 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: English, Spanish, German

                            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

                            Susan L. rating4.8

                            2023 at Work in a Daycare Center

                            Everything is beautiful. All the people are very friendly. The kids are so cute. I’m having a great time. They picked me up late late at night and the host she cooks me beautiful meals. The only thing would be it would kind of be nice to know a few things before you come not a big deal but things ...
                            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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                            Contact Marion
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