Support Children in Schools in Beach Villages

About the Program

Update January 2022:

The global Corona pandemic has also affected our cooperation with government schools and completely paralyzed them for almost two years. Currently it is still quite difficult in the state schools with which we have cooperated so far, because they are still 'behind' with the curricula and the exams.

Currently we have started a cooperation with a small private school near Nosara, which works according to the Montessori pedagogy. This school is run by a Costa Rican couple, is accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education and has about 60 students. Although a monthly tuition fee is charged, it is not an 'elite school for rich kids' - the school also awards many scholarships to families without adequate income.

All the following information and task descriptions apply just as much to the private school - only the vacation periods (see there) are a little different and shorter.

In any case, we plan to resume cooperation with the state schools as soon as possible. As a general rule, only volunteers with full immunizations will be accepted to work with the children.

If you are interested in working with children and giving classes en English, sports, arts or other subjects, you're in demand in the local schools. In most of the 'escuelas' in this area the children only have lessons in Spanish, Math, Social Science and Natural Science due to the lack of teachers and financial resources. Your classes will be in the afternoons after the regular classes and they are free for the children.

English especially is getting more and more important for Costaricans to provide better opportunities in the expanding tourism market, wich is the main income sector in this country. Therefor especially the parents are very interested in English classes. Additional subjects that stimulates their creativity and develop their individuality are important for an adequate education and are very popular for the children. Your volunteering in teaching assistance and your efforts in creating new material will be very much appreciated!

We work with 5-8 schools and Kindergardens in the area between Sámara and Nosara on the pacific coast. These schools are very small - some only have one classroom, 16 children of 6 levels and one teacher. 

Furthermore we highly appreciate from the volunteers to be active and motivated by themselves, to offer language classes for the local youth and adults and bring their own ideas for the community progress.

Between Christmas and New Year the school is closed. 

During the school holidays there will be holiday programs for the children!

Our Volunteers

Our volunteers should be creative and have a talent for improvisation as even the most basic resources are often limited and require to use your imagination. We are looking for motivated, responsible and independently working volunteers. They should have a basic knowledge of the Spanish language and bring clothes for a decent dress code. It would be great if the volunteers could bring all kind of didactic material (books, games, music...).

The Location

The schools are located on the northwest pacific coast of Costa Rica in Guanacaste between Sámara and Nosara.

As we work with several kindergardens, elementary schools and also schools raised from private foundations the typical day structure varies a lot! Mostly you will not find such a strict time schedule as you might be used to ... and please be open for the actual needs of the school. 

Your time in the school may change between 2 and 6 hours a day and there is more work if you offer extra activities after school. 

Your Tasks

Your work mainly includes:

• Teaching English, sports, games, art and craft or other subjects
  
• 2-4 hours of work with the children in the mornings, the afternoon or both
  
• in some schools: joining and helping the teacher in the morning classes; administrative work in the school
  
• cleaning the facilities you use in the school and the volunteer office; maintainance of the material collection and preparing new material
  
• preparing school events like sport activities, presentations, exhibitions, beach cleanings
  
• help in the recycle program and in community service: beautifying projects, gardening, making playgrounds, painting etc. according to the actual needs of the community
  

After work you can go to the beach, swim, surf or snorkel. The next village with leisure time possibilities is not far: there are tours for watching dolphins, kayaking, canopy, fishing and others. Go out in the evenings to listen to music and dance.

On the weekends you can go on tours in and around this area and there are a lot of places to visit in Costa Rica: National Park Monteverde, National Park Manuel Antonio, Volcano Arenal, visit the caribbean coast, visit our rainforest lodge, go on a trip to Nicaragua or Panamá ...