If you are an animal lover and you always wanted to be around exotic animals, this project in the rainforest of Costa Rica is just the thing for you! Here you can immerse in a fascinating world and promote animal protection and plant biodiversity.
The Issue
This privatly owned animal Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica receives no funds from the government, depending solely on volunteers and donations. Limited by a tight budget, the center has been working hard to improve the conditions of the animals little-by-little. The center strives to conserve, protect, reintroduce, and raise several wild species that have been removed from their natural environment as a result of repossession, hunting, habitat destruction, and the ignorance of humans.
The Center
In 2006, the center won the Ford/Jaguar Cars International Conservation Award from the Jaguar Conservation Trust, a grass roots program dedicated to providing grants and funding projects that promote the preservation of the company's namesake and the jaguar’s habitat. The staff also runs an environmental education program to promote awareness among local citizens. The Wildlife Rescue Center is home to approximately 500 animals, over 100 of which are free to roam on the 11 hectares (27 acres) of property. There are over 80 species, such as, monkeys, tapirs, birds (green macaws, scarlet macaws, toucans, etc.), various reptiles (snakes, crocodiles, iguanas, etc.), spiders and different types of felines. (Numbers and species are subject to changes!)
The Location
The volunteer project is located near Aguas Zarcas de San Carlos, La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano, about halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and about 100km north of San José. Due to the many scenic attractions, this area is very popular among tourists and offers good touristic infrastructure. On excursions you can discover the evergreen nature with its exciting wildlife, visit national parks and do lots of outdoor sports and outdoor activities.
From the capital, San José, you will need about 2.5 hours by bus to the volunteer project site. The province of Alajuela has a tropical rainforest climate. This type of climate is characterized by rather warm temperatures and regular rainfall throughout the year.
What we expect
Please do not put prejudices of the foreign culture and other people into your luggage. You do not need that during your stay abroad! On the contrary, tolerance is a very important feature if you want to be successful and have fun while volunteering abroad. Respect the foreign culture, the other habits and the different mentality with great respect. While the other way of working may not always make much sense in your eyes, the goal of volunteering abroad is not to criticize or smile at people for acting and doing, but to work with them for a good cause.
On a trip abroad, especially in developing countries, you leave your home comfort zone. It is very important that you are ready to adapt to a different life situation. In Latin America, you certainly will not find the usual standards of home again. Especially volunteer projects in developing countries are often located in very secluded areas in the middle of beautiful nature or you live with a local host family, who belongs to a foreign culture. But that's the exciting thing about volunteering abroad! Immerse yourself in a foreign land, experience culture, traditions and people up close, learn from them, just let go and adapt to the other life circumstances. A unique experience that will mature and grow you as a person!
In a voluntary work, the team idea is always over self-interest. Working in a team is fun and brings good mood and variety! So, for your volunteer work abroad, you should bring along a great deal of team spirit, because you always work together with other people, be it volunteers from other countries or local project staff. However, when so many foreign and diverse cultures meet, teamwork can become a whole new challenge. Even more important, that you have the ability to communicate in a group, work constructively and fairly and do not want to punch through your will at all costs.
- Be helpful and responsible
For most projects, volunteers who "do a good job" are most appreciated. By participating in a voluntary service abroad, you are consciously choosing to work in another country. You are not on a vacation trip. So, you have choosen to offer your help and valuable time to other people, nature protection or animals welfare. What really matters is your helpfulness! A really very important and unavoidable trait is the sense of responsibility. The volunteer project is counting on your support and your cooperation has been tightly scheduled. A high level of responsibility is the alpha and omega. During your volunteer work in Latin America, you are assigned to certain areas of activity that you must do on your own. Please take your role as a volunteer very seriously and carry out your tasks in the project conscientiously and carefully.
Be prepared for the fact that volunteering in Latin America is much different from what you know or are used to at home. The Latin Americans have a completely different order, time and work understanding. Even their logic of approaching certain things may not always make much sense in your eyes. The different language and culture can quickly lead to misunderstandings or communication problems. An important principle for you: always be flexible and spontaneous! You will soon realize that there is a solution for all situations and that you can quickly develop a plan B from a problem.
- Be proactive and take initiative
During your voluntary work abroad, do not expect someone to explain to you in a big way what needs to be done, where and when. Often there is only a brief introduction and then your proactivity and initiative are asked. Get actively involved, offer your help and see where you can best apply your skills and strengths. It is always great when volunteers constructively and friendly affix ideas and suggest their own small projects.