| There are many volunteer work and research projects in Costa Rica,
some of which include food and lodging. A good resource in the US for
language study and volunteer work programmes is Transitions Abroad , a
bi-monthly magazine focusing on living and working overseas (visit
www.transabroad.com or write to Dept TRA, Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834,
USA). In Australasia, current details of student exchanges and study
programmes are available from the AFS, PO Box 5, Strawberry Hills,
Sydney 2012 (tel 02/9281-0066, www.afsaus.org.au ), or PO Box 11046,
Wellington, New Zealand (tel 04/384-8066 or 0800/600300. www.afs.org/partners/nzlhome
). UK residents should contact the Costa Rican Embassy.
Study programmes and learning Spanish
There are so many language schools in San José that choosing one can be
a problem: though you can arrange a place through organizations based in
the US, the best way to choose is to visit a few, perhaps sitting in on
a class or two, and judge...
There are so many language schools in San José that choosing one can be
a problem: though you can arrange a place through organizations based in
the US, the best way to choose is to visit a few, perhaps sitting in on
a class or two, and judge the school according to your own personality
and needs. This is not always possible in high season (Dec-April) when
many classes will have been booked in advance, but at other times it
should be no problem at the majority of the schools we've listed.
As with most things, you will pay more for a Spanish course in Costa
Rica than in other Central American countries. Some of the language
schools in Costa Rica are Tico-run; others are arms of international (usually
North American) education networks. Whatever the ownership, instructors
are almost invariably Costa Ricans who speak some English. In addition,
school noticeboards are an excellent source of information and contacts
for travel opportunities, apartment shares and social activities. Most
schools have a number of Costa Rican families on their books with whom
they regularly place students for homestays
Volunteer programmes in Costa Rica
Amigos de las Aves , 32-4001 Rio Segundo de Alajuela (tel 441-2658).
Works to establish breeding pairs of scarlet and great green macaws.
Volunteers help care for the birds; no food or lodging offered. ANAI ,
Aptdo 170-2070,...
Amigos de las Aves , 32-4001 Rio Segundo de Alajuela (tel 441-2658).
Works to establish breeding pairs of scarlet and great green macaws.
Volunteers help care for the birds; no food or lodging offered.
ANAI , Aptdo 170-2070, Sabanillo (tel 224-6090 or 224-3570, fax
253-7524, anaicr@correo.co.cr ). Based in southern Talamanca, ANAI
trains people to farm organically and manage forests sustainably. There
are also volunteer programmes to help protect the Gandoca-Manzanillo
Refuge and the turtles that come to the Caribbean coast each year (May-July),
and working on ANAI's experimental farm (officially for a minimum of six
months, but three-month stays can be arranged). Lodging and food
included.
ASVO (Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas), contact
the director of International Voluntary Programmes (tel 223-4533 ext.
135-182). Government-run scheme enabling volunteers to work in the
national parks, helping guard protected areas, write reports and give
environmental classes. Minimum two months.
DINADECO (Office of National Community Development; tel 235-0896, fax
253-1745, l.fallas@gobnert.go.cr ). Costa Rican government institution
which promotes citizen participation, family development, human-rights
awareness and sexual equality. Foreigners are invited by the
institution's International Cooperation Programme to get involved with
individual development in small towns.
Humanitarian Foundation (tel 282-9862, gnystrom@racsa.co.cr ).
Volunteers are placed in various programmes helping orphans, battered
women, indigenous people and street children. $200 initial fee plus $225
per month for room and board.
Monteverde Institute , Aptdo 69-5655, Monteverde (tel 645-5053, fax
645-5219, mvipac@racsa.co.cr ). Volunteer projects in the Monteverde
cloudforest including teaching, fieldwork on trails and other
conservation efforts. Volunteers must know Spanish and commit for six
weeks.
Volunteer programmes in the US
Caribbean Conservation Corp , PO Box 2866, Gainesville, FL 32602 (tel
1-800/678-7853, in Costa Rica tel 225-7516, www.ccturtle.org ).
Volunteer research work on marine turtles at Tortuguero. Global Service
Corps , 300...
Caribbean Conservation Corp , PO Box 2866, Gainesville, FL 32602 (tel
1-800/678-7853, in Costa Rica tel 225-7516, www.ccturtle.org ).
Volunteer research work on marine turtles at Tortuguero.
Global Service Corps , 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA
94133-3312 (tel 415/788-3666 ext 128, www.globalservicecorps.org ).
Service programmes in Costa Rica.
University Research Expeditions , University of California, Berkeley, CA
94720-705 (tel 510/642-6586, www.berkeley.edu ). Environmental and
animal behaviour studies.
Volunteers for Peace , 43 Tiffany Rd, Belmont, VT 05730 (tel
802/259-2759, www.vfp.org ). Volunteer projects in Costa Rica and other
Central American countries.
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