Volunteer in a Child Care Center

Volunteer in a child care centre working with the Costa Rican government's social services branch 'Albergue'. Our volunteers provide social community development assistance to numerous Albergue's (children's homes) spread around the central valley. Albergue San Ramon is one home where we are actively involved with the care of these children.

Children are placed in this home in response to abandonment, physical or emotional violence, sexual abuse and/or other family related issues. What eventually happens to these children, after a period on time living in the home, depends on the level of violence associated with each child's case and their progress and development. Some children are treated and finally reunited with a member of their extended family whilst other children's cases are so extreme that they must be placed with new adoptive families.

Why the project needs volunteers

The children's home has limited resources that cover only the basic needs; more resources are required, especially for those children who need more care and attention. Volunteers act as role models and also assist the "tias" ("aunts", as staff members are called) and children with their homework and recreational activities.

What skills you need for this project

Volunteers on these projects must have a love of children and be committed ensuring that these children are cared for. You will need to be flexible and be willing to get involved in anything that the tias ask of you. You should be aware that the children you are working with can be very active and also disruptive, so you will need perseverance and tolerance in dealing with them.

Volunteers who are independent, creative and relish a challenge would be ideally suited to this project. Volunteers should have at least a beginner's level of Spanish as the children and tias at the home have limited if any English language.

Where the project is based

This project is located in San Ramon Alajuela, a little town 40KM north of the Capital San Jose. San Ramon is a smalll town based in the coffeee growing mountains of the central valley, and there are many exciting activities and sights based around this town and in Alajuela. The town has a very traditional Costa Rican feel to it and offers great scope for real cultural immersion.

Additional Information

Accommodation: Home stay accommodation is included in your program fee. This is with a great local family whom we know well. We are sure that living with this family will be one of the highlights of your trip.

Food: 3 meals a day included in program fee. Simple local nutritious breakfasts and dinners will be provided. Vegetarians can also be accommodated.

Language requirements: Because the staff and children of the child care centre speak no English, we recommend that you learn as much Spanish as possible prior to your placement. We can organize 1-4 weeks of an intensive Spanish language program at a leading school for substantial discounts for our volunteers. The spanish language requirements for this program is intermediate.

Working hours: You will be working 3-5 hours a day for at least 4 days per week. Please note: Semana Santa (Easter week) will be from 1st to 8th April 2007; there may be disruptions of programs in Costa Rica during this period.

Dress Code: Volunteers are expected to set an example for the children. Volunteers should wear ankle-length shirts, or trousers and T-shifts and shirts when at the home. Tank tops, mini skirts and shorts should not be worn when working at the home.

Resources to bring: The projects are often under re-sourced, but items such as paper and pencils (school material)(school materials) can be bought very cheaply in-country. Any educational games and toys would be welcome. Basic English language resources you could bring from home would also be valued.

Activities: An outdoor swimming pool and recreation area is just next to the children's home. Fossil Land is a nature, geology and adventure park where you can do activities such as mountain biking, paint balling, rappelling, caving to see the prehistory fossils and also riding a helicopter.

What is not included in the program fee: Flight, insurance, visa costs, In-country transport (except airport pickup on arrival date) and language lessons.

Read this projects volunteer stories and testimonials
Nancy Hamm, July 2007


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