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2016BROCHURE
COSTA RICA
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
VOLUNTEER INTERN TRAVEL
ContentsCover01
Contents02
Accommodation and Living12
Cost and Start Dates13
What am I Paying for?14
What am I Paying for? (Contd.)15
Things to Do16
How to Apply - The Process17--19
Get in Touch20
Costa Rica and San Jose Overview03
Costa Rica - All Programs04
Childcare Program05
Teaching English Program06
Medical Health Care Program07
Turtle Conservation Program08
Wildlife & Rescue Center Program09
Spanish Immersion Week10
VOLUNTEER
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
Your Accommodation 11
Gifted with some of the nature’s best carvings, the land of Costa
Rica is a traveler’s paradise. It comprises of all kinds of shades,
which the nature has to offer. From giant hot volcanoes and vast
dense forests, to scintillating beaches and varied flora; it’s all there
in Costa Rica. It is said that the pride of Costa Rica is its people,
which is justified from the vibrant and cheerful crowd that needs
no special occasion to go into a celebration mode.
WhileWhile exploring the rich traditions and golden heritage of this
beautiful country, one can always indulge in some philanthropic
work, which, in fact, if done in consortium can ascend the
experience of traveling and take it to another level. Volunteering
Solutions. Volunteering Solutions has a variety of volunteering
programs set up in the areas of Heredia and Santa Barbara which
are the suburbs of the capital city of San Jose. Programs are also
locatedlocated in other locations of the country such as Alajuela as well as
in Carribean and Pacific coast.Taking up any of the programs can
definitely change the course of your trip completely, and will add a
meaning to it. And anyway, what better way could it be to know the
culture of a place than knowing it from the natives themselves.
Costa Rica Trip Highlights
Commence with a week-long of Spanish cultural learning in the Spanish Immersion Week.
Engage in interactive sessions with kids at childcare centers and preliminary schools to conduct classes,
especially for english language.
Spend blissful time at Caribbean or Pacific coasts while working for preservation of turtles.
Help community people overcome their illness and educate them about essential hygiene regimes in
health care programs.
ReliveRelive your days of childhood by spending time with small children at orphanages, community centres,
and various other child care centres.
Explore the varied wildlife through the Wildlife and Rescue Center program, and help the endangered
species.
Enjoy the amazing cuisine straight from the kitchens of Costa Rican dine-outs and taste some of the
most deliciously authentic food.
Costa Rica Overview
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
03
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
Childcare Program
Teaching English Program
Medical Health Care Program
Turtle Conservation Program
Wildlife & Rescue Center Program
Spanish Immersion Week
Costa Rica - All Programs04
Program Requirements
At least 17 years of age
Criminal background check/Character Certificate is required
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
This is the best program for those who simply love kids and miss their
childhood days. The childcare program requires the volunteers to
work at various childcare centers, community soup kitchens,
community child care centers, and day care centers. For a day span of
Monday through Friday, a volunteer is supposed to provide their time
for at least 4-5 hours, playing with the kids, taking care of them,
providing affection and making them learn the basics of their age.
ThereThere are patches of some backward and underdeveloped countries
around Costa Rica, such as Guatemala and several others, from where
people often migrate to this country. These kids account for those who
are homeless and needs a special and urgent attention to prevent loss
of what can be a prominent future of the nation. As a volunteer, one
needs to be responsible of their actions and self-display, as there will
be in-house staff as well who you would be assisting.
Childcare ProgramStarting from $620
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
05
I really liked working at my
placement. Accommodations
location was amazing
-Melanie Lynn
Program Requirements
At least 17 years of age
Open minded with flexible attitude to work in a new and different environment
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
With an increasing globalization of the country, it has become a huge
necessity for the future generation to be groomed according to the
need of the hour; the foremost thing for that is to be accustomed with
English language speaking. This program caters to the need of learning
spoken English, where in the volunteers will conduct classes at
community centers, preliminary schools, and secondary schools. The
classes would be more of fun and interactive kinds, so as to make it
easier for the students to understand the concepts. easier for the students to understand the concepts.
The work will span for 5-6 hours day during weekdays. Evenings and
weekends are free for sightseeing and touring purposes.
Teaching English ProgramStarting from $620
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
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I loved my project and had a
great time working with the
kids and getting to know the
teachers
-Julia Potapof f
Program Requirements
At least 18 years of age
Open minded with flexible attitude to work in a new and different environment
Only pre-med, medical and nursing students and professionals are eligible for this project
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
This is the best channel to understand the healthcare standards of
Costa Rica and how the medical system works here. Nurses, doctors,
and even 3rd/4th year medical students can be a part of this program.
As a volunteer, one needs to give out 4-6 hours of their time each day
for five days, from Monday through Thursday, while assisting the in
house staff of doctors and nurses.
TheThe EBAIS system in Costa is one of the preventive medical programs
that take care of patients who visit for a regular checkup and periodical
evaluations. The volunteers can also tag along with the doctors and
nurses to visit nearby villages to perform free checkups and at various
other community campaigns. This is a great opportunity for medical
students, as this will reflect a huge positive mark in their vitae.
Medical Health Care ProgramStarting from $620
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
07
Meeting new people and
clinical experience in my
health care program is the
highlight of my
volunteering experience
-Julia Potapof f
Program Requirements
At least 18 years of age
Open minded with flexible attitude to work in a new and different environment
Hard working
Ecologically sensitive
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
This is another enthralling and fun-filled program, tailor made for
those who don’t mind getting up, close and personal with mother
nature and love turtles. Volunteers, working in groups, will be assigned
tasks by the group coordinator, who will be placed at the beaches
along the Pacific as well as Caribbean coasts, which are a 5-6 hrs.
distance from the mainland city. The task would mainly involve making
sure of the safety of turtle population in the region.
AA volunteer will be required to assist the permanent staff while
harvesting the eggs, night patrolling, turtle counting, keep predators
away from eggs, keeping the beaches clean, and obtaining the
information on the remains of the nests.
Turtle Conservation ProgramStarting from $715
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
08
We thoroughly enjoyed our
program placement, had a
wonderful time in San Jose.
Thanks to VS
-Jeannie Hare
Program Requirements
At least 18 years of age
Open minded with flexible attitude to work in a new and different environment
Hard working
Ecologically sensitive
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
Costa Rica is a home to diverse fauna, with around 200 different
species of mammals and almost 800 species of birds. Getting into this
program will be a doorway to enter the wildlife zone of this region. As
a volunteer to rescue center program, one needs to have a proactive
instinct and must be willing to work hard to nurture the endangered
lot, as the animals comprise of those who lost their habitats or got into
an accident, or even the victims of repossession.
VolunteersVolunteers assist the local staff in cleaning the cages, feeding the
animals, developing special projects and many more activities, which
may vary on day to day basis.
Wildlife & Rescue Center ProgramStarting from $715
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
09
This was one of the most
incredible experiences of my
life :)
-Julia Potapof f
Program Requirements
At least 17 years of age
Open minded with flexible attitude to work in a new and different environment
Energetic and enthusiastic to bring about a difference
In good health
This is the pilot project of any program in Costa Rica. The Spanish
Immersion week gives you a glimpse of a native Titos’ life and their
culture. During the week, your language skills are being tested on the
very first day, so as to understand where you stand on the level of
fluency and comfort in conversing in Spanish. Comprehensive Spanish
lessons will be conducted from Monday through Thursday from 8:00
am to 12 noon.
TheThe week will comprise of dancing lessons on Monday, Tuesday and
Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and cooking lessons on
Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A certification of participation
and successful completion will be provided at the end of the week.
Spanish Immersion WeekStarting from $525
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
10
I loooooved my home stay
family! They were so nice
and the food was amazing!
The coordinator was very
supportive and helpful
-Julia Potapof f
Your Accommodation
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Accommodation Highlights
Fully Furnished accommodation with all basic amenities
Close to project and program site
Hot water and heater (during winters)
Freshly cooked meals
Western toilets (we recommend you bring your personal toiletries)
As a responsible placement organization, Volunteering Solutions
makes sure of a comfortable and memorable stay for all of its
volunteers. After receiving the volunteers, coming from overseas,
from the airport, they are taken to the homestay where their
lodging is been set up. You would be meeting your host family on
this day and getting settled at the accommodation. After an
orientation on Monday, volunteers are taken to their respective
projectproject sites. Participants working in wildlife and turtle rescue
projects travel outside and the travel time varies 3-5 hrs
depending on the placement allocated Participants in the turtle
project stay at ranger house accommodations within the project
itself.
After a quick orientation, volunteers are taken to the project site
which is located around 5-6 hours from San Jose. There are ranger
houses at the beaches where they are been accommodated. A
three time home-cooked meal is served to the volunteers, both
veg as well as non-veg. One would find common meals like meat,
pork, beans, chicken and vegetables in their meal. During their
free time and weekends, a stroll on the city lanes is a best way to
knowknow more about the town. Staying with a Costa Rican family is
exciting as participants get to improve their Spanish language
skills and know their way of life.
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
Accommodation and Living12
Most people are surprised to hear that they have to pay to volunteer abroad. What they often do not realize is that there
are significant administrative costs involved to arrange for a worthwhile volunteer abroad placement. Volunteering
Solutions is not supported by any government funding and runs its programs entirely from the fee that volunteers pay to
take part in the volunteer programs. Volunteering Abroad, involves incurring of many costs such as food, accommodation,
transportation, transfers, project selection etc. The program fee charged by us, goes into providing you all these services.
The money that you pay to us is distributed at various stages to provide you a meaningful volunteer abroad experience.The money that you pay to us is distributed at various stages to provide you a meaningful volunteer abroad experience.
VOLSOL Program Cost IncludesAdvertising Online/Offline Credit Card processing charges
In country maintenance of offices, vehicles etc.Staff recruitmentVolunteer recruitmentMaintaining office and other expenses
Salaries for staffNGO financial helpCommunication with volunteers and partners, by phone/email etc.International travel done by our staff to monitor projects and attend local meetings with partnersWebsite maintenance.Government taxes.
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
What am I paying for?14
Administration Cost
In Country SupportProject Development
Project Support &Field Cost
Food & Accommodation
It is necessary for an organization to employ full time staff to recruit and manage volunteers. There is lot of work that goes
side by side ensuring that you are supported before and during your program. We are dedicated to make your volunteering
abroad a memorable experience and ward off of all possible hunches at every steps. Our administration cost is 28% of the
total cost which include advertising, staff salary, website maintenance, taxes, volunteer recruitment and other expenses.
The application processing fee is part of your administrative costs, unlike many other volunteer travel company we do not
chargecharge any additional credit card processing fee. These companies can charge as much as 6% on your application fee taking
it to a difference of almost $100 extra. We have a flat rate and that is what we charge.
Administration
You may be endowed with exceptional skills and acumen in your area of expertise but to figure out your exact role in the
placement agency and to gain insights of its operations require training. To know cultural practices and etiquettes is of sub-
lime importance to carry out your tasks. So you need someone who could impart training and dispel your doubts at every
step, obviously he/she doubles as your friend and trainer.
Good grasp of the local language is an added advantage that helps you to communicate effectively and learn the culture
promptly so in some cases they also assign language trainers to help you out who is paid by program provider.
Training and orientation
We charge for food and accommodation based on your preferences. You may decide to do home stay or group accommo-
dation or relish the cuisines cooked by host family and pay them. You may cook for yourself if you find it economical or your
placement organization may provide you lunch. You have plethora of options to choose from and charges are determined
accordingly. Host organization provides a safe and welcoming atmosphere for the volunteers. Food and accommodation
charges cover 40% of your total expenditure.
Food and accommodation
Volunteer service organization often employs in-country staff to provide local support and to make your volunteering
abroad experience memorable. As long as you are volunteering outside which may take up to six months, our staff is con-
tinuously working for you behind the screen. So we pay them from program fees we receive despite other sources like
grants and donations.
NothingNothing can be more discomforting than to struggle for getting basic services like healthcare, banking or even visa
reviewing in a foreign land that otherwise would have been comparatively less difficult in an English speaking country. As a
volunteer, you have not been tied up to the agency only but you may roam around the city to watch historical places, zoo,
movies etc. and should have total access to everything in order to distress yourself. VolSol has incredible in-country support
(around 12%) to ensure your trip runs smoothly.
In country support
The most important part of the volunteering fees is on the project which you have chosen. Program fees help fund the
project activities and resources. Thus organizations need paid staff member to ensure continuity of your program and
administrative duties. Project development involved 11% of the total program fee.
Project Development
What am I paying for? (Contd.)15
There is a famous quote in the region of Costa Rica that says, “La vida en Costa Rica es una vida pura”, which means, “The
life in Costa Rica is a Pure Life”. The life in here is, indeed, filled with natural beauty and serene ambience…… definitely No
Artificial Ingredients!!! Surrounded by amazing tropical rainforests, it is a perfect escapade for a nature lover. Checkout this
list of things one can do while volunteering in Costa Rica:
With various museums and theatre house located in the city of San Jose, one can simply admire the architectural designs,
made years ago; a simple and straightforward way to understand the history, indeed. The Costa Rican Center of Science
and Culture is a fortress like building, which served as the central penitentiary till 1979.
Admire the architectural brilliance
The land covered with dense forests, gigantic volcanoes and quintessential beaches can never have any dearth of
adventure activities; the same is the case in Costa Rica. Hiking, Surfing, trekking, canopying and lots more of adventure
activities can be done, when in Costa. One can also explore the gigantic volcanoes, some of which are still active. The Arenal
volcano, the Poas volcano and the Chato volcano are few to name.
Take a ride full of adventure
A 2-3 hours’ drive from San Jose will take you to some of the most scintillating and mesmerizing forest parks in Costa. Vast
lands of plush green forests, having a varied flora and fauna in it will definitely going to woo your senses. The Tortuguero
National Park, The Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park are just a few to name.
Embrace the gift of nature
Yes! The Ticos (that’s what Costa Ricans like to call themselves) not only believe in natural living but also healthy eating as
well. Seldom does the use of cheese or any other milk product can be seen in the kitchens of Costa Rica. The focus is always
on the use of more and fresher vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Rice and black beans are a part of their staple diet to a large
extent. Gallo Pinto, made of rice and black beans, is one of the signature dishes in the cities. Casado, Chancletas, Ceviche
and Guaro are some of the other delicacies and traditional drinks one must try.
No Artificial Ingredients
The region of Costa Rica, certainly, is more known for its natural surroundings and warm-welcoming people, but that surely
doesn’t takes away the charm of its market lanes and the opportunity for you to fill up your luggage with some memorable
souvenirs. Grab a hand on some of the finest, purest and organically harvested fresh fruits and vegetables at the local
farmer’s market (Feria). The tribal market offers some of the rarest of souvenir gift items you would find in Costa Rica.
Get the best of your shopping experience
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
Things to Do in Costa Rica
16
Trip Notes
The country faces rain for most parts of the year, hence it is always advised to get enough raincoats and umbrellas.
How to apply - The process17
From the drop down select either Volunteer Abroad, Intern Abroad or Summer programs abroad.
If you are already familiar with the website and are visiting just to apply ignore this step and simply click on the Apply Now button at the
end of the drop down header.
Where it will ask you to create a login and password for your My Account login. Your email id would be treated as the username or user
id. Click on the proceed to next step button. The next step button will take you to a form that you have to fill to pay your application fee
of $225. This application fee will book your seat in the placement until you pay the entire program fee amount. If we fail to provide you
the placement we will refund you the money.
**Points to Heed
**If you are a past volunteer and already have my account user id and password then login to your my account section directly.
**If you are a returning volunteer within a year, then you do not need to pay the application fee again. **If you are a returning volunteer within a year, then you do not need to pay the application fee again.
01
When you click on the apply now button, you will get a window like this:
02
How to apply - The process18
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
Fill out the forms marked 2 to 4 and submit application, it will be redirected to your payment gateway, where you can make the payment.
If you make the application fee payment now, your My account login would be activated as soon as we receive the payment. In case of
any glitches if your My account login is not activated, please inform us and we will do it manually.
You will receive a Thank you mail for booking the application or making your my account
login. You will get this email irrespective of full payment made or not.
03
04
This email would be followed by a Welcome mail and a community email with platforms to
help you connect with our past volunteers. If you are using gmail, please check your
promotions folder or spam folder and mark them not spam and shift them to your inbox.
Actively participate in VolSol Facebook page and Groups and also join the social
community made by volunteers, that will help you better prepare for the trip.
05
How to apply - The process19
www.volunteeringsolutions.com
One month prior to your booking you will get your pre departure booklet. The pre-
departure booklet would contain all the details about your project and project location.
While on the project, we will send you an email to check on you, whether you are doing fine or not. You can send your pictures, blogs or
videos or anything related to your ongoing work to us and we will share it with other prospective volunteers.
After the completion of your project, we send you a feedback form, fill this form out and help us improve our services.
06
If your placement is confirmed you will get an email from us stating the same, along with
the final payment due amount.
You can pay your program fee from your my account section or from payment page. The
links for the same would be provided in the email. Payment details would be updated on
your my account page.
05
Know your coordinator
Marco(Program Manager - Costa Rica)
Marco offers more than sixteen years of experience as a professor of Spanish as a Second Language.
Through his professional work he has conducted various Educational workshops in Costa Rica. He
received a BA in Tourism with an emphasis in Community Tourism and Development Projects from
Universidad Panamericana de Costa Rica, a certification in Human Resource Administration from the
National Institute for Learning (INA), studied Language and Culture Facilitation through Peace Corps,
Costa Rica. Marco is dedicated to providing exemplary service to every participant.
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