As a volunteer on this project you will assist teachers from rural, remote and small schools around the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula is a socially poorer area, with little employment opportunities.  The schools usually have around 30 – 60 kids and sometimes only one teacher (who is the director at the same time) to teach 6 different grades at school! That means for example, that the morning classes will have grade 1, 2 and 3, and the afternoon group will be grades 4, 5 and 6. As a volunteer, you will usually work for 5 days a week, for about 7 till 8 hours a day. You will be living and working in the small rural community. Your host family will be close to the school so you can walk to work. You will have your own room with a bed, and share bathroom and kitchen facilities. 

We are trying to make a real difference by the education of the children in and around the Osa Peninsula. It is a very important area right now in terms of development work, since the level of education is quiet low compared to other parts of Costa Rica. The schools in this area have a lot of children and there is an extreme shortage of personnel/ teachers. As a volunteer, you can make a difference by helping the schools so the children will have the opportunity to find higher level and better paid jobs – and therefore reduces poverty. That is why your help as a volunteer is urgently needed!

The kids will instantly take you into their hearts – and you will not only be a teacher but a role model and friend. You will make a positive difference in people’s lives, while having fun, making lots of friends, learning about Costa Rican customs and culture, and gaining invaluable teaching experiences!

• Assisting the teachers during teaching hours with various classroom tasks or activities.
• Acting as a tutor for the children, to support their ongoing studies.
• Helping with administrative tasks in the school office such as photocopying or filing.
• General maintenance of the school and grounds for the outdoor and mechanically inclined.
• Some duties involved may be gardening or repairing broken equipment, for example.

We expect from you:

An ideal volunteer on this project loves to interact with kids and is willing to teach. You do not need a degree or any previous experience for this project. You should be 16 years of age or older. For the teaching to children project, you should be creative, pro-active, and have lots of energy.

An ideal volunteer on this project loves to interact with kids and is willing to teach. You do not need a degree or any previous experience for this project. You don’t need to speak Spanish for this project as the idea is that you’ll teach the kids English. However, some Spanish might be advantageous to communicate with other teachers and your host family. You should be 16 years of age or older. For the teaching to children project, you should be creative, pro-active, and have lots of energy.

Our schools we support are located all around the Osa Peninsula, located in rural and remote communities in around 20- 30 minutes drive from Puerto Jimenez.

The Osa Peninsula is one of the last frontiers in Costa Rica – and one of the least developed regions. You’ll work in a school located in a small rural town on the Osa Peninsula. We have several schools we work with, including the schools of Rancho Quemado (close to Drake Bay), Dos Brazos (entrance to Corcovado National Park), Carate (entrance to Corcovado National Park), Gallardo, and Agujas.

Puerto Jimenez is the largest town on the Osa with around 4000-5000 inhabitants. There are banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, a private clinic, dentists, bars and restaurants. If you are located in a rural school, you’re welcome to go visit Puerto Jimenez and the Osa in your time off (usually Saturdays and Sundays are free).

For more info on Puerto Jimenez and the Osa – click here.

You’ll stay in a local Costa Rican host family in the town where your school is located. You’ll be only a short walk from your school. Food is Costa Rican typical food cooked for you and prepared by your host family. You’ll all eat together in a common space at certain hours. Usually breakfast will be around 6am, lunch around 12:00pm, and dinner around 6pm.

The costs for this project are:

• First week’s fee: $ 449
• Every Additional Week: $ 149 (It does not matter many weeks you choose, this fee stays the same)

FEES EXPLAINED: Our organizational fee of around $ 249 is included in the first week’s fee and covers the “behind the scenes costs”, such as staff salaries, office space rental, transaction and bank fees, and more. Our weekly fee for additional weeks covers the costs of your host family or project accommodation and food, the local staff on your project, and a donation to help with the daily running costs of the program you will help on.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE: First and last night in San Jose in a hostel, travel to and from the international airport (airport shuttles are around 30$ each way to San Jose – We can set this up for you, just ask us during sign-up), travel to the project site (usually by public buses, which are from around 10-16$ one way), national/ International flights, travel insurance, visa costs, any additional food or snacks besides the host family meals, extra-curricular activities.

This is the GLV Handbook is for the Teaching Children Project. It will give you detailed info on the project, a packing list, and all you need to know about volunteering here in Costa Rica.

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