World Endeavors 

Volunteers live in Atenas*, a small, relatively prosperous farming town in the central highlands of Costa Rica where coffee, sugarcane, and fruit are grown.

Life here revolves around family and community, and the nightlife consists mostly of family gatherings, barbecues, and shared meals. Local residents can often be found browsing the colorful farmer’s market for fresh produce, enjoying a cup of local coffee at a café, or strolling in the park at the center of the city.

Atenas is renowned for its climate, which keeps the city warm in the daytime and cool at night.

Public pools and hiking trails make Atenas an appealing destination for those who wish to spend time outdoors, and the town’s location, less than an hour from the capital of San José and the international airport, makes it easily accessible for arriving volunteers.

*Wildlife and Environmental Conservation projects take place in Turrucares, Sámara or Montezuma.
Women’s Development projects take place in Alajuela.

Atenas

Volunteers live with local host families in Atenas in either single or shared rooms with shared bathrooms. Host families are welcoming and friendly, usually middle class, and are hand-picked by the World Endeavors team. Housing accommodations are modest, safe, and clean, but may differ from Western norms in terms of space or amenities. 3 meals per day are included with host families. 

Samaras - Montezuma - Turracares 
Volunteers live on-site in the rustic, shared volunteer house, with shared bedrooms and shared bathrooms. It is powered by solar panels, and there is no internet. 3 meals per day are provided at the house.

The costs vary depending on the duration of the volunteer project.

• Application fee: €35 (non-refundable) - required during the program application phase.
• Deposit fee: €200 - required after the close of applications to confirm the intention to proceed with the enrollment.
• Programme fee (requested directly from World Endeavors after eligibility confirmation):
   

  Destination and Project	2 weeks	3 weeks	4 weeks
  Costa Rica - Atenas Childcare & Teaching Healthcare	US $1,760	US $2,085	US $2,410
  Costa Rica - Alajuela Healthcare in Alajuela - Women’s Development	US $2,175	US $2,635	US $3,095
  Costa Rica - Turrucares Wildlife Conservation - Animal rescue Center	US $2.275	US $2.785	US $3.285
  Costa Rica - Samara or Montezuma Wildlife Conservation - Sea Turtle Project	US $2,175	US $2,635	US $3,095

   

   

  For destinations in partnership with World Endeavors, 20 scholarships of €1,350 each are available.

Volunteers work with a childcare organization that serves children from infants to 12 years of age while their parents work. Volunteers welcome the children in the morning, serve them meals, organize physical activities outside, assist with tutoring in various subjects, and teach basic English. 

Another possible placement is with a Montessori nursery and school for children from 6 months to 6 years old. Volunteers organize activities, sports, and educational games in English and Spanish, and assist teachers in the classroom. 

Volunteers work with an animal rescue center for animals that have been illegally kept as pets, or illegally trafficked. They provide love, attention and a safe, healthy environment for these animals with the goal of rehabilitating them to be released back into the wild. Volunteers care for baby sloths, monkeys, olingo, kinkajous, tapirs, big cats, and a large variety of tropical birds. Volunteers also increase community awareness about animal rights and the problems with keeping wild animals as pets. 

Volunteers can also join a local, family-run sustainable and organic coffee farm located in the rural community of San Isidro de Atenas. You can join in all the activities of the coffee farm, including picking, drying, toasting, packing and sales. You can also participate in tours of the farm and learn about the importance of planting diversity, and the other ways the family ensures their farming practices are sustainable. On Fridays, you can join the staff in going to the Agriculture Market in Atenas to sell their coffee. The commute to the farm is approximately 35 minutes by bus from the Atenas market.

Join the important work being done by a sea turtle conservation NGO near Sámara at Playa Buena Vista, or near Montezuma at Montezuma Beach. This NGO has been doing active conservation in protected wildlife areas, beaches and communities in Costa Rica for 25 years. Volunteer responsibilities include hatchery maintenance, beach clean-ups, night patrols to collect eggs, marking and measurement of turtles, releasing baby turtles, nursery supervision, exhumations, and environmental education. Volunteers typically work on their projects for 6 days per week, on day or night shifts. Much of the work for turtle projects is done at night, so volunteers should be prepared to expect this. 

Volunteers can join a non-governmental organization in Alajuela that provides at-risk teenage girls a safe space for support and reintegration into society, free from abuse, violence, and drugs. The organization offers a transitional home for girls and young women facing high social risks due to abuse and violence. Volunteers can assist with academic support, participate in motivational talks or creative workshops, help with kitchen and dining duties, and contribute to projects aimed at helping the girls generate their own income.

Volunteers may be placed with a local medical clinic and emergency clinic. Depending on qualifications and experience, volunteers can shadow clinicians, observe minor surgeries, take patient vital signs and record medical history, observe physician-patient consultations, and accompany the paramedic and doctor on ambulance calls.