Costa Rica
Mission
To teach and guide students to Jesus and prepare them for the future.
Description
Monteverde is a tourist area surrounded by a lot of trees and green bush. It is located up in the mountains of Costa Rica where it is humid. The occasional chilly day can be found with all of the rain and wind that can pick up. The views are gorgeous and there are many areas that volunteers can explore. It is safe to walk alone during the day if desired and there are a lot of wonderful places to go eat, walk to, and see. The elementary school here is bilingual and students are encouraged to practice their English while in class. Grade levels are K-6 with about 35 students total. There is a Pathfinder Club that would also love help from volunteers as well. The quickest way to the children's hearts is through a good game of futbol. If you beat them, they will admire you. If you let them win, they will love you.
Quick Info
| Average Fundraising Goal | $3,500 |
| Living Allowance | $150 per month |
| Requirements | You will need a visa. One option is to apply for a tourist visa where you will have to leave the country and reapply every 90 days. |
| Language | The local language spoken is Spanish, however English is widely known. |
| Timeline | Full year, 10 months |
| Positions | ESL Teacher |
More Info
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Beans and rice are the staple foods in Costa Rica. Typical meals include pastas, soups, and veggies. There is a farmers market that is open every Friday where volunteers can purchase fresh fruits and veggies like mangoes, papayas, mamones, guayabas, etc.
A spacious studio apartment with a toilet and shower is in the school building built specifically for foreign volunteers. The room itself can accommodate three people comfortably. There is a wardrobe, beds, a nightstand, and a table. The shower includes hot water, but it is rationed. Electricity and WiFi are fairly stable, except in aggressive wind or rainstorms. The kitchen is shared by the school and church. This includes a fridge, gas stove and oven, microwave, laundry machine (no dryer), and a re-purposed china cupboard to store dry goods. Any dry goods should be stored in rodent-proof containers. If possible, volunteers should bring some with them.
There are two buses a day leaving Monteverde as well as two buses a day coming to Monteverde from San José. There are also buses going to (and coming from) Puntarenas, Las Juntas, and Tilarán. Transportation on these buses is quite reasonably priced (around $7 to San José, maybe $4 to Puntarenas). There is also the Interbus, which is a van which takes clients directly to a number of beaches as well as other cities; this is more secure than a public bus, but substantially more expensive--$69 to Manuel Antonio Beach, $59 to the San José airport, for example. There are also taxis.
WEEKENDS: Volunteers are expected to be at the Monteverde church (same property as the school) most of the time. However, you may take weekend trips occasionally. Student missionaries are expected to check with the principal and the school board regarding trips outside the area, especially if it entails missing any school time. The other teachers are often younger, and sometimes will plan Sabbath-afternoon activities together, soccer on Saturday nights, or other activities such as hiking or zip lining on Sundays.
LONG BREAK (December-January): Many volunteers go home for a month during this longer break. You are also welcome to stay if you want to. In some cases families have come to spend the time here with the volunteers and visit other areas of Costa Rica with them.
