📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
ACI Costa Rica is a non-profit organization founded in 1967, whose main goal is to promote programs of intercultural learning and international volunteer service (IVS) for people from all around of the world, facilitating their experience in social and ecological projects, developing global citizens.
ACI wants to contribute to solidarity and friendship between the different societies of our globalized world, to sustainable human development, and personal growth of our participants.
Our organization is an active full member of the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE), a federation of more than 40 intercultural and IVS organizations located in the five continents. ICYE Headquarters are placed in Berlin, Germany. The federation of ICYE has been recognized as International Peace Messenger by the United Nations.
ACI Costa Rica has developed partnerships with other networks and programs such as: The Committee of Coordination of International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), associate to UNESCO, The Alliance of European Organizations (ALLIANCE), Volunteering Matters from United Kingdom (VM), VolontEUROPE, Weltwärs from the German government, and ERASMUS + from the European Union.
The experiences we promote are mainly focused on incoming and outgoing programs, involving long and short-term periods, for groups and individuals. These programs are managed in cooperation with our local Costa Rican networks, partner organizations and communities such as: The Federation of Social Organizations (FOS) and YO ME UNO from the private initiate, and others.
💼 What the programme involves
The public schools which the Socio Camps program works with are located in several
middle and low-middle class areas of Costa Rica. The children’s ages vary from 5 to 13
years, which go from kindergarten, preschool and the first six grades of elementary
school.
The schools’ curriculum and activities usually includes all the basic subjects (Spanish,
Science, Social Studies and Mathematics). Additionally, most schools offer English as a
foreign language, Music, Arts, Physical Education, Civics and (Roman Catholic) Religion
classes.
English classes are one of the areas where the support given by volunteers is most
valued (even if they are not native speakers as these classes would be at a basic level)
as well as physical education. Sometimes, if a volunteer has some special knowledge
or skills – for example in music, arts or sports – and if the school agrees, he/she can
organize additional activities independently.
Possible tasks for the volunteer:
• To assist the teachers in the classroom
• To help create didactic material
• To support in the special activities of the school
• To assist at the school’s library or with other administrative tasks
• To organize additional activities with the approval of those in charge of the kids
• To help children with their homework
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteers stay in a host family which will be near the project.
3 meals per day are provided by the family.
📍 About the location
San Francisco is located around 7 km from the center of La Fortuna, in which you can find all the basic services (Banks, Supermarkts, Restaurants, Gyms).
⚠️ Requirements
Required skills and interests of the volunteer:
• To enjoy working with children
• To be patient and tolerant
• To be sociable
• To have a lot of initiative
• To be respectful towards the rules of the institution
• To have an intermediate to advance Spanish level (WE RECOMMEND AT LEAST
2 WEEKS OF SPANISH CLASSES)
ℹ️ Additional information
Project Fee: $75 per week /
Apart from the Project Fee per month, there is a Fee charged by ACI:
Weeks Socio Camps
1 to 4 $250
5 to 8 $350
9 to 12 $450
13 + $550
A minimum stay of 4 weeks at the project is required.
Local transportation, international insurance and airfare will be covered by the volunteer.