📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
ACI Costa Rica is a non-profit NGO that promotes and runs programs of intercultural learning and international volunteering with young people from all corners of the world, guiding them in their participation in social and ecological projects and helping them to gain new perspectives of the world. In Costa Rica we run several different volunteering programs: sending and receiving, short-term and long-term, for groups and for individuals. We are an active member of ICYE – International Cultural Youth Exchange – a federation of NGOs with its headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and representation on five continents through its partner organizations and committees. ICYE has been declared an International Peace Messenger by the United Nations for its contributions to intercultural learning.
💼 What the programme involves
The school’s curriculum and activities normally cover all the general “basic” subjects,
such as Spanish, Science, Social Studies and Mathematics. On top of these
subjects most of them offer English as a second language, Music, Arts, Physical
Education, Civics, and Religion (catholic).
As a consequence many of the volunteers are asked to help with English as a second
language subject (even if they are not native speakers as these classes would be at a basic
level) or with the physical education classes. Sometimes, if the volunteer has some special
knowledge or skills - such as music, art or sports - and if the school agrees, then they can
organize their own activities.
Possible tasks for the volunteer:
· Assist the teachers in their classes.
· Help the teachers creating different didactic materials.
· Support the special activities of the school.
· Assist in the school library or with some other administrative tasks.
· The volunteer could also organize games or sport activities with the approval of
those in charge.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteer will live in a host family. 3 meals per day are included.
📍 About the location
San Ramón lies at an elevation of 1,057 meters above sea level[1] in the Cordillera de Tilarán. While retaining its rich heritage and tradition, San Ramón continues to serve as a link between the agricultural communities further north in the Meseta Central and the central cities of San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, and Cartago.
The town, with an approximate population of 10,710 inhabitans, is located 55 kilometers northeast of Puntarenas on the Gulf of Nicoya, 44 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital city of Alajuela and 58 kilometers from the national capital city of San Jose.
Schedule for the volunteer:
Monday to Friday
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
⚠️ Requirements
Required skills and interests of the volunteer:
· Of course, the volunteer should enjoy working with children.
· Be patient.
· Be sociable.
· Have a lot of initiative.
· To be respectful towards the rules of the institution.
· At least an intermediate level of Spanish is recommended since the volunteer will work mainly with children.
(WE RECOMMEND AT LEAST TWO WEEKS OF SPANISH CLASSES, IF THE
VOLUNTEER DOES NOT SPEAK ANY SPANISH PREVIOUSLY).
General rules:
· Respect the authority of those in charge of the school.
· Dress moderately, neither very short nor extravagant clothes.
· Do not wear flip flops at work.
· If the volunteer has tattoos, it is recommended they hide them during work.
· If the volunteer has dreadlocks, it is recommended they are tied back during work.
· If the volunteer has visible piercings he/she will have to take them off during work.
· Do not bring things of high value.
· Smoking is not allowed.
Important notes:
· The schools normally offer lunch to the volunteer (simple food), but he/she can
also bring his/her own food from home and heat it up in a microwave.
· We suggest you wear casual clothing during school hours spent in class but
also more comfortable clothes for the out of class/sport activities and field trips
ℹ️ Additional information
There doesn´t necessarily have to be two male and two female volunteers. It rather could vary.