HEALTH (High Intermediate Spanish Level).

Medical Volunteers
Spanish level—intermediate (intermediate/advanced for HIV centers)
Our health projects in Costa Rica provide a wonderful opportunity for doctors, nurses, medical and pre-medical students to become familiar with the challenges and health issues of Costa Rica, and to get first hand experience in the field. Volunteers support local doctors and nurses; tasks range from observation to assistance. Depending on your level of knowledge, experience, and skill, you may check blood pressure, distribute food and medicine, weigh babies, accompany emergency response vehicles, and help with other first-aid procedures. Volunteers may be asked to help with different programs such as health education, basic prevention, nutrition, and sanitation that are organized through a number of hospitals, local clinics, and EBAIS (small clinics in individual communities) in Costa Rica. You will choose your specialization, but Alliance 4 Volunteers staff regularly communicates with the local hospitals and clinics, and may suggest a particular placement based on urgent need.
Clinics
Mitigating Pain Care Centers
Hospitals
Seniors Care Centers
Public Health Community Campaigns

Health projects in Costa Rica offer a wonderful opportunity for doctors, nurses, and advanced medicine students to become familiar with the challenges and health issues of Costa Rica.

Volunteers support local doctors and nurses; tasks range from observation to assistance. Depending on your level of knowledge, experience, and skill, you may check blood pressure, distribute food and medicine, weigh babies, and help with other first-aid procedures. Moreover, many hospitals, local clinics, and EBAIS (small clinics in individual communities) in Costa Rica run different programs on health education, basic prevention, nutrition, and sanitation.

Volunteers may be asked to help in these areas as well, always depending on the level of experience and Spanish-speaking abilities. You might also work for a "Hoy Por Ti" Home, a private care facility for around 28 HIV-positive patients.

Children at Risk (Required Spanish Level: Intermediate)
No time constraint

Volunteer with Children
Required Spanish Level: Beginner Intermediate.

Project Special Requirements: Patience, creativity, and commitment.
In every part of the world, but particularly in many developing and underdeveloped countries, children can fall victim to a living situation that affords them few opportunities. In these cases, the community is often left with the responsibility to support and rehabilitate these youngsters. In other cases, parents need to work to support their families, and arrangements are needed to provide supervision and positive modeling for their kids when not in school.

Orphanages
Children Day Camps
School Soup Kitchens
Community Soup Kitchens
Children's Community Homes
Children’s Community Centers

Basic tasks:

Help in the kitchen

Play with the children

Teach English basic vocabulary

Children’s basic care

Community (Required Spanish Level: Intermediate)

No time constraint

Community Volunteer
Required Spanish Level: Advanced.
Project Special Requirements: Be very creative and a self-starter.

In this program you will immerse yourself in the activities of the community: working with local groups, communal associations, youth groups, and sports organizations. Your custom-made project will be a marriage of the needs of the community and your personal inspiration. Your goal will be to get your brainchild off the ground and once it’s up and running, hands over the responsibility to the community members with whom you’ve worked.

Communities with which we currently work:
Tárcoles community located at Puntarenas Middle Pacific Coast
Santa Cecilia Community located at San Isidro de Heredia, in the skirts of Braulio Carrillo National Park.
Guápiles Community located at Limón Province, Caribbean Region,
Paso Tempisque Community, located at Filadelfia de Guanacaste, northern Costa Rican Region, Pacific Coast
San Rafael Community, located at Heredia, in a really nice place.
Santa Barbara Community located at Heredia, in the skirts of Barva National Park.

Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
Required Spanish Level: Advanced.
Project Special Requirements: Keen perception, self-determination, excellent listening skills, (social workers, psychologists, nurses, or sociologists, are very welcome and encouraged).

In all parts of the world, women are faced with threats to their independence, health and well-being. They receive less education than men, have disproportionate household responsibilities, and are often faced with sexual and domestic violence. Gender equality and the end to all kinds of violence against women, starts with the women as the agents and beneficiaries of change. Empowerment begins with a woman’s self-worth.

TEACHING (Intermediated Spanish level)

Teaching English in Primary School. Our volunteers are able to help children in Costa Rica's primary schools receive a better education. In the Volunteer Costa Rica Primary School project, volunteers contribute their time and energy working with younger children, especially being English Teacher´s Assistants. Sometimes additional help with games, drawing, reinforcing students with special needs, and other creative activities will be needed.

Many classes are formed of about 35 children and very scant resources. Often, the children lack pens, pencils, and paper. Consequently, the volunteer should be creative to compensate for the lack of materials. Volunteers for this placement must be highly motivated "self-starters" who are able to work independently. Working with these children in our Costa Rica volunteer program will give you the opportunity to share your love and skill with those who need it. As a bonus, you will have free time to explore the cultural and natural wonder of Costa Rica

Teaching English to Teenagers (High School) and Local Adults (Other English Learning Centers). The Teaching English Program provides opportunities for volunteers to teach English to young people attending Costa Rican high schools or groups of Costa Rican adults. As Costa Rica develops its tourism industry, it is becoming a more popular destination for English-speaking tourists. For people to become part of this ever-growing industry, it is important for them to understand and speak English. Schools in the major cities are able to easily attract English teachers; however, more rural schools have a high need for English-speaking volunteers to help with these classes. In this project, volunteers will contribute their time and energy in working with teenagers and local adults, teaching all levels of English and/or being an English Teacher´s Assistant. At times, additional help with games, drawing, and other creative activities will be needed.

Volunteer creativity will be needed to compensate for the lack of materials. Volunteers for this placement must be highly motivated "self-starters" who are able to work independently. Working in the Costa Rica Teaching English volunteer program gives you an opportunity to share your love and skills with grateful people while having free time to enjoy the fascinating culture of Costa Rica.