Build homes for underprivileged families in Costa Rica

Location: Costa Rica: Cartago, Monteverde and 2 other cities

Program Duration: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks

Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Dates: multiple dates year round

i-to-i Volunteering

61-63 Chatham St. Fifth Floor Boston, MA 02109 United States

Description

If you want to immerse yourself in the laidback Costa Rican culture while making a real difference to the lives of local people, this project is just the thing. You'll have the chance to work closely with Costa Rican families as you help them to build a home that will really improve their quality of life. Hundreds of thousands of people in Costa Rica live in sub-standard housing that doesn't have adequate sanitation or safe weather protection. By working with our partner project you could help our ongoing efforts to help improve this situation and make friends for life in the process.

Project details:

Our building projects in Costa Rica work with The Fundacion para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canada. This foundation was established in 1989, when the Costa Rican - Canadian Rural Housing Program, was founded thanks to a contribution from the Canadian Government. The people from Fundacion have become specialised in rural housing and they operate with a network of rural organizations, which are responsible for proposing families for a house, to help them fulfill the established requirements, to advise them during the construction process, and to collect the monthly loan payments. Therefore, it is not a charity giving away homes but a foundation. Each project is a cooperative effort incorporating the home recipient, volunteers from inside and outside the immediate community, and the foundation. The labor contributed by homeowners and volunteers, which we call "sweat equity", keeps house costs affordable.

Why the project needs volunteers:

25% of the world lives in inhuman conditions and more than 100 million do not have a house. Sign up for building homes in Costa Rica alongside fellow i-to-i volunteers and the Fundacion para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canada in order to carry on this work and help to provide homes to the communities where it is most needed.

Highlights

* Working alongside the community making a significant and noticeable immediate impact
* Getting a real work out in the sun, and for a good cause too
* Staying with a homestay family - the best way to get to understand a country
* Exploring Costa Rica - you can see the sunrise over the Caribbean and set over the Pacific if you fancy!

Qualifications

What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
You will need to be willing to get involved in hard work and be very hands on and willing to get involved in anything that is asked of you. You have a love of the outdoors and not mind working in any weather. You will need to be easy going and be able to work alongside the local community as much of your time will be spent with the families. Building experience is not necessary but if you have a specific skill it will be welcomed.

Your role as a volunteer:
You will get involved in all aspects of the building but this will depend on the stage you get involved in the building. You could help build septic tanks, lay floors, dig trenches and help put on roofs amongst other tasks.

Languages
  • English
  • Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 1,259.00 for 1 week, USD 300.00 for every week thereafter

Cost Includes:

Cost Include Description:

* Accommodation: Shared room in homestay
* Food: All meals
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, local in-country team and 24 hour emergency support

Credit Available

no

Volunteer Types
  • building/construction projects
  • community development
  • housing
  • painting
Typical Volunteer
If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.
Age Range
17-80
This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Home-stays

Participants Travel to Costa Rica

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Phone/Video Interview
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
i-to-i Volunteering's Mission Statement

i-to-i Volunteering provides unique opportunities for you to travel, work and volunteer abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 16 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations. With over 130 projects on 4 continents, across 22 countries you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching English, community development, conservation, home building, and working with animals.

Year Founded

1994

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