Costa Rica volunteering

Even though volunteering was an experience I always wanted to be a part of, I didn’t think it was actually possible once I applied. It didn't feel real until I got to the Costa Rica airport and I was alone. The first night was hard, I was a minor in a different country doing and seeing things I was not used to. Being apart from everything I was used to and being away from my parents was hard, but as soon as I saw the face of all the children everything changed. In orientation, I saw how everyone was scared, whether they were volunteering, in Spanish immersion, if they were minors or over 18. At the end of the day, age is just a number and everyone is allowed to be scared of the new environment. It took some days, but Costa Rica slowly became my home. Volunteering in a developing country made me realize various things about my own country, and it made me want to help improve, not only the education, but the country environment. For four weeks, I worked with children so resilient it amazed me. How they needed so little to be happy, seeing their laughing faces while playing soccer with a plastic bottle, dancing, or even learning. I believe we got so used to what we have, we never learned to truly appreciate things we had. The last week of my volunteer program I decided to donate 11 pairs of shoes for the children who I believed needed them most. It was an anonymous donation, because it's for them, to help them, not to get a reward or an appreciation. I believe that was one of the most important lessons I learned there.
The first week I worked with a group of children with hyperactivity and autism from ages 2-4 and they were amazing, seeing how open they were to new people and how they just wanted love and support was heartbreaking. The next few weeks I worked in the same daycare, but with a different group. I was able to use what I learned and teach english. I believe it was the best I could’ve done. My native language is Spanish, which gave me a chance to communicate and connect with them, while teaching them something useful that might help them in the future. I was proud of their motivation and excitement to learn new things, and of how much they learned by the last week. They are amazing, and they have so much love in their hearts, even after everything they go through. I trust I made an impact on them and on their future.
No one could believe I was a 16-year-old volunteering alone in another country, but as I mentioned, age is just a number. There is no difference between being 16, 17, or even 18. Being older doesn't make you wiser or more mature, experience does, personality does. And even though I was not sure at first, volunteering was the best thing I could have done.
I always thought people were just exaggerating when speaking about their volunteer experience. I thought people were lying when they said they had a different perspective to how they see the world. But I now know it's true, my perspective did change. It made me see problems in the world I didn't know were there, and it just made me want to make more of a difference and continue trying to make the world better, one person at a time. The children make me want to change the small things in the world. I want to change how they view the world, instead of something dark and bad, as something full of light and change. Something that can improve, and something they can help improve. I want to show them they have a great future ahead of them, no matter where they come from.
Being a volunteer with Maximo Nivel was amazing, they were all welcoming and supportive. They always helped you with a smile, and answered all questions in a great way. They were there to help and encourage you along the way. This experience wouldn't have been so amazing without Maximo. The staff working there made me feel confident, they inspired and motivated me to do better.
IVHQ gave me all the steps and made the process easier, they made everything accessible for me and helped me be prepared with what to expect on the trip. They followed through my progress and made me feel like I was making a difference. They gave me good and credible information, I would always recommend this organization for volunteers.