Location
  • Costa Rica
    • Heredia
    • Heredia
Length
4 to 8 weeks
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family

Pricing

Price Details
What's Included in an ISA Service-Learning Program:

• Comprehensive advising and support
• Visa support
• Bridging Cultures Program, the on-site cultural and academic orientation
• Housing
• Meals and laundry service
• Guaranteed placement with community based organization
• Full-time resident staff with a maximum 20:1 student to staff ratio
• On-site ISA office, computer and internet access (WiFi)
• Airport reception
• Cultural activities
• Medical insurance
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• On-site transportation stipend
• Project materials stipend
• Donation to host organization
• ISA Service-Learning Portfolio
• One year digital subscription to The New York Times
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Transportation Travel Insurance
Sep 27, 2021
May 06, 2016
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Heredia is a relaxed Costa Rican city filled with enjoyable parks, lively plazas, and friendly locals. Lying approximately 10 km northwest of San José in the verdant tropical foothills of the Barva Volcano, Heredia is the perfect mix of city and countryside ideal for practicing your Spanish.

In Heredia, Costa Rica, we have relationships with a variety of organizations, especially in the educational and geriatric service fields. Throughout your program, you will create a service-learning portfolio, which is a compilation of reflection-based assignments and activities. Through service at a local organization and these guided reflection activities, our goal is to help you gain a better understanding of the local language, culture, and community, as well as a deeper understanding of how local experts are creating positive changes with available resources.

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with ISA by WorldStrides for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Our team is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and staff. We have developed our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of our destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.
Our team is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and staff. We have developed our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of our destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.
ISA by WorldStrides is devoted to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of neurodivergence. Our Health & Safety team is available to answer questions about insurance and medication, as well as provide students with materials on overseas access to support.
We are dedicated to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of accessibility. With our wide portfolio of program types and locations we’re confident there is a suitable and accessible program for each student. Accommodations abroad can be complex and take time, so those with accessibility needs should inform ISA of any accommodations requests as early as possible in the advising process. Please contact accessibilityteam@studiesabroad.com with questions or for more information.

Impact 🌎

We have partnered with Fill it Forward to engage team members and program participants in waste reduction practices. The goal is to encourage the elimination of single-use waste. Every QR code scan shows the impact of reusable bottles and unlocks a donation to environmental impact groups.
ISA by WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

Program Highlights

  • Receive personalized advising on service opportunities and program options that are the best fit for you. You will receive confirmation of the community-based organization you have been matched with before departure
  • Begin your transition to daily life in your new country and culture on the Bridging Cultures Program, our in-country orientation.
  • Benefit from the ISA office, located on the Universidad Latina campus. Enjoy the company of on-site staff, your fellow service-learning participants and ISA students, and use the Wi-Fi Internet provided at the ISA office.
  • Have the opportunity to earn academic credit.
  • Demonstrate the professional, cultural, and personal competencies you acquired while on the program through reflection-based assignments and activities that make up the ISA Service-Learning Portfolio.

Program Reviews

2.00 Rating
based on 1 review
  • 5 rating 0%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 100%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 3
  • Support 3
  • Fun 3
  • Value 2
  • Safety 4
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 reviews
Default avatar
Camille
2/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Program doesn't deliver. False advertising.

The ISA service learning program in Heredia was disappointing in many ways. The communication isn't clear, I was told I was going to have a roommate, then I was placed alone with a bad host family who was hours late to pick me up and wasn't welcoming, and then once my parents called the company and complained, they switched me to another host family with a girl I had originally asked to be placed with (because she didn't have a roommate either)....
They make it seem like excursions are included, but they're not.
They oversell the volunteer placements, we don't get to do what they tell us we will (we spent a lot of time sitting around) and I also was made to feel very uncomfortable by one of the male workers in the hospital (obviously this isn't the program's fault). One of my friends was placed in a clinic in which she wasn't allowed to do anything. She was obviously upset about this and talked to her placement coordinator and they told her that they constantly tell ISA that the students won't be allowed to observe medical procedures yet ISA doesn't change their descriptions on their website...
The ISA staff (specifically the head of the program at the time) wasn't very helpful or concerned when real issues with placement arose. They're nice people but they're all young and unable to create any real change if there's a problem. They also don't respect you as much unless parents get involved because we're young students.

I enjoyed Costa Rica but the program sucked and I still don't know what half the money went towards.

37 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers