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Location
  • Costa Rica
Project Types
Community Development Building Projects

Program Details

Language
English
Housing
Hostel
Feb 16, 2018
May 10, 2012
Wish List
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Join Youth Challenge International in Costa Rica on the Youth Discovery program! For more than 17 years, YCI has been working with Reto Juvenil Internacional (RJI), a local organization that offers volunteers a wide variety of options and experiences in Costa Rica. From economic and social development to environmental awareness and education, there is sure to be a project for every type of volunteer.

The volunteer programs focus on education and life skills for youth and preservation of the environment, especially rain forests. Ecotourism and environmental projects include creating and maintaining park trails, basic infrastructure construction, and environmental education. By living in Costa Rica and promoting sustainable community projects, volunteers have the chance to make a difference and immerse themselves into a new and beautiful culture. Visit the YCI website for more information!

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from Youth Challenge International.

Video and Photos

Volunteer on a farm in Costa Rica!
Check out the interesting plant life in Costa Rica like this volunteer

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 3 reviews
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  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
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  • Value 5
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Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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MCAT
40
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Costa Rica with YCI

May 10, 2012

I found the overall experience to be very positive. At first I was worried about being able to make a difference in just three weeks, but the attendance at our English workshops was very high and I was able to appreciate the impact we had. I did not always love the volunteer activities, like helping at the recycling center, but anything can be fun when you are surrounded by wonderful people. I got to experience things I never would have at home, like walking cows (yes really!) and seeing a calf being born. I also made several close friends because of this experience that I would not have met otherwise.

61 people found this review helpful.
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Bhavjit
32
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Trip - Bhavjit Grewal

May 4, 2012

This was one of the best experiences of my life. The community was very welcoming and was located in a very scenic area thus it was always a treat to wake up and look out the window to enjoy the view. My favourite workshop that we did was a sports day twice a week with the elementary school kids. It was a fun way to get to know the children in the community and also teach them new sports such as California kick ball. I also enjoyed the English classes that we hosted because by teaching the students English my Spanish also got better. The main difficulty I encountered was the fact that I knew no Spanish whatsoever when I came to Costa Rica, therefore a lot of body language was used initially. However, I slowly picked up on it and after about a week or two it was no longer an issue.

74 people found this review helpful.
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Derrick
40
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thank you YCI

May 4, 2012

My experience as a YCI volunteer in Costa Rica has served as one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was during this time that my passion for youth development was cultivated! I had the chance to work alongside some of the most driven young people.

I recommend YCI to anyone who wants to learn and grow by doing! I had the chance to participate in a dynamic project that allowed me to work with my hands and facilitate learning through engaging in meaningful conversation, about almost anything!

I continue to value my experience as a volunteer and hope that many more people are able to have the opportunity to engage in this kind of learning.

71 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Bhavjit Grewal

Program
Volunteer with Youth Challenge International in Costa Rica
Bhavjit Grewal is from British Columbia, Canada. She is currently enrolled in the Diploma in Accounting Program at the Sauder School of Business in the University of British Columbia. She has also completed her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economies from Simon Fraser University. She enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
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Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with YCI in Costa Rica?

I was browsing through the school career website when I came across a link about Youth Challenge International. I explored their website thinking “wow wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to volunteer aboard.” So I decided to apply. I thought nothing would ever come of it, but little did I know that by the following week I would have a phone interview and then would be in Costa Rica within a month.

Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.

I spent my project in a small community called Santa Cruz de Leon Cortes. It is about two hours away from San Jose (capital of Costa Rica) and is situated in the mountains. My group consisted of myself and another girl from Canada. Since there was only the two of us on project, we were able to have a homestay and lived with two great families. We stayed with one family for the first week and the second family for the remaining of the project. My day consisted of doing various workshops in the community that were given to us by our coordinator within the community. We made posters and displayed them around the community to provide information regarding the workshops.

The main workshops we did in the community were computer related that went over basic concepts such as sending emails and how to navigate the internet. Also, we taught English classes for the boy scouts going over the main fundamentals of English. One of our main projects was to re-paint the nutrition center and start a garden. My favorite workshop was the sports day we had every Tuesday and Thursday with the elementary school children. We taught them how to play badminton and California kickball. All of the supplies that we needed for the workshops were all provided for us and if we needed any extra supplies we could easily obtain them. In our free time, we would walk around the community and enjoy the beautiful view. Also, on the weekends we got to travel around the country visiting the beaches and checking out the city.

What made this volunteer abroad experience unique and special?

This experience abroad was very unique because I was able to travel to Costa Rica and experience the lifestyle of Central America. I have travelled to many different places before but Costa Rica was like none other. From the mountain tops to the beautiful beaches, Costa Rica provided unique ways to enjoy our free time. Volunteering with the locals was hard at first due to the language barrier but by the time we had to leave, I knew I would always have a home in this welcoming community.

How has this experience impacted your future?

This trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I’ve always wanted to travel, but I never thought I would be able to help others while doing it. The trip to Costa Rica animated the many problems faced in our world today. The trip exposed me to a world of culture and lifestyle I had never seen before. Professionally, this has given my CV a great boost and I also gained greater confidence knowing that I am able to adapt to new environments.

Location

Location:
Costa Rica
Currency:
Costa Rican Colón
Weather:
Jan-Mar
83 F / 67 F
Apr-Jun
85 F / 69 F
Jul-Sep
85 F / 69 F
Oct-Dec
83 F / 67 F
Airports:
Juan Santamaría International Airport
( SJO )
Limón International Airport
( LIO )
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
( LIR )

A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas. Costa Rica began reversing deforestation in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only renewable energy. Head to the cloud forest, relax on the beautiful beaches, or visit a coffee farm.

About Youth Challenge International

Youth Challenge International designs global development solutions that create the conditions for youth to thrive and prosper. YCI’s programs use creative approaches to equip young people with the tools, experience, knowledge and networks to build sustainable livelihoods. YCI’s projects are currently located in Africa, South America and Asia.

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