Volunteer Abroad!
What are the benefits of Volunteering in Costa Rica or Panama?
- The perfect opportunity to practice the language in real situations.
- Learn from and give back to the local community or universal ecology.
- Strengthen your résumé by serving in an organization related to your field of study.
Volunteer part-time or full-time while you are taking Spanish classes! You can combine voluntary work abroad with learning the Spanish language at all our locations. We will only charge a $50 set-up fee!
Don’t wait any longer to start your adventure abroad. Book now!
Center for adults with a challenge
Helping adults with a challenge can be an educational and rewarding activity!
Besides working on your (related) Spanish skills, you will also gain valuable insight into the unique healthcare and educational challenges facing Costa Rica and Panama. Furthermore you will also build connections with local professionals and work on improving your résumé.
Speech therapy, special education, social work, physical/exercise therapy and physical education are valuable skills for the local providers.
Center for children with a challenge
Working with children with a challenge can be an educational and rewarding activity!
Besides working on your (related) Spanish skills, you will also gain valuable insight into the unique healthcare and educational challenges facing Costa Rica and Panama. Furthermore, you will build connections with local professionals and work on improvement of your résumé.
Speech therapy, special education, social work, physical/exercise therapy and physical education are valuable skills for the local providers.
Center for Indigenous Families in Turrialba
The Center for Indigenous Families in Turrialba is part of an international Action Program in Costa Rica. The centre provides a safe, comfortable place for Cabécar families, who must journey long hours on foot to have access to medical care. Originally started exclusively for pregnant women that needed a place to stay in the days just before and after the birth of a child or in the event of the hospitalization of a child. Additionally, the Center is now open to all family members that need a place to stay.
Center for Indigenous people
Doing volunteer work with indigenous people opens your eyes to a different world!
In Costa Rica, indigenous people make up 1.7 % of the total population. In Panama, they make up between 5 and 8 % of the total population. Official discrimination does not exist in these countries, however education, health care and land property are sectors where they are still less favored. These are areas where volunteers can provide needed benefits.
Dog rescue camp
Make the most of your time in Boquete by helping the dogs and the two persons that run this rescue center
Besides working on your (related) Spanish skills, you will also be helping a local initiative to rescue dogs that have been mistreated or abandoned. Taking them to the monthly clinic is also part of the work. This project is perfect for people that maybe don’t have too much time since 1 day dedication is already highly appreciated.
English classes for children & adults
Spanish speaking people often have a basic grasp of English grammar, but you can help them improve their pronunciation skills!
By providing conversational English classes you can greatly enhance the learning experience and the future prospects of thousands of children and adults. As you assist with the local curriculum, your students will enjoy learning about you and your culture. You will have the option to volunteer in a school setting or in some other community initiative.
Horse Stable
If you are a horse lover, you probably want to spend as much time around horses as possible!
If you enjoy helping out with the day to day care and training of horses, this volunteer opportunity is for you! You will have the chance to learn about horse language, horse personalities and the basics of riding. You will also have the experience of spending time with the horses and having direct access to places of breathtaking beauty!
Investigation & Education in the Tropics
This is how you can learn about and help to conserve the rainforest of the world!
Rainforests only cover about 2 % of the total surface of the earth, but in reality, about 50 % of all plants and animals on the earth live in that important ecosystem. Various organizations near our schools undertake investigation and education in the field of tropical ecology and conservation. They open their doors so you can assist with certain tasks in their programs.
Kids Soccer Coaching
Help children improve their skills, and help them chase their dreams!
Do you want to train ambitious kids to help them improve their soccer skills? Even if you don’t have the skills to teach kids, you can work together with the coaches. The children speak English, but also Spanish is spoken during your volunteer time. You will also help prepare the fields, wash the rooms, and provide general support to the coaches and children.
Medical Clinic
Working as a volunteer in a medical clinic is beneficial for both you and the community!
It will not only help you build your medical Spanish skills, but also give you valuable insight into the unique healthcare challenges facing Costa Rica and Panama. You will build connections with healthcare professionals in these countries. Observing doctors working, taking vital signs and joining doctor meetings are just some of the activities that you might get involved in.
Old people’s Home
Working in a nursing home can be life changing experience for various reasons!
Besides practicing Spanish and learning about different therapies, working in a nursing home will put your own problems into perspective. You will learn from the experiences of people who have enjoyed a long life and will see death as much less frightening. You’ll hear another history every day and you will need to slow down and live in the moment. By sharing conversations, helping residents move from one place to another and assisting in physical/occupational therapy, you will be serving the community!
Organic Farming
It is important and interesting for all of us to learn about Organic Farming!
The American Cancer Society has concluded that about 85 percent of cancers are caused by agricultural toxins such as pesticides. Not strange at all is that more and more people believe that organic food is healthier for our planet and for us. It requires less water, there are fewer toxic pesticides released, soil erosion is minimal and nutrient levels in organic foods are improved. Working in the field, marketing the crops and creating new products are ways you can help as a volunteer.
Rescue Center for Wild Animals
Volunteering in a rescue center for wild animals provides an opportunity to learn about wildlife!
Some wild animals are taken out of their natural habitat by humans in order to use them as pets or with the intention to save them. The rescue center takes care of the rehabilitation and reintroduction of these wild animals into nature! Most animals stay for a limited amount of time, until they are ready to return to the wild. Others will not be able to go back to the wild due to their poor physical condition. The center makes sure they have a comfortable and happy life!
Sea Turtle Conservation
Help with the protection of the sea turtles by educating and improving the living conditions of the local community!
Conservation and protection is focused on the endangered leatherback and green turtles. The participation of volunteers both contributes directly to protection of the nesting areas and to improvement of living conditions and the education of the local inhabitants. By helping to generate an income for the locals through an affordable volunteer program, the aim is to eliminate the necessity for them to poach the turtles and their eggs.
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Waste Management Non-profit Org
Wasteless World is a non-profit organization located in Bocas del Toro – Panama and it has an important mission: to create a community-run plastic recycling project that can introduce a new economy while at the same time reduce plastic waste.
A volunteer can help with clean, separate and catagorize plastic waste, organize events for fundraising, education, beach clean-ups, among many other activities.
Spanish by the Sea offers a bed in the volunteer room, pancake+fruit breakfast, laundry in exchange of 18 hrs volunteer at the recycle center and 6 hrs at the School-Hostel to help improve recycling here (24 hrs in total)
Especially for students that want to travel, learn Spanish ánd visit 4 of our amazing locations!