General description
Volunteers will teach in the schools in
the mornings until early afternoon, helping children who need more
attention with literacy, math and also giving English lessons. Each
class size can range from 10-25 children, depending on the collective
ability or the attention needed by the children. Other teaching
activities will include sports, geography and arts.
Forty
hours of Spanish classes (based on skill level) are included in the
price and are highly recommended for those Volunteers with no previous
Spanish experience or those who want to brush up on their Spanish
language! Also included in the fee is a US$100 donation, you choose how
this can be spent on the project. 15 hours monthly of internet is also
included.
At weekends, included in the program
fee, are two excursions, which will include horse-riding, hiking,
snorkeling or a guided walking in Cahuita's National Park: you can
choose once you are there!
Education is free in
Costa Rica though the parents still have to buy the basic materials for
the child to attend, which they often cannot do. ICARI is endeavoring
to cover these costs and included in your fee is a utensils scholarship
for one child for one year.
Skills
No
formal teacher-training is required as each Volunteer will be supported
by the ICARI VOLUNTEER project manager, existing Volunteers, as well as
a formal local teacher. Plans and curriculums are available. Volunteers
should be enthusiastic, happy to work with children, prepared to travel
daily (included) and to work in basic conditions.
Duration
Minimum
2 weeks.
Field Conditions
Living
with local families in Cahuita in fairly basic accommodation allows for
an enriching cultural experience and the valuable opportunity to
practice Spanish or housing in a cabina! You will have three meals a
day will be provided when with the family (from Monday to Friday);
lunches will be provided at the school when you are working. The food
is basic though very typical of the area, and is varied, including
meats, vegetables, fruits and of course, rice and beans! Vegetarians
are also well catered for.
Group Size
Up
to five Volunteers per community when they are available.
Please note, this
education project in Costa Rica is unique to ICARI Spanish School
Volunteer Program. All funding of these projects comes directly from
ICARI Spanish School Volunteer Program and volunteer contributions,
included in the program fee. We receive no other outside source of
income, apart from that raised through ICARI VOLUNTEER and volunteer
contributions. Suffice to say, without this funding from ICARI,
VOLUNTEER Program and the volunteer contributions, the projects simply
would not exist.