Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer that doesn’t charge you an arm and a leg? We have it. Volunteer to teach English, the arts, or sports here at our community center, Su Espacio, or in other organizations in Atenas, Costa Rica. We charge only $100 for setting you up and a $100 donation to your project. This fee applies whether you choose to work here in the community center or if we can set you up with other projects in the community. We truly appreciate all the help and talent that our volunteers bring to help the local community. Click here for an application form.

We can arrange volunteer opportunities with other local organizations such as the orphanage, the schools, the library, the mentally challenged home, the municipality, the ministry of health, and even at the chiropractic office. Of course, each of these have different needs and different requirements.

If you need to improve your Spanish while you are here, we can arrange classes for you. Homestays can be arranged for $250/month, which includes three meals a day, or we can arrange private housing. So, for a total of only $450 for the first month and $250 for each additional month, you can be in your own personalized volunteer project and helping the community of Atenas.

Types of opportunities?
Teach any of the following at Su Espacio:
English
Aerobics
Pilates
Ballet
Dance

or we can set you up with many organizations in town such as the local schools and the animal refuge or in projects such as recycling or the dengue project.

Or
If we have time available in our schedule and you plan on being here for a significant amount of time, we can even arrange a new class that shares your specific talents with the community. And if none of these ideas work, tell us your interests, and we can see if we can arrange something with another organization in town.

Why do we not charge a lot of money? What do we get from it?
We get your talent and your time. You are truly sharing your skills with the local community. Skills that might not be available locally. The community benefits and that makes us happy. The $100 fee makes your arrangements with the volunteer project and your homestay as well as the ongoing oversight and assistance in both of those areas.

What does the community think of us?
In the local magazine “Entre Cantones” which covers the district, we received a grand applause for our Festival of Dance, which we hosted, stating “Cultural activities which have gained ground in the district of Atenas have filled the habitants with pride and joy as they can now enjoy important exhibitions in their own land.” We have been supporting a new project here in Atenas called “Domingos en el Parque,” which demonstrates the artistic talents in Atenas, and the new summer camp has parents jumping for joy. We hope to continue this pride in our daily activities and in our presentations of the future.

Additional ways to get involved:
Recently one of our volunteers started a program to collect books for the elementary schools in the local area. As a new volunteer you can get involved by bringing a book or two with you in your suitcase, or starting a small campaign for donations in your local area. You can also help to manage this project in Costa Rica, including identifying new schools for donations, assisting in curriculum development for the use of these books, and distributing the donations when they arrive. Please check out the book project page.

For an application to volunteer with Su Espacio
Click here. For more information please email info@suespacio.org.

“I really had a great time volunteering with Su Espacio. The set up is great because it accommodates a variety of situations and needs. What I mean is that people can tailor their volunteer experience to their eneds and skills. A volunteer at Su Espacio can work as many hours as he or she is looking for, feel comfortable in a friendly, flexible rnvironment, apply their uniquie skills to the different needs of the center, and interact with members of a diverse, enjoyable, beautiful, and relaxing community. Volunteers gain as much, if not more, than they put into their experience. A great exchange of energy and ideas!” – Jinny