Our projects

Teaching programs

Schools in Costa Rica run classes between February and December, so children from six to fifteen have two months of summer break. They also have a couple of weeks vacation in July.

Low-income families may not be able to afford vacation camps or other means of entertainment for their children during these periods out from school and it is important that these children are kept out of the streets and to engage them in productive and educational activities.

This programs are aimed to provide these contention environments as well as to help rural schools which have lower educational opportunities.

As a volunteer in this program you will help local teachers with English classes, help children with their homework, participate in arts and sports workshops and develope some recreational activities for the children.

Although you’ll be working in classrooms some rural schools lack basic learning material such as books, paper and pencils, so your ability to come up with creative ideas to carry out the activities  in spite of these lacks will be highly valued.

After school programs

This program is run in the afternoons so it’s ideal for volunteers who wish to improve their Spanish by taking morning Spanish classes.. Working with children and teens also gives them an excellent opportunity to practice their language skills.

As a volunteer in this program you’ll be helping children and teenagers with their homework, engage them in spots games and artistic and recreational activities.

Volunteers often become a role model to the children and teens they work with, so a good attitude, receptivity and a genuine compromise and interest in their needs and potential gives you the opportunity to make a real difference in their future lives.

To be part of this program volunteers don’t need to have any previous teaching experience but an intermediate level of Spanish is required to be able to interact with the kids.

The minimum duration of this program is two weeks.

Women’s programs

CW works in coordination with local government organizations developing and carrying out programs focused on reinforcing women’s and children’s rights They offer women in vulnerable conditions or victims of domestic violence the necessary support, legal advice and professional training to overcome these precarious circumstances and create better life conditions for themselves and their children..

A variety of women’s programs cover issues like self esteem, health, domestic economy and entrepreneurial projects.

Volunteers can help with training workshops on handicrafts, clothing manufacturing, cooking, pottery, etc.

Volunteers with some specific background on therapeutic or business activities may help develop or be part of workshops dealing with business training, enterprising and leadership, and forum debates on domestic violence, women’s and children’s rights, as well as health consultations.

The minimum duration of these programs is two weeks and volunteers need to have intermediate to advanced Spanish language skills.

Microfinance programs

CW cooperates with local organizations that provide small scale local entrepreneurs with training programs and business advice, and have shown to be very efficient at a community level.

Volunteers to this program can help community organizations, small business and women groups working with them in teaching programs and training.

Those volunteers with some background in business and commercial activities can help local business by setting up essential strategies such as identification of local business opportunities, prioritize programs, evaluate and execute development projects and find markets to work with.

The minimum duration for this program is four weeks and intermediate to advanced level of Spanish language skills is required.