In partnership with Casa de la Juventud, AMIGOS has opened a program in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica with an exciting new format. On this program, volunteers will alternate between living in a host community and carrying out community service in national parks (Parque Nacional Tenorio, Reserva Forestal Rio Macho, and the Reserva Biologica Carara). Costa Rican youth will volunteer alongside AMIGOS volunteers during each week in the parks.
Our Work in Costa Rica
Volunteers will promote environmental conservation by working with local youth and community members, both in national parks and their host communities to carry out the following:
I. Volunteerism in the national parks: Work alongside park rangers and Costa Rican youth to carry out park initiatives (i.e. trail maintenance, create new trails, paint park lodges, build bathrooms, and bridge construction). Volunteers will also have the opportunity to explore the parks and partake in recreational activities that pertain to each park (i.e. a trip to the beach, hike to a waterfall, summit the closest mountain, etc.).
II. Community-Service: Collaborate with community members to carry out small initiatives (i.e. community and school gardens).
III. Extracurricular activities: Facilitate a variety of games and lessons for children on a variety of topics, including the environment as an overarching theme.
About our Partners in Costa Rica
Casade la Juventud is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for Costa Rican youth to finish secondary education, learn technical skills, play on organized sports teams, and develop youth groups. CASA, although small in size, has developed quite a remarkable reputation within the country for the work it does in the national parks and with local youth. They have connections with MINAE (Ministry of Environment and Energy), the Ministry of Education, and CRUSA (a US/Costa Rican foundation).
FURTHER ACTIONS
Involving youth from across the Americas
Read about our Partner Agencies
