Contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education by supporting childhood development initiatives in the Central Valley region of Costa Rica. In your free time, take advantage of the myriad of adventure activities that this diverse mountainous region has to offer – including hiking, volcanoes, botanical gardens, museums and beaches.
Join a team of like-minded volunteers, living and working in the city of Cartago in Costa Rica, teaching English to local community members.
Cartago is a mid-sized city in the Central Valley of Costa Rica in a province famous for its farms, which provide everything from dairy and cheese to strawberries and corn. Costa Rica has close connections to many US and international corporations who rely on the Costa Rican population to support customers in international call centres among other things. In addition to this, tourism is one of the largest economic sectors that supplies many nationals with employment. However, both require applicants to have a strong command of English. Therefore, English has been identified by the government as a key priority of the nation and many schools and local organisations request help in offering English education to their students and community members. In supporting English education, volunteers not only contribute to UN SDG 4: Quality Education, but also to UN SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Volunteers on this program will work with GVI staff, interns, and other volunteers to provide free individual English education classes to members of the local community. We work with ongoing curriculums to introduce English vocabulary and discuss sustainable development topics like environmental awareness. We also offer conversational classes so students can practise real situations and feel more confident in speaking English. Our work is based on the needs of the community, which means that the specifics of the classes – such as the time schedules, ages, and levels of English language competency – change over time.
Make a direct impact on the lives and education of children by supporting their cognitive, physical and emotional development at the start of their school careers.
Experience a unique way of life when you become part of the community of Cartago. Build friendships, expand your perspective and immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s rich Afro-Caribbean culture.
Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Receive expert training on our childcare project objectives and procedures, specialised child safety training, project ethics, and an introduction to the local culture, and learn how to plan and evaluate projects.
Assist teachers at local schools and after-school programs by teaching English, running cultural clubs, and facilitating physical fitness activities.
Get crucial career-building exposure working and communicating within a diverse team and specific local context.
Develop self-awareness, leadership, resilience and confidence, with support and advice from experienced GVI staff members.
Use your spare time during the week to self-reflect, raise awareness on community issues on social media, or fundraise for a local project.
In your free time, visit national parks or nearby floating markets, hike to beautiful waterfalls, enjoy cooking or pottery classes, or explore Cartago’s vibrant nightlife.
Some of the partners we work with on base.
Learn to live the “pura vida”, or “simple life”, in the central Costa Rican city of Cartago – one of the largest cities in Costa Rica that is located in the Central Valley and full of lush greenery and volcanic views. Located in a province that is teeming with national parks, volcanoes and farmland, the base is in close proximity to many hubs in the country. In a 45 minute bus ride, participants can be in downtown San Jose where they can go to see a professional theatre production, watch a football game at the national stadium, or visit the National Museum and learn more about Costa Rica’s history that has shaped its unique political positioning in the Americas. Participants can also go 3 hours to the east and be on the beach by sundown listening to caribbean music and eating fresh ceviche. Or participants can enjoy all the Cartago base has to offer – from the local football stadium a 5-minute walk away to the lush greenery of the public university to the famous basilica in downtown Cartago to sharing communal accommodations (including meals and base duties), with individuals from all over the world who are there for the same reason you are — to make an ethical impact.
You’ll share a house that has basic bedroom and bathroom facilities with other participants and GVI staff. You will live in a beautiful two sto...
We are located within walking or driving distance of our projects. You can expect up to a 30-minute drive to project every day through beautiful ...
You’ll have daily access to long-distance communications whilst on the project, but bear in mind that the connection may not be as reliable as ba...
You’ll take turns preparing breakfast for the group, which typically consists of porridge, cereal, or toast, accompanied by fresh tropical fruit,...
Located in a mountainous region of central Costa Rica and in close proximity to the equator, Cartago enjoys a fairly consistent climate. Temperat...
During your program, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a variety of the following adventure and wellness activities on a monthly basis, specially designed to further immerse you in the diversity and richness of the habitats and cultures around you.
Joining a GVI program not only allows you to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems – but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer over weekends.
Field staff are a great source of advice and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. You can choose to travel before or after your experience with GVI (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships you’ve established on the program. Please note that the below options are not included in the program fee, and would be up to you to arrange at your own expense.
Explore the bustling capital of Costa Rica for an insight into the country’s heritage and modern lifestyle. Due to its dense urban population, Sa...
Take some time to explore the Irazu Volcano National Park. Peaking at 3,432.00 metres, Irazu is famed for being the largest and highest active vo...
Costa Rica is known for producing some of the world’s highest quality coffee beans and Cartago is just about 1 hour from Los Santos, one of the r...
Just 30 minutes away in Turrialba, there are many rivers in the area to explore on a kayak or canoe. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can ...
Well known for the Salsa Brava surf break that people travel from all over the world to experience, as well as beaches like the black-sand Playa ...
Costa Rica is well known as a surfing destination and the Pacific Coast is home to a number of incredible beaches. You can also explore areas lik...
Acclaimed as one of the most biodiverse parks on the planet, lush tropical rainforests converge with the stunning beaches of the Pacific coast. H...
There are plenty of opportunities for further exploration throughout Latin America. Travel south to Panama and Colombia, or north to Nicaragua an...
With some of the greatest biodiversity in the world and a commitment to preserving this unique natural heritage, Costa Rica features many natura...
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and will also be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many different activities that you can get involved in during your free time, or before and after your program.
On our community programs, the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore topics like local cuisine and religion, or how sustainable development challenges are affecting local contexts.
You’ll find many beautiful churches and cathedrals within the forests and hills of Cartago and Limon province. Cartago province is home to the re...
From March to April, Easter is a popular holiday in Costa Rica and is celebrated with elaborate processions. In
The majority of Costa Ricans identify with the Roman Catholic religion. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Rastafari...
Dancing is an integral part of Costa Rican culture. Locals learn to dance the fluid ballroom styles of cumbia, salsa, bolero, and the merengue fr...
Food in Costa Rica is a combination of Spanish, South American, Caribbean and American influences. Common dishes include corn tortillas, tamales,...
Spanish is the country’s official language and the majority of the population speaks Spanish. You’ll also hear indigenous languages like Bribri, ...
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If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
In 1869 Costa Rica was the first country in the world to make primary education both free and obligatory, funding the education program through the state’s share of the great coffee wealth. In 1948, the country abolished its national army and shifted the portion of its national budget allocated to armed forces to the education system. By the late 1970s/ early 1980s, roughly 89% of the population were able to read and write. Costa Rica now boasts a literacy rate of around 98% for people aged 15 years and older. In 1994, a policy to place a computer in each of the nation’s 4,000 schools, plus obligatory English classes, was implemented.
Despite this, education is not readily available to everyone. Elementary schools can be found in every community, but high schools are not as common as they are not mandatory and many students stop attending school after the age of 13. Many cannot afford the required uniforms, and rural schools often lack books for students. Children often spend as little as three hours in school as the class schedule is divided into two sessions in order to accommodate the number of students.
GVI has been working in local communities in Costa Rica since 2011. Currently, we work in and around Cartago to support community and economic development, environmental conservation, and education focused initiatives. The main UN Sustainable Development Goals that we contribute to this project include Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 5:Gender Equality.
GVI Cartago’s long-term objectives:
1. Graduate participants who are impassioned to change the world.
2. Help aid in breaking the cycle of poverty in Cartago as well as the surrounding communities of La Union and Patarra.
3. Increase environmental awareness and improve physical well-being in the local communities and international communities.
4. Improve English literacy levels in the area.
5. Support economic development and assist in building sustainable, women-led businesses in the local communities.
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
Learn about COVID-19 pre-departure guidelines, base expectations, personal and area hygiene practices and what we are doing to keep you safe.
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
Learn about gender equality, skills development and examples of income generating activities.
Learn about our empowerment principles.
Learn the basics of how to teach English as a foreign language.
Learn about the Costa Rican pura vida lifestyle.
In this course, you’ll explore the most common pitfalls of community development initiatives so that you can avoid them. You’ll also learn how to carry out community development work effectively and ethically and how local context impacts program development. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
It takes courage to book a GVI program, get on a flight, and head off to somewhere new. Volunteering offers a level of cultural immersion that typical backpacking or holidays ju...
As the saying goes: ‘Expect the best, plan for the worst’. Cliched or not, we take it to heart. This tenet is at the core of how GVI operates when it comes to promoting the heal...
The weather isn’t just a topic for polite small-talk here at GVI. We have emergency action plans in place for all scenarios. So when the weather, or other natural forces, takes ...
Once GVI has matched a participant to a program that suits their passions and goals, our team aims to set the right expectations for them. In the event that false expectations a...
For over 20 years, GVI has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GVI has created the GVI health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet or exceed international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of GVI’s participants, staff and communities around the world. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.
The work GVI is contributing to across the globe remains important and the following measures allow our participants to continue to join GVI’s programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. The following changes to our existing protocols have been made by the GVI health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities.
