Giving Back To Costa Rica

“Ask not what your country can do for you,” famously began John F Kennedy during his inauguration speech, January 20th, 1961. This quote is so famous it doesn’t even need an ending. You know it. We all do. Even if we are from someplace other than the States. Now Kennedy wasn’t specifically talking about performing volunteer work in Costa Rica, but he sure was implying it. Fine, he wasn't. Just play along.

The message in Kennedy’s words is universal: stop being such a taker and start giving, buddy. Something like that.

As you consider your life in Costa Rica, and wonder how you may fit in, or fit in better, a good place to start is with looking at the ways you can give to Costa Rica before you ask anything of her. The needs and applications for volunteer work in this little country are beyond the scope of this article. We will however, discuss some of your options.

Schools

This is the most common way volunteers will find a place to work. The need is multifaceted. Of course there is a need for people to teach English to those who don’t know it, but there is a growing population of people who need to learn Spanish as well. The thing to consider is that this extends beyond teaching English and Spanish. Tamarindo is a landing place for many cultures. There are transplants from Italy, France, Germany and much of the Americas.

There is also a need for help in the local schools teaching other subjects. Some of these opportunities could turn into paid work, but then you won’t be volunteering anymore. Not as a teacher at least. Here is a very short list of some of your options around Tamarindo. If you are looking for more tradition school volunteer options, we suggest you read our blog on local schools, and follow the links to contact them about opportunities.

Wayra - The Wayra program is diverse, offering opportunities for those who speak Spanish fluently, and for those who only have a basic understanding of the language.

ISLS - This school combines surf and Spanish in one package. Volunteering doesn’t appear to be free, but in this case you get more than you pay for.

Surf Camps

The number of surf camps in Tamarindo is brimming these days. They have been for a long time. The good news is they don’t seem to be going away, and that means there are way more opportunities to learn surfing than we have time to go into here. For this reason here are two outfits which should be able to point you in the right direction if they can’t use your services themselves.

Dreamsea - This surf school has a big campus just outside central Tamarindo. They are regularly looking for volunteers.

Tamarindo Surf School - This school guarantees students will stand on their first wave. They also conduct outreach into other arenas, where volunteers are needed.

Farms

Learn to farm organic crops, pick up old school farming skills, or rescue animals in need. There are probably more variables for working with nature in Costa Rica than the other two categories. The challenge is finding those opportunities without going finger-numb from searching all the interwebs. To help you out here are a few you can try first.

The Monkey Farm - Located in Guanacaste, this animal shelter and petting zoo is completely run by volunteers.

Gaia Vista - Learn organic farming with a view of the Pacific on this Central South Pacific farm.

Osa Eco Experience - Another organic farm experience, also south of Guanacaste, near Osa Penninsula.

So that's your starting point. This topic is really a Pandora's Box, but worth the time and effort if you have the motivation. Volunteering will forge in you a deep connection to Costa Rica and her people. What's that have to do with JFK? “Ask what you can do for your country.” is the ending to the quote. (Just in case you really didn't know.)

While Costa Rica may not be what you consider “your country” at this time, you never know. Give it some time and you may think differently. Plenty of expats have come for a vacation and never gone home. Put a little labor into her soil and you may be find yourself emotionally tied Costa Rica too

Ironically, two-years after his famous speech, in March of 1963 Kennedy spent some time in Costa Rica. He was here as an extension of the Foreign Assistance Act. Since he was getting paid to be here it would be a stretch to call JFK Costa Rica’s first foreign volunteer, but the message in his speech, combined with the very words “Foreign Assistance,” certainly earn him honorary mention.

Get in touch with us today

While my computer is still running here, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your help during our stay.
When we first came to your office, we were in dire straights and in desperate need of assistance. Andrea was extremely compassionate, spoke with candor, and had a "can do attitude" that was of immense help.
In addition, Andrea has put us in contact with Steve, with whom we are working, preparing to view a little property that might be just what we are looking for at this particular time.
In addition, having gotten to know Andrea personally as well as professionally has been our great pleasure. I wanted to let you know what a tremendous asset she is to your company. She is a great treasure -- a one in a million.

Tina Parker, Costa Rica

We are- UNHAPPILY- home safe. Would much rather be back in Tamarindo. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING you did to make our stay a joy ! We look very much forward to seeing you on our next trip to Costa Rica. PURA VIDA !

Steve Perry, Costa Rica

Laurel and Tony,
The both of you were fantastic with us throughout the property search and purchase process. As we had mentioned, two other attempts to find thorough, attentive, responsive agents to work with in Tamarindo were failures. I expect that we are more work to deal with than many others as we asked a lot of thorough and analytical questions and expected responses to all of them. You two never failed to deliver. The organization and execution of our condo shopping trip in January was excellent and the fact that you two devoted 2 full days to us, around our schedule, to get this deal done was key to our success. The selection of properties that Laurel planned out, including a few places above and below our target zone helped us to refine our interests. We truly appreciated your interest in our success. This could easily have been very stressful for us, and yet, it wasn’t. Thank you very much.
As a side note, when we walked into the Coldwell Banker office randomly with no appointment in November had we not found your office staff patient and accommodating from the start we would have simply walked on to the next agency. Your staff deserves special mention for getting us interested in the agency to begin with.
We will give you some advance notice before we make our first trip down so that we can plan to get together for lunch or dinner. We are tentatively planning on somewhere in the last 2 weeks of May, as soon as our son gets out of school for the summer.

Dan Batliner, Costa Rica

We had so much fun at Buena Vista. Thanks for arranging that with Memo.
I also want to say many thanks for all that you have done. We have enjoyed Costa Rica and I have found you so helpful with everything and a pleasure to deal with that it was a very stress free vacation. When I do come back here hopefully you will still be doing what what you do.
Our last couple of days will be spent enjoying the sunshine and eating at great restaurants. Sincerely,

Tara, Kevin and Roy., Costa Rica

Giving Back To Costa Rica