Volunteer Experience Latin America

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Tamarindo
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Jaco,  Quepos
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Gandoca

  Ecuador

• Galapagos Islands: 
Galapagos Islands

  Honduras

• Other Cities in Honduras: 
La Esperanza

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco
• Lima: 
Lima

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Monthly departures

Description: CCUSA offers a wide range of important Volunteer projects in several countries including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, and Peru!

Volunteer for as little as 2 weeks up to 6 months with a variety of projects that focus on education, the environment, community building community health, and cultural immersion! These programs provide you with practical experience on many aspects of the fields above.

Programs run year round, and there are a variety of project opportunities in each country. The projects fill up quickly, however, so apply now!

Highlights: Volunteer Experience Costa Rica:

Opportunities to work in turtle rescue projects along Costa Rica's Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
Program: Volunteer Experience Costa Rica
Program Length: 2 to 12 weeks
Who is eligible?: 18 years 60 years of age, speak basic Spanish (to communicate with the Park Rangers), have no health problems
Departure Dates: Arrive the first or middle Monday of each month.   If you want to take Spanish lessons, you need to arrive one week earlier.
Key Benefits: Program fee includes meals, accommodation, and orientation. There are two different programs working with two different species of turtles (the Leather back and Olive Ridley Turtles). These projects give you a change to make an important contribution to preservation of the species. Roles include beach patrolling, clearing the beach of obstacles, preparing nests, relocation of nests, handling eggs, repairing protection around nests, and recording the number of turtles.

Volunteer Experience Ecuador:

Opportunity to volunteer at one or more of 6 different biological reserves, contributing to biodiversity conservation, community development, and sustainable use of natural resources.
Program: Volunteer Experience Ecuador
Program Length: 2 weeks to 6 months
Who is eligible?: 18+, basic level of Spanish, no major health problems, are moderately fit
Departure Dates: Start dates are flexible; however, volunteers must attend an orientation session in Quito on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays upon arrival. Volunteers will work 22 days out of every month.
Key Benefits: Program fee includes placement, meals, accommodation, training and supervision. Volunteers can work in a reserve in the Amazon, San Cristobal/Galapagos, La Hesperia/Andes, or the coastal regions of Bilsa, Congal, or La Loor. Projects may include plant conservation, community work, sustainable income generation, local research and wildlife.

Volunteer Experience Honduras:

Opportunities to volunteer and live in rural communities teaching, childcare, community health, community building and conservation projects.
Program: Volunteer Experience Honduras
Program Length: 2 weeks to 12 weeks
Who is eligible?: 18 years+, know basic Spanish, be physically fit depending on project, be flexible, for the medical project, have a medical degree or be studying towards a degree in health care
Departure Dates: Bi-monthly departures.
Key Benefits: Program fee includes placement, breakfast & dinner, accommodation, training and supervision. Five different projects including traditional building, teaching primary students in impoverished areas, childcare, assisting doctors and physicians at a clinic, as well as conservation projects working with Iguanas.

Volunteer Experience Peru:

Opportunities to volunteer in childcare, teaching, construction, health care, as well as cultural and conservation/wildlife projects.
Program: Volunteer Experience Peru
Program Length: 1 week 6 months
Who is eligible?: 18 years +, no major health problems, Health care volunteers must know basic Spanish, some programs require volunteers to be physically fit.
Departure Dates: Bi-Monthly departures from Cusco.
Key Benefits: Program fee includes placement, accommodation, meals, training, supervision, Spanish lessons, and weekly Salsa lessons! Primarily based in Cusco, the historical capital of the Inca Empire, volunteers can participate in a wide range of projects.

Qualifications: All Volunteer Experience Latin America projects require extremely committed and self-motivated participants who are willing and able to work and live outside of their comfort zone.

All Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and in good physical and mental health. Some programs are suitable for volunteers up to 65 years of age.

Maturity and independence are crucial and the ability to help our wherever needed is an important quality. Flexibility is also important as you may be asked to fulfill a variety of responsibilities and the specific project you are hoping for may not be available at the time of year you wish to participate. Final program eligibility is up to the individual project leaders.

Cost in US$: Cost vary depending on project and length

All program applicants also receive comprehensive fund-raising guide to give you tools to raise funds for your own program costs prior to your departure.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: yes

Some health care projects require medical training background, experience in a clinic, or some education equivalent to medical or nursing student background. All other non-health care projects do not require specific experience, but it is always beneficial.

Typical Volunteer: CCUSA Volunteers are globally minded citizens ready to step up and make community changes that will make a global impact. CCUSA Volunteers are flexible, mature, dedicated, committed, and physically and mentally fit. They are willing to choose from several projects and find a few that are a good fit, and available from as little as 2 weeks up to 6 months.

Age Range: 18-65

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of dependent on project

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

CCUSA's Mission Statement: CCUSA is passionately committed to providing exchange programs of the highest quality in countries around the world. We are dedicated to excellence in all areas of operation, providing first-rate staff to employers and partners on all of our exchange programs.

Year Founded: 1985