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Brilliant 4.72rating (254)
  • Quality Education

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Help staff at the childcare centres with general duties
  • Teach the children English, arts, sports, math, drama and music
  • Stay right on the beach!!!!

Highlights

  • Help staff at the childcare centres with general duties
  • Teach the children English, arts, sports, math, drama and music
  • Stay right on the beach!!!!
  • Teach the children about personal hygiene
  • Stay with a host family for an authentic experience!
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Work alongside local organisations to help children coming from underprivileged backgrounds, where they may have come from a home with little nurturing, or poverty.

    We work alongside local organisations to help children coming from underprivileged backgrounds, where they may have come from a home with little nurturing, poverty or had a lack of education. By providing these children with the care and attention they require, volunteers can play a big part in ...

    About the program

    We work alongside local organisations to help children coming from underprivileged backgrounds, where they may have come from a home with little nurturing, poverty or had a lack of education. By providing these children with the care and attention they require, volunteers can play a big part in teaching and inspiring these young kids.

    As a volunteer, you will work in childcare facilities, community centres, and schools. Work will include supporting local childcare workers in caring for the children, helping with the general running of the place, such as lunchtimes and cleaning, providing individual attention and care for the children who most need it, playing games and sports, tutoring, teaching on hygiene and inspiring the children into learning.

    You can also teach the kids other activities such as art, music, dance, and drama. This is a chance for you to get creative and fun in the activities you provide.

    Location
    Manuel Antonio is a small beachside village, situated right on the Pacific Ocean. There is a nearby National park which is considered one of the most biodiverse parks in the world. You may even spot a howler monkey or a sloth! The area is known for its biodiversity, as well as perfect white sand beaches. There are lots of activities to do in the area, like mountain and rainforest trails.

    Typical day

    Sunday – Arrival / Welcome and Home Stay Introduction
    Monday – Orientation day
    Tuesday to Friday:
    Here is a rough guide on what to expect:
    • Breakfast at the accommodation
    • 3-4 hours of volunteer work either in the morning or afternoon
    • Your own lunch at the accommodation or project site
    • Free time
    • Dinner at ...

    Typical day

    Sunday – Arrival / Welcome and Home Stay Introduction
    Monday – Orientation day
    Tuesday to Friday:
    Here is a rough guide on what to expect:
    • Breakfast at the accommodation
    • 3-4 hours of volunteer work either in the morning or afternoon
    • Your own lunch at the accommodation or project site
    • Free time
    • Dinner at the accommodation
    Christmas Week Itinerary

    SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA 17 – 23 December 2023

    Sunday, December 17 - Arrival & Orientation
    • TBD - Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing
    • PM - Orientation at the institute
    Monday, December 18 – Community Beautification 
    AM or PM – Beautification Project Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work. Work varies depending on community needs. 

    Tuesday, December 19 – Holiday Party for the Elderly 
    AM or PM – Local Nursing Home Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and providing much needed company and conversation. 

    Wednesday, December 20 – Children’s Holiday Cookout 
    AM or PM – Local Park Depending on weather, accompany children to a local park to get fresh air and have a little holiday fun. Come ready to grill and distribute food and gifts to the kids! 

    Thursday, December 21 – People with Special Needs Holiday Party! 
    AM or PM – People with Special Needs Project Spread the Holiday Spirit at a special needs home with activities and games, special holiday food, Santa, gifts, and socializing

    Friday, December 22 – Children’s Holiday Party 
    AM or PM – Working with Kids Project Celebrate the holidays with underprivileged kids by bringing them food and gifts! 

    Saturday, December 23 – Departure 
    TBD - Departure You can arrange airport drop-off for an additional charge at the client service desk.

    * Transportation to/from the institute to the project is included. 
    ** Itineraries are subject to change based on field conditions. 

    New Year's Week Itinerary

    SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA 24 – 30 December 2023

    Sunday, December 24 – Arrival & Orientation 
    • TBD - Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing 
    • PM - Orientation at the institute
    Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day 
    Institute closed Lots of local holiday festivities to enjoy independently

    Tuesday, December 26 – Community Beautification 
    AM or PM – Beautification Project Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work. Work varies depending on community needs. 

    Wednesday, December 27 – Holiday Party for the Elderly 
    AM or PM – Local Nursing Home Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and providing much needed company and conversation.

    Thursday, December 28 – People with Special Needs Holiday Party! 
    AM or PM – People with Special Needs Project Spread the Holiday Spirit at a special needs home with activities and games, special holiday food, Santa, gifts, and socializing.

    Friday, December 29 – Children’s Holiday Party 
    AM or PM – Working with Kids Project Show the kids a great time for the holiday! Play games, arts and crafts–celebrate by bringing gifts and food to the project.

    Saturday, December 30 – Departure 
    TBD - Departure You can arrange airport drop-off for an additional charge at the client service desk.

    * Transportation to/from the institute to the project is included. 
    ** Itineraries are subject to change based on field conditions. 

    Free-time activities

    San Jose
    San Jose is the capital city and has plenty to do from city tours, watching a show at the theatre, markets, museums, parks, and city walking tours. You can also take day trips to mountains, volcanoes and the beach.

    Arenal Volcano
    Situated about 90 km northwest of San Jose is Arenal volcano, ...

    Free-time activities

    San Jose
    San Jose is the capital city and has plenty to do from city tours, watching a show at the theatre, markets, museums, parks, and city walking tours. You can also take day trips to mountains, volcanoes and the beach.

    Arenal Volcano
    Situated about 90 km northwest of San Jose is Arenal volcano, measuring 1,633 metres high. This scenic volcano is one of the most popular tourist attractions, with daily tours walking around it, plus it’s proximity to the nearby rainforest and waterfalls make it a popular place to visit.

    Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
    Close by the where a lot of our projects are, this National park is one of the most popular in Costa Rica. With beautiful beaches, rainforest walking trails and an abundance of wildlife, this is a must visit for any traveller!

    Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
    Another stunning destination to visit and a lush oasis of green rainforest and misty fog and clouds sitting at the top of the canopy. There are around 420 different types of orchids, ferns mosses, as well as a large bird population- perfect for nature and wildlife lovers. There are also night time walking tours.

    Corcovado National Park
    A stunning national park with plenty of hiking trails, natural swimming holes, waterfalls, rainforest, wildlife, flora and fauna and camping. Here you will find more than 400 bird species, monkeys, sea turtles, over 40 frog species, 100 butterfly species and perhaps even a jaguar.

    Adventure activities
    Costa Rica has so much to do for those who like to live on the wild side! From ziplining, white water rafting, canyoning, surfing, snorkelling, diving, horse riding and paddle boarding. This is a nature and adventure lovers paradise!

    Beach Hopping
    There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. From white sand, black sand, beaches that meet jungle and all with crystal clear, blue waters. Many of the beach town have cafes, restaurants, accommodation and places to grab a fresh coconut juice, the perfect way to chill out after a hot day!

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (intermediate level)

    Education Requirements

    at High School level

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Police check or working with children check

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    • Airport pick-up
    • Host family accommodations
    • Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
    • 1 day orientation
    • 24/7 in-country support
    • Walking tour
    • Official certificate of volunteer service
    • Letter of recommendation
    • Spanish language tutoring table
    • Tandem Conversation Program
    • WiFi and computer lab
    • Salsa dance classes
    • Cooking classes
    • Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
    • Volunteer centre open 7 days/week

    Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

    For Manuel Antonio

    Our local team will pick you up from San Jose airport on the Saturday or Sunday before your project. It is recommended to arrive Saturday or before 3pm on Sunday, so you can go straight to Manuel Antonio. If arriving after 3pm on Saturday or Sunday, you will stay with a host family for 1 night in San Jose, and transfer to Manuel Antonio the following day.

    The transfer to Manuel Antonio is in two parts. A member of the local team will pick you up from San Jose airport and take you to the bus station in San Jose. You will then get the bus to Manuel Antonio (ticket included), where your host family will meet you at Manuel Antonio bus stop. The bus journey is around 3 hours. 

    If you arrive outside the pickup times, you can book a private transfer for an extra fee.

    If you want to book any extra nights before or after your program, you can do this for an extra fee. 


    Transportation whilst on your project

    Most volunteers either walk or take the bus, depending on how far their project is. Journey time varies widely from project to project, and you should expect to spend 15-60 minutes traveling each way. You might also need to change buses during your trip. Taxi’s are also widely available but do cost more than buses. It can be hard to change your project after you start volunteering, so please be ready to travel to your designated project every day. 

    PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers are required to pay for the daily transportation to and from your project. Local buses are very affordable, and a one-way trip will cost around ₡350 (around $0.60) on average. Taxis are more expensive, and costs vary based on how long the journey is. A budget of around US $5 is recommend per day for transportation to and from your project.


    Accommodation

    The majority of our volunteers will stay with a pre-approved middle-class Costa Rican family. You have the option of a shared or a private room. For shared rooms, you are placed with 1-3 other people of the same gender and age group. In San Jose, the host families live in the San Pedro area, which is around a 10 to 60-minute walk or bus ride (depending on where you’re placed) from the volunteer centre. You’ll be given a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, but you must respect the house rules and practices of your host family

    The host family can help you with washing laundry. There is a small charge of ₡2,500 or $5 per kilo (2.2 lbs) which is paid directly to the family. If you are staying at a student residence, hostel, hotel or apartment that does not have a laundry service available, you can use a nearby laundrette (lavanderia).


    Private Room Upgrade: please contact us directly for options and pricing

    *Please note: Upgrade prices can change, so please check the price with us first

    Food & Beverages

    Breakfast and dinner will be served 7 days a week and will usually be local cuisine, cooked by your host family. The food in Costa Rica is a mix of African, Italian, French, Chinese, and Spanish cuisines. Common food are grains such as rice, corn, and beans and different meats mixed with spices like coriander, saffron, parsley, oregano, thyme and nutmeg. The food is usually mildly seasoned and has plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Program starts every Monday. Arrivals on Sat/ Sun. If arriving on Sat, an extra night is charged.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $490 per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    4 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.7
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers
    •
    2025
    I supported a loving team with daily tasks such as keeping the enclosures clean, shredding antelopes and feeding the kittens. Comments on ...

    Location

    Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Manuel Antonio

    Meet your project coordinator

    Lauren
    254
    reviews
    4.72
    Brilliant
    1989
    Founded

    Verified

      Very high response rate
    Spoken languages: English
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Childcare in Costa Rica
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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