Costa Rica Orphanages and Homes

Orphanages and homes have been set up throughout Costa Rica and although this has been done in coordination with government authorities there is a huge shortage of help available to care for the children who have been abandoned, neglected, abused or orphaned.

There is a large array of duties for volunteers to get involved with and these will vary depending on the location of your project. Activities may include helping the children get ready for school, assisting with homework, preparing activities such as arts, crafts and music and helping with the organisation and running of the home or orphanage.

Programme Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.

Volunteer Requirements
Having an intermediate level of Spanish is very important and experience of working with children is preferred but not essential. Often there are only one or two people in charge of the children. Some of the children go to school, but those who don’t are in the homes all day, which can be small and crowded. Volunteers will find this work very demanding but extremely rewarding.

Programme Information
“Hogarcitos”, which means “little homes” in Spanish, were created by volunteers in coordination with the Costa Rican government authorities and the PANI (National Children Welfare Office) of Costa Rica. The children living in the homes have been abandoned by their parents or have been taken by the government because of abuse and/or neglect. They are waiting for adoption or for the government to decide if they can return to their biological parents.

The idea of these “little homes” is to provide these children with a family-like atmosphere instead of a big and cold government institution environment. The homes are privately run by volunteers and operate through donations and little government support. Each home has about 10 children of different ages and two ladies living with them on a continual basis to take care of them. The children call these ladies “ tía”, which means aunt in Spanish. The ladies act as parents, taking care of the children’s daily needs. A group of full time volunteers provide support by helping the children with their homework, by taking them to medical appointments, doing the grocery shopping for the home and by finding donations year-round to keep the organization running.

In addition, part time volunteers offer a valuable contribution by giving the “tías” a helping hand with daily chores and by giving the children special attention they desperately need, through educational and recreational activities. Because they have been abandoned these children are in need of a lot of personal attention and love. Your experience will be very worthwhile and rewarding.

Volunteer work activities
Volunteers will undertake different types of work depending on the home’s needs, which vary every day. Your duties may include; helping the children to get ready for school, assisting with their homework; playing games with the children, preparing activities such as arts, crafts, music! In addition the volunteers can also help the “ tías ” in the running of the home and with the cooking for the children.
The work schedule is flexible and the project coordinator will help work out a timetable for you on your first day. Normally, volunteers work four or five days a week for a minimum of four to six hours a day. It is also possible to work at more than one home or orphanage, for example you may choose to spend your mornings at one and your afternoons at another.

The tías at the homes are often very overworked and tired so volunteers are expected to plan activities for the children in advance and are encouraged to organise whatever activities they feel are suitable. You will need to work independently and try not to depend on the home staff too much, but the volunteer centre will provide assistance, suggestions and educational materials to help you with planning activities.

Generally volunteers will be doing the following:

Here are some suggested activities and games that you can do when working with the children:

You will have the opportunity to volunteer at one of the following orphanages or homes:

Temporary Home for Abandoned Children Hogar de Maria
The home is located in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, East of San Jose and within walking distance of the volunteer office. The home has a lovely outside area where the kids play in their free time, a dining room, a living room with a television set, a study room and three bedrooms & bathrooms. There are currently 8 children between 1 and 7 years of age who live in the home.

Orphanage in Vista de Mar
The orphanage is located in Vista de Mar, Guadalupe which is around a 50-minute bus journey from downtown San José. The orphanage is a non-profit organisation that gives child support to orphans. There are about 70 children, (both boys and girls) aged between 9 months and 11 years old.

The institution provides them with lodging, meals and recreational activities and the children attend public schools either in the morning or the afternoon. Volunteers will be supporting the teachers that come during the afternoons to help the kids with their homework.

Temporary Home for Abandoned Children in Guapiles (Female Volunteers only)
This orphanage homes abandoned children or children who have been taken by the government because of abuse and/or neglect. It is located in Guapiles, Limón and is a 90-minute bus ride away from San José downtown. The house has a dining room, a living room with a television set, a bathroom, and three bedrooms. There is also an outside, grassed area where the children can play during their free time. There are 10 children at this home who are aged between 1 to 5 years old.

Temporary Home for Abandoned Children Hogar Blanca Flor (Female Volunteers only)
The home is located in San Francisco de Dos Ríos, an area south of San José. There is a house with a small green outdoor area where the children can play during their free time, a kindergarten class where they spend most of the day with their teacher, a dining room, a living room with a television set, three bedrooms and bathrooms. There are 10 children living at the home who are aged between 1 and 6 years of age.

Temporary Home for Abandoned Children Hogar Curridabat (Female Volunteers only)
The home is located in La Colina, Curridabat, east of San José and is a bus ride and short walk from the centre of San Jose. Living at the home there are 10 children between 2 and 9 years of age. The house has a small patio where the children can play in their free time, a dining room, a living room with a television set and three bedrooms & bathrooms.

Choosing your Volunteer Option
Upon booking this programme we will require you to list your top two preferences with regards to your volunteer placement. Upon arrival into Costa Rica our volunteer coordinator will take you to see the various schools and day care centers allowing you to make your final choice.

Please be aware that projects are subject to availability and wherever possible we will strive to place you in your first choice.

Project Orientation
On your first day of work you will be shown the location of the home that you have chosen. Our project coordinator will accompany you and introduce you to the “tías” and/or home administrator. On your first day, you and the person in charge of the particular project will work out a schedule so you can decide on volunteer hours and plan activities.

Accommodation and Meals
During your time as a volunteer you will stay with a Costa Rican host family. These families are carefully selected to ensure clean, comfortable and safe lodging and provide you with a fantastic opportunity for you to practise your Spanish. The host family will provide you with a private bedroom, two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) and will take care of your laundry.

Project Support
Throughout your stay you will have the support and guidance of a volunteer work coordinator and their team. They will be able to help you with any questions or advice you may need during your time on the project.

In addition, you are also able to contact our UK staff 24 hours a day should you need to, via our emergency contact number.

For further information, or to secure your place on this programme, please call the Latin America Team today on 01892 516164, or email us at latinamerica@realgap.co.uk