Sustainability and Environmental protection are close to your heart and you would like to bring these topics closer to a community in a tropical Costa Rican paradise? Are you interested in organic farming and would like to learn something new in this area? In our Environmental Education program, you can make a big difference as a volunteer! Our partner organization helps families and children in the remote Drake Bay region to make their lives sustainable by promoting environmental education.
You and the organization's team teach local families how to grow their own fruit and vegetables in a purely organic way. Beds are built and compost is produced. The exciting thing is that you apply your knowledge directly with the families and thus work closely with the organization. Culture of the country come into contact with. You will also learn a lot about permaculture and sustainable cultivation. There are also environmental groups for the children in the village, where you can teach them about nature conservation in a creative and playful way and organize cool workshops.
The fascinating region of the Corcovado National Parks and the beautiful beaches have been attracting more and more tourists to the remote places of the Osa Peninsula. Nevertheless, the region is not very developed, there are hardly any solid roads or infrastructure and, apart from work in tourism or fishing, there is a lack of prospects for the locals. The people receive little support from the state and are dependent on mutual help. For this reason, our partner organization was founded 18 years ago to support many of the local people's needs. Municipalities is committed. She not only supports the locals, but also fights for the Nature conservation Costa Rica to preserve the beautiful and biodiverse nature for future generations. To this end, the non-profit organization has launched various projects that harmonize the interaction between people and nature in order to strengthen and protect the region at the same time.
A matter close to the project's heart is the Environmental Education of the community. Due to a lack of education and few jobs, many families are dependent on supporting themselves without much income. The employees and volunteers help around 30 families to build their own Food in a sustainable and ecological way. They want to provide them with the necessary knowledge about agriculture and, above all, educate them about cultivation without chemicals and fertilizers. The aim is to convince them that organic farming is many times more productive. The volunteers are trained by the staff in the first week of the program and receive instruction on the subject of Permaculture and organic farming, so that they can apply the newly learned Knowledge directly with the families. The exciting thing is to put theory directly into practice and learn a lot of new things at the same time. The families gratefully accept the help and are thus able to grow their own food in the long term.
For the children there are four Environmental education groups. The young people are taught about climate change, nature conservation and sustainability in a playful way, mixed with leisure activities and lots of fun. The groups have weekly lessons, joint activities and workshops organized by staff and volunteers. The organization has already enabled more than 500 children to take part in the groups and 2000 pupils have received environmental education presentations in their schools.
In addition to environmental education, there are also many social community projects. The employees and volunteers help to expand the inadequate infrastructure, maintain the schools and community centers and beautify the village around Drake Bay. Donations are also used to buy food for people in need and food for street dogs and cats. During the corona pandemic, donated care packages have already been delivered 7 times to many families and senior citizens.
There are also regular Environmental protection actionssuch as beach clean-ups or festivals. In this remote region, there is no waste collection service, which is why many residents have simply burned their garbage until now. The project is therefore very successful in ensuring that waste is disposed of in a way that conserves resources and Recycling. Thanks to the campaigns and environmental education, 25 small companies and stores in Drake have already been able to significantly reduce their plastic waste and are actively involved in recycling.
As a volunteer, you can also use the Flora and fauna explore. The Junior Ranger project involves going out into the rainforest to observe animals and plants, collect paw prints and set up and evaluate wildlife cameras. Together with children and young people, deforested areas of the rainforest are also reforested and thus returned to nature.
As a volunteer you can Achieve great things and are part of a group of people who are trying to support each other and make the world a better place.
The organization is extremely diverse and is involved in many areas. As a volunteer, you therefore have the opportunity to get involved based on your interests and skills. The following areas need your support:
Permaculture and organic farming.
Are you interested in Food cultivation? Then you've come to the right place! At the beginning of the program, you will receive a detailed introduction to the topic of permaculture and organic food cultivation and can learn a lot of new things about it. You will then pass on the knowledge you have learned directly to the families in the communities and put it into practice. Your Main task will be there to accompany several families and help them build flower beds, greenhouses and Plants to help. Get your hands dirty planting, sowing, weeding and harvesting beans, peppers, potatoes, corn, coriander, chili, tropical fruits and vegetables and see the difference you can make in a short time. To avoid using chemical fertilizers, you will help produce natural fertilizer. Compost. Of course, you are not alone. A family is always supported by a whole team of project staff and volunteers. A great opportunity to immerse yourself in the everyday life of a Costa Rican family and get really close to the culture.
Environmental education for children.
The children in the community also need your support! Get involved in the After-School Program of the kids, as there are very few leisure activities for young people there. In the weekly environmental groups, you look after the children and young people and teach them creatively and playfully about important topics such as Climate change and environmental protection on. You can plan and accompany activities together with the staff, such as camping in the countryside, hiking, sports and games. Every week there is also a Workshop Depending on your own skills, you can teach English, do yoga, dance or arts and crafts, for example. There are no limits to your creativity.
Support for environmental protection projects.
Do you have a great talent for organization and a passion for nature conservation? Then get involved in the organization of beach clean-ups, festivals and other activities. You are welcome to contribute new ideas and help with the organization. You can also take part in the reforestation of deforested areas - here you can plant trees and get to know the tropical rainforest.
Social community projects.
Help the team maintain and beautify the village. In the past, walls have been colorfully decorated, park benches built and the soccer pitch redesigned. You can bring donated food to elderly people's homes, visit old people's homes or feed the street dogs and cats.
Observing animals in the rainforest. You can explore the breathtaking nature of Corcovado Park with the Junior Ragners Group. For example, help set up and evaluate wildlife cameras and identify the animal species of the jungle.
Drake Bay is located deep in the wild south of Costa Rica on the west side of the Osa Peninsula. Drake is the starting point for exploring the Corcovado National Park and attracts adventurers and nature lovers from all over the world, who find breathtaking landscapes, deep jungle, secluded beaches and the country's greatest biodiversity here. The park is home to many endangered plant and animal species that are already extinct in other parts of the country, such as the tapir. Drake is still considered a real insider tip, which is probably due to the great distance from the capital and the difficulty of access, but more and more travelers are coming to this paradise every year. Accordingly, there are several hostels and hotels, as well as restaurants, bars and small supermarkets. You certainly won't get bored there, in the tropical nature you can do many activities in the sea as well as out of the water, such as surfing, diving, swimming, kayaking, hiking, watching animals or exploring waterfalls. Or simply spend your free time relaxing under palm trees on the numerous dream beaches.
The bay owes its name to Sir Francis Drake, who used it as the starting point for his raids on the Spanish fleet in the 16th century. Legend has it that one of the British pirate's fabled hidden treasures can still be found here today.
You do not need any special qualifications for this project. You should be interested in environmental protection and sustainability and enjoy working with people. You should also be motivated to learn lots of new things and get involved in the various fields of activity. Reliability, the ability to work in a team and openness towards a new culture and other people from all over the world are very important for participation.
The national language in Costa Rica is Spanish. You will have to deal with many locals who have little or no knowledge of English. A good basic knowledge of Spanish is therefore essential. You are welcome to take part in a language course organized by us on site and also take lessons with a private teacher during the project.
The project runs its own small hostel where volunteers from all over the world live together. You will share a shared room and bathroom with your colleagues and hostel guests. Accommodation in a single room with a shared bathroom is also possible for an additional charge. The hostel is very cozy and furnished with attention to detail. It is also very quiet and close to nature, with the rainforest practically on your doorstep. The friendly owner of the hostel takes care of everything and cooks delicious Costa Rican food three times a day. Meals are included in the price, and if you have the time and inclination, you can help her cook and learn traditional recipes. Vegetarian or vegan meals are also available on request. The hostel also has washing machines so that you can do your laundry on site. The hostel has many communal areas, such as a large dining area with tables, chairs and hammocks, as well as a bar and a yoga deck. There is a river nearby for swimming and cooling off. You certainly won't be bored in your free time; the hostel and the international volunteers organize many joint activities, such as salsa dancing, cooking classes, night hikes, tours or even a talent show. There are also two small supermarkets near the accommodation.
Lisa is German and emigrated to Costa Rica with her Costa Rican husband. She has visited the country several times before and is therefore already very familiar with the local culture, traditions and conditions. After falling in love with the country and its people, she decided to live where others go on vacation. In addition to German and English, she also speaks fluent Spanish. Lisa will be happy to welcome you to San José with her warm and cheerful manner and is keen to introduce you to her beautiful adopted country. As the local German contact person, she will answer all your questions and you can always approach her if you need help. Lisa will look after you during the introductory event in San José. If you have any questions during your stay in Latin America, a German-speaking contact person will be available to you via WhatsApp in the same time zone.
Sophia
Founder of Wanderworld Travel
Lisa
Coordinator & participant support in Latin America
Amanda
Support and advice before departure
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