Overview
Escuela Futuro Verde is excited to offer an array of volunteer opportunites! Whether your interests lie in assisting classroom instruction, organizing after-school programs, or leading outreach efforts with educational organizations in the region, Escuela Futuro Verde offers altruistic opportunities to meet your needs.
Arrival and departure dates: Please check in with us to see if you can come a few days before or stay some days after the actual dates of the school year, it depends on arrival/departure dates of other volunteers; thus you will have some leisure days while staying at the volunteer house.
Cost: Housing is very expensive in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula. The prices stated here are based on $350 per month (during the school year) which is to cover the costs of the volunteer program: housing, utilities, administrative costs and food.
Upon acceptance to the volunteer program, we request a deposit of approximately 50% of the volunteer program fee to the Associacion's bank account in Costa Rica or via PayPal to our fiscal sponsor. This deposit is used to hold your spot and will be used towards the costs of the volunteer program during your stay. A 2nd payment of the balance is due upon your arrival. When you stay the entire semester, the balance can be paid monthly.
Our program consists of the following:
Obligations:
• 25 hours/week
• willingness and enthusiasm to work with staff and other volunteers as a team.
Requirements:
• some knowledge of Spanish
• teaching experience
• optional additional experience or mastery (art, music, physical education, theatre, language, relevant trade)
Benefits:
• mid-morning snack and lunch during school week
• private accommodation in fully equipped house, minutes to Escuela Futuro Verde and the beach and downtown Montezuma
• open opportunites to initiate programs and workshops
Dates
Available Sessions 2011:
| Session 2: | First Semester Complete | January 31 - July 1 | $1500 session |
| Session 2 a: | First Semester Part 1 | January 31 - April 15 | $850 session |
| Session 2 b: | First Semester Part 2 | April 25 - July 8 | $850 session |
| Session 3: | Second Semester Complete | August 1 - December 16 | $1500 session |
| Session 3a: | Second Semester Part 1 | August 1 - October 15 | $850 session |
| Session 3b: | Second Semester Part 2 | October 22 - December 16 | $850 session |
We only accept 4 volunteers per session, so apply early!
To Apply:
Please send us a cover letter stating your preferred session, your skills and areas of interest and enclose your curriculum vitae (resume) at: info@futuro-verde.org
Unlike other non-profit organizations in the area, we are a non-profit organization that uses volunteer fees to support the volunteer program only. We only ask that you have a strong commitment to improving the lives of children in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula. We do have high standards for the people we work with and are seeking only accomplished, dedicated, and creative professionals who are willing to commit to making a difference in our corner of the world. If these attributes seem to describe you, we look forward to hearing from you.
Escuela Futuro Verde is an exciting dynamic educational institution in an invigorating time of evolution and change. You have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing community and to really make a difference. Don’t take our word for it, hear what our former volunteers had to say:
“It has been a powerful cultural experience for me here in Costa Rica. Our school’s students come from all over the world and speak many different languages. Although each child has his or her own cultural identity we are all partaking in the Tico culture together -- learning from each other and from our environment. Some of the best parts of the culture here is the food and the laid back style of living which evokes the well-known phrase Pura Vida. I am very happy to have to have a chance to live this pure life.”
– Aubrey Miller; New York City certified teacher and Escuela Futuro Verde Volunteer
“I have loved working with the after school program here. As an art teacher, I’ve had the freedom to design my own curriculum. It’s just so rewarding to see such amazing progress in such a short amount of time. I love working outdoors. The energy is contagious, and the diversity at the school is truly inspiring. I’m very happy I came. I wish I could stay longer.”
– Maria Olinger; New York City certified teacher and Escuela Futuro Verde Volunteer
“Working in the classroom with Ekaterina every day has been an amazing learning experience. She has welcomed me in as an equal, and together we have created a fascinating dynamic that combines educational approaches from all over the world. The students come from many different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, lending a powerful starting point to the constructivist, context-driven teaching we practice here. I will certainly leave Costa Rica a better teacher than I arrived.”
– Samantha Heller; New York City certified teacher and Escuela Futuro Verde Volunteer