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The third-largest city in Costa Rica, Cartago was the first permanent Spanish settlement in 1563 and the first capital of Costa Rica, until it was moved to San Jose in 1823. Major earthquakes in the 19th and 20th centuries destroyed much of its colonial era architecture, but the city remains committed to retaining its history. New projects and legislation to protect Cartago’s historical center have sprung up recently to ensure better treatment and preservation of the city’s many historical sites so residents and tourists can enjoy them for generations to come.

In a large city such as Cartago, the economic divide between those living comfortably and those living with limited access to education and other resources is highly visible. Affordable social services are not widely available, leaving many residents struggling to find better jobs and provide for their families. Other sensitive issues, such as increasing prostitution and alcoholism, create a ripple effect in the city’s underserved communities, from domestic violence to the removal of children from their homes and into orphanages.

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Volunteer Work in Cartago


Volunteer work in Cartago centers around organizations that provide education and social services for the city's residents. Volunteers are commonly placed in organizations within:

  • Caregiving : Volunteers can care for children, the elderly, and people living with mental and physical disabilities. A common problem for single mothers in Cartago is finding affordable childcare so that they can search for employment. Many children spend their days at understaffed Hogarcitos, or informal daycares ran by local people, or formal daycares that are often under-funded. CCS volunteers help to give children, elderly persons, and people with disabilities the attention that they may not otherwise receive.
  • Healthcare : Volunteers can work with people affected by HIV/AIDS in Costa Rica. Volunteers assist the administrative and nursing staff with a wide variety of duties in a residential facility for people living with HIV/AIDS. While people with HIV/AIDs in Costa Rica may benefit from the nation’s universal health care, the social stigma deeply affects their quality of life, as they are sometimes isolated from friends, family, or the community at-large with nowhere else to turn. The companionship of friendly volunteers is often equally as important as the tasks that the volunteers may complete at the home.
  • Teaching : Volunteers may teach conversational English, or assist teachers in elementary schools. The presence of international volunteers helps encourage parents to send their children to school instead of into the workforce at an early age, because of the invaluable opportunity to learn English from a fluent speaker.
  • Community Development : Volunteers can share their professional skills and experience at a center for adults living with physical disabilities. The center offers job placement and life skills, as well as training in housekeeping, woodworking, and occupational therapy.

Volunteer Abroad and Insight Abroad (one-week) programs are available in Cartago. Placements are always designed to match your skills and interests to the needs identified by the community.

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quick facts

Programs available
Volunteer Abroad
Insight Abroad

CCS volunteers to date
Over 1,500 since 2004

Local language spoken
Spanish

Local population
145,000 people

program fee

Click on a program to view all currencies:

Volunteer Abroad  
Starts at US$2,784 for 2 weeks

Insight Abroad
Starts at US$1,853 for 1 week

what's included

The Cross-Cultural Solutions program fee includes:

The program fee is payable in U.S. or Canadian Dollars, or Great British Pounds.

start dates

Review start dates for:

 

next steps
  1. Choose your program
  2. Select a program site
  3. Review start dates
  4. Calculate your program fee 
  5. Call us or enroll online
“I loved every minute that I was a volunteer through CCS. It was a life changing experience. I loved getting to know the staff, learning more about Costa Rica, taking the amazing field trips, and most of all, I really loved my volunteer work. When I was in Cartago, I had one of the most touching experiences I have ever had. Working there has touched my heart. I feel changed by my entire experience as a whole in Costa Rica. I loved it.”

Laila Dastur, Costa Rica Volunteer, Virginia Polytechnic and State Institution


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