Puriscal

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Volunteer Work in Puriscal

CCS volunteers in Puriscal work side-by-side with local people in a beautiful small-town setting to help provide human support in a variety of areas:

• Caregiving : Volunteers can provide care for infants and children, people with physical disabilities, and the elderly. Volunteers in Puriscal offer the one-on-one time and support that children thrive on in day care centers and a local orphanage. In community centers for the elderly, volunteers bring new energy and life perspectives. For these seniors — many of whom have worked as laborers since the age of 15 — these centers provide an important opportunity for socializing, enjoying recreational activities, and learning new skills.
• Teaching : Volunteers can assist teachers in a variety of ways in Puriscal. Volunteers often help teachers and students by teaching conversational English as a fluent speaker. The teachers always benefit from an extra pair of hands, and the students, having more positive role models in their lives, are more encouraged to learn.
• Healthcare : Volunteers can help to provide physical therapy or companionship in local nursing homes or community centers. At the same time, volunteers also engage in cultural exchange with local people providing health services, and learn about healthcare in Costa Rica.

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

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Puriscal

Building on your volunteer work in Puriscal, Costa Rica, Cultural & Learning Activities include weekly Spanish lessons, excursions to the nearby parks and archeological sites; lessons in salsa, merengue, and cumbia; and cooking lessons. Guest speakers will be historians, community leaders, health leaders, local goverment/organization leaders, teachers, or politicians discussing topics like Costa Rican politics or the abolition of the military in Costa Rica.

Fieldtrips to coffee or tobacco plantations, visits to wildlife refuges, swimming pools, sport activities, and other economic activity sites may also be scheduled.

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Free Time in Puriscal

Volunteers enjoy the artistic feel and charm of this small town, untouched by tourism. Volunteers will participate in sport activities in the community, visit Internet cafes, make use of the local gym, enjoy outdoor swimming pools, and more. Many volunteers spend time getting to know new friends in the community, practicing Spanish and teaching English, and assisting teachers in an evening community college. La Cangreja Wildlife Refuge, a nature reserve located in a nearby rainforest, is another popular afternoon trip for volunteers looking to experience Costa Rica’s lush landscape.

In addition to community activities, volunteers enjoy Puriscal’s central location and how easy it is to travel to many of Costa Rica’s tourist attractions during Free Time on weekends. The capital city, San Jose, is located less than an hour away, and offers theater, jazz, sporting events, and much more. Puriscal is also well-situated for a weekend trip to many beautiful beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Other possible weekend trips might include visits to hot springs, coffee farms, rivers where you can enjoy white-water rafting, horseback riding trails, and botanical gardens.

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Home-Base in Puriscal

The CCS Home-Base in Puriscal is located in a quiet residential neighborhood. This traditional Costa Rican-style house includes a common room, kitchen, and dining area, and several bedrooms for volunteers. The house is within walking distance of the town center, museums, shops, markets, Internet cafés, and more.

Local CCS staff in Puriscal will make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise.

Meals at the CCS Home-Base are prepared by local cooks. Fare includes typical Costa Rican dishes with rice, beans, and delicious fresh fruit. There is always a lot of world-famous Costa Rican coffee as well! Transportation to and from your volunteer placement and scheduled Cultural & Learning Activities in Puriscal is provided by CCS licensed drivers.

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In-Country Staff in Puriscal

Local CCS staff in Puriscal will welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand the culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to handle any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel at home and will make sure you are well cared for. Each CCS program site has a Country Director or Program Director and a full staff to take care of all programming, administrative, and logistical needs, as well as housekeepers, drivers, house guards, and cooks. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Puriscal staff below.

Program Director: Viria Solis
Viria has received bachelor and postgraduate degrees in psychology and completed extensive research in her field. While working for the Latin American Institute of Prevention and Health Education (ILPES), Viria tackled a number of human rights issues and developed many skills that would prove to be an asset to her as a CCS Program Coordinator and Director. Some of her accomplishments during her time at ILPES include: designing and implementing training sessions on inter-family violence, human relationships, self-esteem, sexuality, crisis management, assertive communication, and teamwork. She has identified and managed change agents to participate in collaborative group problem-solving, acted as an assistant in homeless children’s camps, worked in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention, and provided therapeutic attention to discriminated groups such as women and LGBTQ-identified people.

Viria continues to work towards empowering herself to effect positive change. In 1999, she worked for the Afro-Costa Rican Women’s Center focusing on a project for teen mothers with an emphasis on human rights and quality of life. Also in 1999, she traveled to Germany to take part in an intensive seminar with a participative focus on the Development of Self-Aid. In 2002, she became a consultant for Defense for Children International (DNI-Costa Rica), taking part in a research project on sexual violence and specifically a diagnosis on sexual exploitation of children in Costa Rica.

Program Officer: Xinia Vargas
Xinia provides support for developing volunteer placements for volunteers and acts as a liaison between the partner programs and the volunteers. She is the person to talk to when you have questions regarding your placement.

House Manager: Ismael Aguero
Ismael is in charge of the administrative duties for the CCS office. He also coordinates all the logistical aspects of the volunteer experience, such as food, transportation, housekeeping, etc.

Cooks: Marta Artavia and Lucia Elizondo
Marta and Lucia are in charge of preparing traditional Costa Rican cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all the volunteers.

Housekeeper: Grace Arce
Grace is in charge of keeping the house clean and comfortable.

Driver: Alexander Vargas
Alexander will pick you up and drop you off at the airport. He will also provide transportation to and from your work placement, and when necessary for the cultural and learning activities.

Night Guards: Juan Mesen and Daniel Vindas
Juan and Daniel are in charge of the safety of the house and the volunteers. They are also very friendly and are have lots of knowledge on Puriscal.