Kickstart your international development career while contributing to a range of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, UN SDGs, in the Central Valley region of Costa Rica. GVI’s sustainable development projects here center around teaching English to children, teenagers, women, and other adults to assist with contributing to UN SDG, #4, Quality Education.
Learn to live the “pura vida”, or “simple life”, in the central Costa Rican community of Cimarrones – a small, rural town at the border of Cartago and Limón provinces. Nestled in a valley between two national parks with beautiful mountains, the base is about a 3-hour drive from San Jose International Airport. Surrounded by farmlands and sprawling banana and pineapple plantations, you’ll share communal accommodation (including meals and base duties), with individuals from all over the world who are there for the same reason you are — to make an ethical impact. On weekends, you can explore the beach towns of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita or Manzanillo, visit the farmlands of Turrialba for a coffee tour, or share stories with other participants while relaxing at the base.
You’ll share a house that has basic bedroom and bathroom facilities with other participants and GVI staff. If you’re stationed at our main base, you’ll be in a Caribbean-style w...
We are located within walking distance of most of our project sites in Cimarrones, with the exception of the local high school which we arrange transport to and from. The villag...
You’ll have daily access to long-distance communications whilst on the project, but bear in mind that the connection may not be as reliable as back home. You can bring a network...
You’ll take turns preparing breakfast for the group, which typically consists of porridge, cereal, or toast, accompanied by fresh tropical fruit, and tea or coffee. Lunch and di...
Located in a mountainous region of central Costa Rica, and in close proximity to the equator, Cimarrones enjoys a fairly consistent climate. Temperatures range between 22°C R...
For over 20 years, GVI has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GVI has created the GVI health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet or exceed international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of GVI’s participants, staff and communities around the world. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.
The work GVI is contributing to across the globe remains important and the following measures allow our participants to continue to join GVI’s programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. The following changes to our existing protocols have been made by the GVI health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities.
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
One of the most popular ways to work and travel the world is teaching English abroad. Many jobs require that you already have a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification. We offer certified TEFL courses in several locations in partnership with The International TEFL Academy (ITA). It is a 170 hour part-time online course which prepares participants to teach English to a wide range of foreign language students from business professionals to young children. Students typically take about 11 weeks to complete the course. Our TEFL course also includes 20 hours of practical work, which is more than TEFL standards require, to provide practical engagement to assist with self-learning. There is also an option to complete another 30 hours at no extra charge to learn more about adapting teaching methods to young learners or business professionals. ITA also provides a lifetime access to career resources.
Career paths in social and environmental impact are not as well-established as in other fields. That’s why we’ll provide our interns who have successfully completed their program with our Careers in Sustainable Development course. In this course, you’ll learn about current and emerging opportunities in a range of sectors, allowing you to make the best decision about your future.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all internships. Full course details can be found here.
Leadership is a critical skill set for anyone looking to make an impact or drive sustainable development. Develop your own leadership style and learn how to set achievable objectives, give effective feedback and manage conflict successfully. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
In this course, you’ll explore the most common pitfalls of community development initiatives so that you can avoid them. You’ll also learn how to carry out community development work effectively and ethically and how local context impacts program development. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
Joining a GVI program not only allows you to collaborate with communities or work toward preserving unique ecosystems – but it also offers plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding area or travel further to see what other parts of the region have to offer over weekends.
Field staff are a great source of advice and have helped us put together the following information on local travel options. You can choose to travel before or after your experience with GVI (subject to immigration restrictions), solidifying the lifetime friendships you’ve established on the program. Please note that the below options are not included in the program fee, and would be up to you to arrange at your own expense.
A finca is a rural or agricultural piece of land, similar to a ranch or farm. The province of Limón offers tours of the many different types of fincas in the area. Some are focu...
Well known for the Salsa Brava surf break that people travel from all over the world to experience, as well as beaches like the black-sand Playa Negra, this vibrant coastal town...
Costa Rica is known for producing some of the world’s highest quality coffee beans. Coffee connoisseurs can book a tour of one of the local coffee plantations. Learn about farmi...
With a variety of canopy tours to choose from, you can either fly through the rainforest, walk across a suspended walkway, or slide down jungle waterfalls.
...
Just 30 minutes away in Turrialba, there are many rivers in the area to explore on a kayak or canoe. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can go white water rafting or tubing...
Take some time to explore the Irazú Volcano National Park. Peaking at 3,432.00 metres, Irazú is famed for being the largest and highest active volcano in Costa Rica. The walking...
Places of interest in the Cartago province include Irazú Volcano National Park, Tapantí National Park, Guayabo National Monument, Turrialba Volcano National Park, Death’s Hill, ...
Costa Rica is well known as a surfing destination and the Pacific Coast is home to a number of incredible beaches. You can also explore areas like Jaco, Dominical, Punta Arenas,...
Acclaimed as one of the most biodiverse parks on the planet, lush tropical rainforests converge with the stunning beaches of the Pacific coast. Hike the forest trails or zipline...
There are plenty of opportunities for further exploration throughout Latin America. Travel south to Panama and Colombia, or north to Nicaragua and Honduras.
...
With some of the greatest biodiversity in the world and a commitment to preserving this unique natural heritage, Costa Rica features many natural reserves that offer plenty of o...
Explore the bustling capital of Costa Rica for an insight into the country’s heritage and modern lifestyle. Due to its dense urban population, San Jose is one of the most divers...
Engaging intimately with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and will also be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many different activities that you can get involved in during your free time, or before and after your program.
On our community programs, the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore topics like local cuisine and religion, or how sustainable development challenges are affecting local contexts.
You’ll find many beautiful churches and cathedrals within the forests and hills of Cartago and Limón province. Cartago province is home to the renowned Black Madonna – a catholi...
March to April: Easter is a popular holiday in Costa Rica and is celebrated with elaborate processions.
October: You can experience the city of Límon’s famous carnival in ...
The majority of Costa Ricans identify with the Roman Catholic religion. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Rastafari are also followed in Costa Rica...
Dancing is an integral part of Costa Rican culture. Locals learn to dance the fluid ballroom styles of cumbia, salsa, bolero, and the merengue from a young age, and festivals of...
Food in Costa Rica is a combination of Spanish, South American, Caribbean and American influences. Common dishes include corn tortillas, tamales, fried plantain and Gallo Pinto,...
Spanish is the country’s official language and the majority of the population speaks Spanish. You’ll also hear indigenous languages like Bribri, Ngӧbe, Cabecar, Buglere and Male...
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
Upon arrival at the airport, participants will be greeted by a GVI staff member. All GVI staff are our own and all our programs around the world are run by our staff. All GVI field staff are background checked, Emergency First Response and safety trained. The minimum staff to participant ratio on GVI’s programs is one to six, although on several bases we have a ratio of one to three. When finishing the experience, participants will provide feedback on all aspects of their program.
Once a participant books, they will be assigned a personal support coordinator who will oversee their pre-departure journey. The support coordinator helps to bridge the gap between program enrolment and arrival at one of our field bases. Your personal support coordinator will ensure that you are provided with all the necessary information required to apply for visas, background checks, and any other documentation.
It takes courage to book a GVI program, get on a flight, and head off to somewhere new. Volunteering offers a level of cultural immersion that typical backpacking or holidays ju...
As the saying goes: ‘Expect the best, plan for the worst’. Cliched or not, we take it to heart. This tenet is at the core of how GVI operates when it comes to promoting the heal...
The weather isn’t just a topic for polite small-talk here at GVI. We have emergency action plans in place for all scenarios. So when the weather, or other natural forces, takes ...
Once GVI has matched a participant to a program that suits their passions and goals, our team aims to set the right expectations for them. In the event that false expectations a...
Learn to cook Costa Rican food
Visit a Cabécar village
Discover local medicinal plants
Kayak in a hidden lagoon
Hike through a riverbed
Visit a working fruit plantation
Hike through virgin rainforest to a waterfall
White water raft down the Pacuare River
