Join uVolunteer’s Orphanage and Children’s Home Project to provide hands-on help with deserted and often mistreated youngsters in Costa Rica. We work with a number of small orphanages in San Ramon, where babies and children up to the age of 15 receive educational and emotional support, as well as a safe place to live. With your help, children receive support through this difficult time.
Volunteers look after children and organize their daily routines, providing much needed assistance at the homes where the child-to-staff ratio is high. You will teach English, lead educational activities and share your skills with the children.
This project is only suitable for female volunteers, though males may apply as part of a couple. No formal qualifications are required to volunteer, but we are looking for creative, self-motivated individuals who enjoy working with toddlers and children.
Download the program brochure to learn more about becoming an orphanage and children’s home volunteer in Costa Rica.
As an orphanage and children’s home volunteer, you will work with disadvantaged children at small centers in San Ramon, providing emotional and educational support, teach English, lead creative play and activities, help out with homework and support staff with the general upkeep of the centers.
Orphanage and Children’s Home Project volunteers work four days per week, from Monday to Thursday. You will spend approximately six hours per day working at your placement.
The orphanages that we work with are within a 30 minute bus ride from our volunteer dormitory.
The orphanage is open year around.
I made sure Suri was aware of the misunderstanding, so he informed Meaw about the situation and she responded quickly and switched my placement over to a small orphanage known as Hogarcito. The job was more challenging, but it was worth it to see the children's smiling faces.
Silvia Acevedo, Read Silvia's Testimonial
My first weekend was really fun but went by really fast at Limon. By the second week the kids started to talk to me more and some wanted to play soccer with me. My second week was spent at Tamarindo but I didn't like it to much because there was a lot tourist.
Samuel Tilles, Read Samuel's Testimonial
13 kids with 13 different backgrounds and of course 13 names to remember! They were a bit shy at first but soon felt at ease with me when we began to play cards, bowling, football, draw; I even taught them English and helped them with their homework.
Cristina and Jose, Read Cristina's Testimonial
I cannot help but feel however that two weeks is simply too little time. Perhaps, yes, it is possible to contribute something in this time but it seems that all the boys, end some more than others need a greater degree of constancy in volunteers.
James Cornell, Read James's Testimonial
You must be ready to embrace and give as much of yourself as you can to the people you work with and meet. But do not expect to be the Good Samaritan in this story. I gave much but I gained mountains. This experience has awakened sides of me which I never knew existed.
Jessica Dowden, Read Jessica's Testimonial
I loved my school and I also really enjoyed my evening classes. I think actually I enjoyed move of the evening classes than assisting in the school. Teaching the adults was a good experience and I had a few funny memories with the adults. For example, one evening I was teaching them how to identify items of clothing.
Diane Dick, Read Diane's Testimonial
Instantly I was bombarded with the language and culture change but loved every part of this new environment. Instantly I was bombarded with the language and culture change but loved every part of this new environment. I had 2 weeks at Spanish school in San Jose which was a great way to get immersed into the community and learn to communicate with the locals. San Jose is very Americanized too so there was still a lot of western familiarities about the city. I lived with a host family for this part of my adventure which I loved and was definitely a huge highlight in my overall volunteer experience. My host mum made me feel completely at home and my host sister was all up for taking me out to the local bars. After 2 weeks here, I headed up to San Ramon to begin my project at the orphanage.
Rosie Shelton, Read Rosie's Testimonial
Once back in Costa Rica after an amazing get away we were informed that the schools were once again open and I was finally going to be able to teach physical education. In conclusion I have been having an absolute blast playing sharks and minnows, relay races, kickball, jump rope activities, handball, and of course tons of futbol or as us Americans say, 'Soccer'.
Michael Band, Read Michael's Testimonial
Luckily we got to do work at the orphanage where we cleaned, varnished, painted and danced like Michael Jackson and played with the kids for a week. Then we shipped off to Puerto Viejo in a Massive group, where we experienced a wildly different Costa Rica. One with Rasta's, Reggae, pristine beaches and hot weather.
Jeremy Bhatia, Read Jeremy's Testimonial
I am reminded to simply enjoy the moments you've got with the people who surround you, cuz we barely know ourselves if we know nobody else.
Christina Giordano, Read Christina's Testimonial
If you are interested in joining the program in Costa Rica, you should download and read our destination guide.