Childcare Center Volunteering

About the program

The mission of this program is to contribute to the children of Costa Rica, to promote education and to ensure their proper physical, emotional and social development. The early childhood centres on this program provide care and education for local children, aged 3 to 6 years and provide a place where the children of working-class parents can be educated, make friends and feel comfortable. Some of the children also come from single parent families who would struggle without the help and assistance provided by these daycare facilities. The children attending these projects require a lot of care, attention and most importantly, companionship.

Volunteers spend their time caring for the children, helping with their schoolwork, playing games and arranging fun activities during leisure time, like sports or art. Attention and companionship is what the children in these projects need the most, and the attendance of international volunteers is always a highlight for them.

Goals of this Project:

• Assist in the provision of childcare to vulnerable children in Playa Pita
• Improve the future prospects of Costa Rican children
• Allow impoverished families to place their children in childcare programs in order that they may earn a much needed income
• Enable inter-cultural exchange which benefits local staff, children and international volunteers alike.

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Volunteer's role

Volunteers can expect to be involved in the following duties:

• Assisting local staff with daily duties at the Centre such as meals, cleaning and record keeping.
• Attending to and interacting with the children
• Creating activities and entertaining the children with games and songs
• Teaching basic English, hygiene and moral values
• Sharing cross-culture experiences with other volunteers and local staff for a mutually beneficial exchange.

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Requirements

Love Volunteers welcomes all those 18 years and over who wish to assist in the ongoing support and development of marginalized and at-risk children of Costa Rica. This highly interactive and varied project does not require participants to have a background in the field of childcare, as there are many ways you can assist. However, volunteers with suitable education, qualifications or experience are highly sought after. Regardless, a volunteer’s individual role can often be tailored to suit their particular skills and interests.

Volunteers on this project will need an understanding of Spanish in order to communicate effectively with staff and children.

All volunteers should dress appropriately for a childcare role (covered shoulders and knees are preferable).