Volunteer work, the projects
In combination with, or after a language study you can start working as a volunteer. You will pay a fee for the volunteer work which will benefit the project. Furthermore you will pay for the accommodation during the volunteer project, depending on the length of your stay. If you chose to live with a host family or stay at a student accommodation you can keep the cost low. It is also possible to learn Spanish in the mornings and volunteer in the afternoon. This saves lots of accommodation cost. For clarity, Pura Vida Travel makes no profit on the volunteer projects. But contribute to the promotion of these projects.
Orphanages
Minimum period of volunteer work with orphans is 8 weeks. Two institutes we work with have a number of houses with a garden. In each house live 8-10 children with a nurse. Consistency is an important factor to recover a trauma, for this reason a longer period of volunteer work is needed.
Children’s day care during holidays
During school holidays children from poor families (4 – 19 years old) can attend several activities. Activities contain reading, sporting and other creative activities. Day camp takes 2 weeks in January and 2 weeks in July
Daycare for babies and infants
Volunteers are mainly busy with playing games, reading and taking care after babies and infants. Your will help the nurses with all kinds of activities while mothers are working.
Kindergarten and primary school
Activities will be assisting daily work including teaching students depending on your Spanish level. We work with several primary schools and kindergartens.
HIV center
You will offer help and organize activities for HIV infected patients. As a member of the team you will create activities and work closely with coworkers.
Hospitals
We work with several hospitals, depending on your working experience and education as well as your Spanish level we will find you a perfect program.
Elderly home
Your tasks consist of cooking meals, serve meals, teaching English, walking, and keeping busy of the elderly people. We work with two elderly homes with a garden and 25 people living there.
Teaching English
There is a lot of demand for volunteers who would like to assist with teaching English. Classes are most of the times full of students. Students are interested in other cultures and questioning. You can volunteer at primary school, high school or with adult students. You are creative, enterprising and motivated. Work can consist of teaching English, assist the teacher with activities or you will help with other classes. We work with several schools and institutes.
Women empowerment training
In this project women are trained to be independent. You can attend this program to increase the groups, start new groups and attend seminars and activities. Other activities could be knitting, cooking lessons and teaching English.
Protecting National parks
In the national parks you can work in the rich diversity of the biological World. You will maintain paths, making direction signs (maps, information about flora and fauna) within the park. You might also work with the local guide in his daily routine.
Ecological community
In a number of communities the awareness of needs and importance of biological research has grown. What makes it so special is that these biological researches are situated in their villages. The projects are built to stop deforestation.
Sea turtle projects
This project protects the preservation of the Lora, the Baula and de green turtle. These turtles lay their eggs on several beautiful beaches of
Zoo projects
Several Zoo’s need volunteers who can help with daily work in the Zoo. Biologists, vets and other volunteers are welcome at this beautiful place where you can see the tropical animals of this area.