Social Work Internships in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Term: Summer 
Dates: June 6- July 24, 2010.

Description: Interns have a unique opportunity to work with child care centers with limited resources, organizations for the rehabilitation of people with drug problems and centers that provide food in places with high rates of poverty.

Opportunities include:

- Social work with Children, Teaching English, Art classes, daily child care
- Social work with those who suffer from drug addiction (5 rehab centers)
- Cooking the organization prepares 30,000 free meals per month
- Assisting in the logistics of the distribution of daily meals for the underprivileged

You will be a 15 minute walk away from downtown San Jose, the center of business and cultural activities in the country. The University with whom we partner has excellent facilities including a state of the art computer center, two cafeterias, an art gallery, design studios, and auditorium used frequently by their theater and arts students. You will be injected into Costa Rican University life as most activities will be held on the campus. The first week will include an in-depth orientation covering local business etiquette, health and safety, cross-cultural communications and cultural norms, a course in Spanish language appropriate to your level and some field trips into the city. After a week of intensive orientation, you will work full-time at your internship for the next six weeks. During that time, well go on a couple of excursions, one to the Pacific and the other to the Caribbean coast. All the while you will learn more about the issues facing Costa Rica and it's people while building new friendships with coworkers and other interns.

Highlights: Costa Rica, a worldwide leader in ecotourism, is known for its astounding beauty and rich biodiversity. But despite its breathtaking scenery and reputation for environmental-friendliness, Costa Rica has many complex layers. Costa Ricas reputation for social stability and peace, along with its free education and universal healthcare, has drawn the attention of immigrants from other Central American countries seeking better lives. Coupling this with issues such as alcoholism, the combined impact of immigration and a struggling economy has led to more pervasive challenges such as widespread unemployment, elderly abandonment, child labor, and an increasing economic divide.

Cost in US$: USD 5,395

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

Terra Intern Abroad's Mission Statement: To empower students to become globally minded professionals by enabling hands-on work experience with organizations around the world that are making a difference.

Year Founded: 2004