Project Overview
Many Costa Rican families live in homes that don't have adequate sanitation or safe weather protection. Volunteer work in Costa Rica on this project runs alongside these families to build better homes with local, sustainable materials. You will be working with a rural housing association founded in 1989 who has become specialized in providing housing to rural populations. The foundation currently works with 62 rural organisations distributed in the 7 provinces of the country, such as cooperatives, local agricultural centres, labour and community development associations. Due to the nature of the work, you might not see the house completed while you're there, but the reward comes from working alongside the families whose lives you are helping to change.
Our building projects in Costa Rica work with The Fundación para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canadá. This foundation was established in 1989, when the Costa Rican - Canadian Rural Housing Programme, was founded thanks to a contribution from the Canadian Government. The people from Fundación have become specialised in rural housing and they operate with a network of rural organisations, which are responsible for proposing families for a house, to help them fulfill the established requirements, to advise them during the construction process, and to collect the monthly loan payments. Therefore, it is not a charity giving away homes but a foundation. Each project is a cooperative effort incorporating the home recipient, volunteers from inside and outside the immediate community, and the foundation. The labour contributed by homeowners and volunteers, which we call "sweat equity", keeps house costs affordable.
25% of the world lives in inhuman conditions and more than 100 million do not have a house. Sign up for building homes in Costa Rica alongside fellow i-to-i volunteers and the Fundación para la Vivienda Rural Costa Rica-Canadá in order to carry on this work and help to provide homes to the communities where it is most needed.
You will need to be willing to get involved in hard work and be very hands on and willing to get involved in anything that is asked of you. You have a love of the outdoors and not mind working in any weather. You will need to be easy going and be able to work alongside the local community as much of your time will be spent with the families. Building experience is not necessary but if you have a specific skill it will be welcomed.
You will get involved in all aspects of the building but this will depend on the stage you get involved in the building. You could help build septic tanks, lay floors, dig trenches and help put on roofs amongst other tasks.
Please arrange your flight to arrive into San Jose on the specified arrival date. The majority of volunteers will be placed in San Ramon, they also work within all of the provinces of Costa Rica and so could be based anywhere around the country as the need of the organisation dictates. You will be staying in a local home stay where you can immerse yourself in the culture and it will help with Spanish learning.
Stories
Caroline Mo gives this project 10/10
Here is what Caroline had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Just that the whole trip was the best 2 weeks of my life, and i would'nt have changed any of it!

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
The living conditions in Costa Rica was totally different to the way we live over here, it showed us how privlidged we are compared to them and not to take anything for granted.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
You'll have a life changing experience and knowing that uv made a difference to someones life is a great feeling, so just go for it.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
A life changing experience that i will never forget!
What would have made your experience better?
Nothing, couldn't have been better!

Amanda Baker gives this project 10/10
Here is what Amanda had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
All
of it was more than I'd hoped for but I especially enjoyed working on the project; there's really no better way to immerse yourself in local life. The
homestay family was beyond magnificent, and so was the food! Most of all I loved it because it made me realise that working on projects such as this is how I want to spend the rest of my life.

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
Working on this project has made me believe even more strongly in volunteering and after this trip I'm sure that I want to carry on helping people through humanitarian projects. Thank
you for such a wonderful opportunity as this!
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
I absolutely loved every minute of it!

Jim Stembridge gives this project 10/10
Here is what Jim had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Wonderful home stay; great project; lovely country & culture.

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
Costa Rican families are so comfortable with thier lives and communities!
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Relax and enjoy your experience.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
A wonderful experience within the family life and community economy of Costa Rica.
What would have made your experience better?
If that store had been open the day before Easter, the downtown San Ramon store with the Brasil soccer ball we so badly wanted to purchase as a gift for our home-stay family. Trying to ship something in from out of the country is a nightmare!

Theresa Glaser gives this project 10/10
Here is what Theresa had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Going to nicaragua on the weekeend

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
traveling through Nicaragua and seeing people wash their clothes in a stream
finding out my host dad made 200 dollars a month
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
bring gifts for your family
look into things to do on the weekend
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
A great way to travel
What would have made your experience better?
more time off
better english speaking for the in country reps

Benjamin Rose gives this project 10/10
Here is what Benjamin had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Climbing Chirripo, work and homestay families (hospitality, amazing stories, etc.), food, beauty and diversity of the country, taking our work cite family to their first ever movie, etc.

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
The family we were building for had the most amazing story and consisted of some of the nicest people I've ever met. They grew up with nothing, their family and friends living on the same property for several generations, and still loved each other and life. Proof that all you need is love and money does not determine happiness. Hearing stories from our family whose fifteen year old daughter died in 2004 of cancer; how her father would take her to San Jose, 4-5 hours round trip, every day at 3 in the morning, and then work in the afternoon. Witnessing people with so little enjoying life, family, friends; beautiful.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
1. Talk to strangers and learn the language; make some new friends.
2. Try everything, even if you don't think you'll like it; you never know.
3. Hike Chirripo.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
Pura Vida, gallo pinto, y nuevos amigos...I'll be back.
What would have made your experience better?
I wish I had something more constructive. I'm not very picky and absolutely loved every minute of the trip. I did hear, from other volunteers, that having to pay for the bus every morning to work added up and was not forewarned in any of the pre-departure material. Also, a lot of the information given to us before hand was incorrect (i.e. info about the homestay families); update the info! Lastly, while I did not have much of a personal problem with the following, I did hear that the i-to-i representatives whose job it was to check up on the different work cites once per week didn't do a very good job. Stopped in for two minutes, took a picture, and left. I have no personal grudges against them, but some thought they were kind of a joke. That being said, Laura Jones is one of the nicest people I have ever met and did a BRILLIANT job organizing events, suggesting weekend getaways, etc. ALWAYS had a smile on her face even when she was sick, tired, and exhausted. Enthusiastic, friendly, and genuine...give that girl a raise!

Kuna Yun gives this project 9/10
Here is what Kuna had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
The memory of eating rice and beans everyday.
The memory of home stay experience

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
I thought that I cannot waste food anymore, because I saw Costa Ricans life. They cannot make much money but they provided food for me. It is not easy to get food for them.
I will try not to waste food from now on.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Bring pictures of your country or family from your home.
put sun block cream ALL THE TIME!
Try to talk to local people. They are very nice.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
"Realizing the happiness is not all about money!"
What would have made your experience better?
I dont know...

Eleanna Varangis gives this project 9/10
Here is what Eleanna had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
I had an incredible time helping build houses - something I never thought I would be capable of doing! The whole experience was taxing, but incredibly rewarding!

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
I think that experiencing firsthand how hard it is to build a house gave me a whole new respect for that line of work. I also think that the Costa Rican Pura Vida philosophy has helped me prioritize a bit better.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Definitely try to interact as much as possible with your host family and the locals - the whole point of the trip is to try living in a very different environment. Also, work your hardest, because if not you are wasting your time and everyone else's. Lastly, do also make friends with the other volunteers - they're incredible people who will help you enjoy the work you're doing.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
Work and people I will never ever forget.
What would have made your experience better?
I think the only way it could have been better would be if all of us volunteers had been at the same site. I know this wasn't feasible, though, considering there were 2 projects, but it would have been nice if we could've all stayed together.

James Longden gives this project 9/10
Here is what James had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Almost everything was great, from meeting all the volunteers on the first night at the hostel in Alajuela to the friendliness of everybody in San Ramon

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
walking through the town every morning and seeing all varieties all people going around their business
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Leave valueables at home, a girl on my project had her camera and iphone stolen on a weekend away
Make sure your bank card will work - mine didnt!
Learn the language, itll make the experience so much more fun
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
the best two weeks of my life!
What would have made your experience better?
If Id booked longer than two weeks!

Dave Postman gives this project 8/10
Here is what Dave had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
Trips to the volcanoes in Costa Rica, the food I ate, the fun I had, the time I got lost in San Ramon and didn't get home until some ungodly hour!

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
Not really, I just had a great time.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Learn as much of the language as possible.
Pack a relaxed and positive attitude.
Make the effort to interact with the locals, it's the best way to get under the skin of the culture.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
Fun, Exciting, Hard Work, Laughter, Interesting, Brilliant
What would have made your experience better?
Nothing really, just wish I had longer there.

Geraldine McCarthy gives this project 8/10
Here is what Geraldine had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
My accommodation was fantastic! The family I stayed with was so nice and the lady of the house was very welcoming - she really went out of her way to make sure we had a comfortable and enjoyable stay. I'm keeping in touch with the family and if I'm ever lucky enough to get back to Costa Rica, they will be first on my list to visit!"

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
I'll never forget the wonderful people I met.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
I would recommend travelling with i-to-i. They sent me very useful information before I departed on my trip, including full details of my project, the family I would be living with and useful items to bring with me. They also put me in contact with other volunteers going to Costa Rica through a forum on their website. This was extremely helpful as I had been in touch with a number of volunteers before going on my trip and had arranged to meet them when I arrived. All in all, this service made me feel more confident and comfortable about going to Costa Rica on my own to work as a volunteer."
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
It was a really rewarding experience!

James Devereux gives this project 8/10
Here is what James had to say:
What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?
It was a lovely homestay family, excellent housing and excellent food.

Was there a part of the project that changed the way you look at the world or affected you in some way?
I loved the family I was working for - they were some of the nicest and kindest people I’ve ever met in my life.
Do you have 3 top tips for future volunteer travellers?
Travel with i-to-i! The team were so nice and helpful with anything that any of the volunteers needed, especially with safe keeping our bags when we went on trips after the work projects were finished, helping us get tickets for football matches and providing us with general information.
Give Us Up To 10 Words That Sum Up Your Experience: For example - "A life changing experience!"
I loved it!
