Volunteer Program
CREAR is always seeking qualified and caring individuals to volunteer in our programs. You can live on the beach in beautiful Costa Rica, while helping the children and the communities of Playa Sámara. We accept both long-term and short-term volunteers.
Long-term volunteer requirements:
Long-term volunteers need to arrive in Costa Rica with a conversational level of the Spanish language and commit to a 4-month minimum stay and approximately 20-30 hours of work per week. Our long-term volunteers have the responsibility of heading a specific project as a Project Coordinator. There is no fee for long-term volunteers, but they must cover their food and housing costs. These costs need not be too expensive, depending on the needs of the volunteer. We will gladly help you secure living arrangements that will suit your needs. Long-term volunteers may eventually establish a permanent position with a small stipend.
Long-term Positions:
We are specifically looking for someone with interest in developing their experience in the areas of: volunteer coordination, teaching, fundraising, grant writing, website development/maintenance, computer technician, project developer, and fieldworker. Fieldwork may include the following; teaching (English, environmental studies, art, music, dance, theater, etc.), construction, murals, librarian duties, and more. If you are interested in becoming a long-term volunteer for CREAR, please send your application (link to download app.) to volunteers@asociacioncrear.org with any questions, dates, cover letter, a copy of your resume, and contact information. A phone interview in Spanish will also be required before securing a position.
Short-term volunteer requirements:
Short-term volunteers commit to at least 1 week of services and may stay as long as they would like to. There is no Spanish language requirement for short-term volunteers, although a basic sense of the language will prove helpful. There is a minimum $100 donation required for the first 1-4 weeks for a short-term volunteer: this goes directly towards covering the Association’s current program needs (e.g. materials, program expansion and construction/renovation supplies). Volunteers who wish to receive housing placement assistance can opt to pay an additional $50 for this service, which offers options with local families, apartments and hotels. Volunteers cover the costs of their own food and lodging. There is a suggested donation of $25 per week after the first month.
Short-term positions
Short-term volunteers work an average of 2-4 hours/day, but are welcome to work more if they wish. Volunteer duties may include community clean-ups, assisting in the classroom and library, construction/renovation assistance, newsletter maintenance, tutoring and more. If you are interested in staying in beautiful Sámara, Guanacaste and becoming a short-term volunteer for La Asociación CREAR, please email volunteers@asociacioncrear.org with a completed volunteer application (link to application file) and any questions, dates of interest and preferred areas of work.
