Escuela de Santa Elena in Monteverde is a public primary school in charge of children who come in general from this rural region. This school has a population of 280 students from kindergarten to 6th grade plus 12 teachers and staff.

The students came from poor or lower middle-class families from the Monteverde’s region. This school is financed by the government, but since the budget is occasionally not sufficient, it can also receive help from private companies and some of the children’s parents. 

Volunteer tasks are mainly related to: Help in regular classes, assistance for the teachers. Assist in Pre-School area, Help in classes to children with learning problems, Possible tasks in the office, archives, etc.
Working hours: Monday to Friday: 7am to 2pm 

- Basic Spanish level
- Ready and able to work with kids and organice activities for them
- Patience and Tolerance
- Adaptability and initiative
- Respect the rules of the institution
- Dress properly

Santa Elena’s town is a rural community located high on the Caribbean slopes of the Cordillera de Tilarán (5, 000 feet, 1,500 m). From San Jose: 105 miles (168 km) time: 4 hr 30. From Puntarenas: 50 miles (80 km) time: 2 hr 30 min. Access to internet in Santa Elena’s town.

Minimum (weeks): 4
Maximum (weeks): 16

Host family stays with shared bedroom (with another volunteer), shared living room, kitchen and bathroom. 2 meals provided by host family and 1 by project.

The project is CLOSED in December, January, February and July.
No shorts are allowed in the project. The Monteverde’s weather is rainy and cold almost the whole year. Volunteers will need Raincoat, windbreaker, warm jackets for outdoors, umbrella, sunblock and tennis shoes.
For every public school in Costa Rica the school year goes from the middle of February to the middle of December, with two months of summer vacation and 15 days in July.